logo
Latest News
Follow
Thursday / 6 February 2025
HomeFeaturesBest Android Auto apps to download for your car

Best Android Auto apps to download for your car

Android Auto is one of the two leading smartphone mirroring apps used in most modern cars alongside Apple CarPlay, with the obvious distinction between the two being the phones and brands they are associated with.

While Apple’s service is only compatible with its own iPhones, Android is open-source and is therefore available to a wider selection of phone brands, and this also means it has access to the Google Play store, which offers a wide array of apps for you to use while on the move.

Useful to have

The first and most obvious app to ensure you have on your phone is one for navigation, for which there are two popular options – Google Maps and Waze.

Both operate similarly but have slightly different strengths and weaknesses, with Maps’ first advantage being that it comes pre-installed on most new devices.

Much of it will come down to personal preference, with many Waze users citing an easier-to-read user interface (UI) and better directional voice prompts, while Google provides more route options.

Both apps use real-time data to help the driver avoid congestion and can even warn of upcoming hazards or speed traps, but Google has modified its algorithm in recent years to try and suggest the most economical and even the safest routes around certain areas, while Waze still advocates for the fastest trip possible.

Another navigation option is the satellite-based TomTom Go, whose chief advantage is that it can work offline, though this requires a subscription to use.

More apps to make use of on your car is some form of messaging tool, bearing in mind of course that this doesn’t mean texting while driving.

Again this will mostly come down to your preferred communication app, but a few options include Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, and Telegram.

New cars don’t give you the option to text on the move, for obvious reasons, but they are able to use text-to-speech to play any messages that you receive, and, should you wish to reply, you can use voice commands to dictate a message.

Next up is a type of audio player, and note that this is not just limited to music with apps like Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube Music, and Audible providing a selection of songs and podcasts.

These apps can be used for free, though a subscription is required to avoid ads and to be able to download tracks so that you aren’t re-streaming them every time you listen, eating through your data in the process.

The last recommendation will depend on where you live and what you drive, but an app that tracks the location of the nearest fuel or charging stations can be extremely handy.

For petrol and diesel cars, this can include things like MyTank to show nearby stations with the best fuel prices. As for electric cars, most brands now provide an in-house service that tracks nearby chargers – perfect for minimizing range anxiety.

Show comments