We tested dozens of free CarPlay apps, here are the best ones

News Apps We tested dozens of free CarPlay apps, here are the best ones The best options for music, navigation and more. By Devindra Hardawar July 21, 2026 2:30 pm EST Manu Padilla/Shutterstock CarPlay has gone from being a "nice to have" feature for consumers, to something they actively seek out when looking for new vehicles. And that makes sense: If you've got a large infotainment screen in your car, why deal with mounting your phone like the old days? CarPlay (along with Android Auto) basically projects functionality from your phone, similar to adding a second monitor to a PC or laptop. CarPlay apps are designed to be easier to use from your driver's seat, with larger interfaces and clearer menus than the iOS apps they're based on. (Though you should still avoid interacting with them while driving.) It's worth noting that CarPlay looks and feels different across various cars and manufacturers. Older vehicles typically require a wired connection, whereas newer models can connect wirelessly. (There are a variety of accessories that can also let you bring wireless functionality to wired CarPlay models, like the CarlinKit.) Some car makers restrict CarPlay apps to small windows within their infotainment systems, while others let it take over entire screens. And if you're the lucky owner of something compatible with CarPlay Ultra, which at this point only includes newer Aston Martins, then you'll get an expensive CarPlay view across your driver and infotainment displays. After using CarPlay for more than five years and testing dozens of apps specifically for this story, I've narrowed down the list of CarPlay apps you really need to use. Google Maps Google Maps was one of the most useful CarPlay apps when they first arrived, and it remains one of the best navigation options around. The Google Maps CarPlay app lets you easily set destinations using voice commands, report and respond to events on the road (like police presence and debris), and see the traffic flow of your route. The downsides? It's far more annoying to preview what's coming up in your route, compared to just swiping around a phone, and the app sometimes loses track of your location. Apple Maps Apple Despite its inauspicious launch, Apple Maps has turned itself into a true Google Maps competitor over the years. With CarPlay, Apple Maps can also do a few things better, like giving you more conversation directions (I.e, "Turn right after the next light"), compared to Google Maps' more stiff tone. If you're wearing an Apple Watch, the Apple Maps app will also gently nudge you when it's time to prepare for a turn or highway exit. Some cars can also display Apple's navigation information in the driver display, which is less common with Google Maps.