Android Auto makes your journeys more bearable, but it’s useless if you don’t download the right apps. Indeed, the catalog of programs available for Google’s smart car service isn’t very extensive, but many of them are worthwhile to improve the quality of your journeys, and today we’ve brought you the best Android Auto apps to make everything easier for you.
It has become a habit among users to connect their mobile phones to the car, either to simply listen to music or to open Android Auto. The latter opens up a range of possibilities for the user, who can access different sections of their smartphone or vehicle in a much more comfortable and accessible way.
The reason why many of the original Play Store apps are missing from Android Auto is down to user safety. Not only do these apps need to be optimized to look and work well on the car’s screen, but they also need to ensure that the user is not distracted by the app.
That’s why platforms like YouTube or Netflix aren’t available for the car, but there’s a long list of options available to you, and these are the best Android Auto apps you can download right now.
Maps Apps for Android Auto
Android Auto map apps are essential for getting to your destination without getting lost. They can guide you to the shortest route, avoid tolls, warn you about speed cameras, and much more. Google Maps comes pre-installed, but here are some interesting alternatives.
Waze
This app is also powered by Google, so it’s very similar to Google Maps. The main difference is that Waze is much more intuitive to use in the car and it records accidents or road closures much more quickly. This is a great help in avoiding traffic jams and getting to your destination as quickly as possible.
HERE WeGo
One of the best map apps for Android Auto is Here WeGo because of its simple and intuitive interface for everyone. Indeed, it is not as advanced as Google Maps and that is why it is easier to use. It also allows you to download maps offline so you don’t have to rely on the Internet and has customizable settings to avoid tolls. The directions are clear and concise, so you won’t have an annoying assistant reminding you of every move.
This app is the most similar to Google Maps of all, as it also offers downloadable offline maps, which is useful when you are in areas with poor network coverage on the road, which is very common. But it also includes a voice-guided navigation system, speed limit display, traffic alerts, and speed cameras, as well as options to customize routes as you wish.
Music Apps on Android Auto
These kinds of apps are ideal for making your car trip more enjoyable. The best apps for listening to music on Android Auto also allow you to access podcasts of all kinds. However, we have differentiated them from entertainment apps because the following ones are fully focused on the musical aspect.
Spotify
There is no better music app than Spotify. It is the most popular platform of all, by far. Access all the content of millions of songs for free, play your favorite playlists, and control the songs from
the buttons on your steering wheel if it has them. It includes all kinds of podcasts inside, which means an added advantage when you get bored of listening to music.
SoundCloud
It is the best alternative to Spotify for one main reason: you can find a greater variety of songs because any artist can share their music. This makes it an ideal platform for publishing songs and accessing all kinds of artists that may surprise you and you didn’t know about before. Its interface may be a bit more complicated to use, but it is a must for any music lover.
YouTube Music
This is another great option, especially if you’re a regular YouTube user, as you won’t have to do much more than browse through their vast catalog of music, music videos, and podcasts. Plus, YouTube integration lets you watch music videos while driving (as long as you’re parked) and features like personalized radio and recommendations based on your tastes.
Amazon Music
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber or have Amazon Music Unlimited, this app is a great choice. It offers millions of songs, podcasts, and radio stations. Plus, you can listen to music offline and enjoy superior sound quality with the HD option.
Listen to the news with Android Auto.
Many people don’t want to miss out on the latest news, even while driving. Luckily, Android Auto has several options for listening to or reading the news and keeping up to date with everything that’s happening in your country and the rest of the world.
PressReader
Read magazines or newspapers in the car before setting off for your destination, either while you wait for everyone to get in the car or while your children finish shopping. It has a premium subscription service that is ideal for book lovers. Check out each issue in detail with a format perfectly adapted to the car screen so you can read as much as you want comfortably.
Podcast & Radio Addict
You can always opt to listen to the news on your car radio, but some apps include shows from your favorite creators in case you prefer to hear the voice of a person who catches your attention more. Podcast & Radio Addict includes both podcasts and radio shows, as its name suggests, although it shines more for the great variety of the latter.
Entertainment From Android Auto
Listening to music isn’t the only thing you can do with Android Auto. You can also search for your favorite podcast in your car and even listen to an audiobook while you’re on the road. Two ways to keep yourself entertained and make driving less of a chore. These 2 apps will help you pass the time.
Podcast & Radio iVoox
The best Android Auto app for listening to podcasts is Podcast & Radio iVoox. Mainly, because inside you can find national and international programs, as well as radio channels of all kinds. For some reason, it is the most popular app of all for listening to podcasts in Spanish.
Audible
If you’re looking for the best app for listening to audiobooks, there’s no other app like Audible, the official Amazon app. From it, you can access a wide list of books just by being subscribed to the platform, although you can also buy an e-book and read it from Audible. It’s a very complete service with many customization options when it comes to dictating what the book says, so it’s worth taking a closer look.
Apps to Chat while Driving
Everyone uses WhatsApp on Android Auto to get in touch with family or friends. This is because the app’s interface is very well-optimized and easy to use. Although it is true that not everyone uses WhatsApp or prefers it, these solutions are perfect:
Telegram X
Telegram users can download the regular app to chat and message users, but the Telegram X version is much better. It features faster performance, better security, better animations, and beta features that you can try out for the first time.
Signal
Many people don’t know about it, but it’s probably the best messaging app for Android Auto. This is because it brings together all your WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, and many more conversations in one app from which you can access any chat. You can now download it for your car and connect all your accounts in one place.
All the Car Information in Android Auto
It’s vital to obtain data from your car while driving to know its status, such as the level of fuel or battery. From Android Auto, you can keep track of these two elements and even act in advance to organize your trip or save as much as possible when refueling.
Chargemap
The best Android Auto app for electric cars is Chargemap. It works as simply as displaying on a map all the charging stations for vehicles that run on electricity. From it, you can also select your car, the departure, and the destination to calculate how many times you will have to recharge the car along with the most recommended route based on the distance-price ratio.
Fuelium
Running out of gas in the middle of a trip is scary. Nobody wants to be stuck in the middle of the road, completely cut off from the traffic, waiting for a tow truck, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. For this, there are apps like Fuelio, which are among the best for Android Auto because they give you information about the nearest gas stations and the price of gasoline, so you can organize yourself and look for a cheaper alternative to fill up your fuel tank.
