Google’s in-car interface Android Auto can be a very useful addition on your daily commute, showing you apps and content from the smartphone on the in-car display and by that allowing you to stay connected while driving but without compromising your on-road safety. The list of compatible Android Auto apps is getting longer over time, and we are bringing you some of the most useful ones for your next road trip.
Almost everyone knows of Google Maps, Google’s navigation app that is popular among both iOS and Android users. It offers estimated time of arrival based on the traffic conditions while suggesting a route that will beat traffic and get you to the destination the fastest and easiest. And in case of any traffic incident or road issues, it will automatically reroute to save time. As it the app is ads free, there won’t be any distracting pop-up appearing during the drive either.
Even though a bit less well known than the previous one, the Waze navigation app has a lot to offer. Similarly to Google Maps, it will show directions to the given location taking into consideration the traffic condition on the road while also alerting you about any accidents nearby. Besides this, it will show police location and even the best prices of gas nearby. It can also send an estimated time of arrival to your contacts before meetings.
Many people use Facebook Messenger on daily basis to keep in touch with their family and due to this, it is very useful to have the incoming messages sent and shown on your in-car display while on the road, updating you on what is happening. The app also offers to read the messages out loud, and can even send a previously set up line, for example, “I will text you later, I am driving right now”, as a reply to any chat.
Another popular messaging app for Android Auto is WhatsApp which offers a hands-free option for receiving and sending messages as it relies on voice rather than typing. The app interface is designed so that it can be used simultaneously with either navigation apps or any other app used at the moment, as the messages can appear on a full or only third of the in-car display. This way, it is simple to follow the map and reply to a received message at the same time.
Spotify is among the most popular music streaming services in the world right now. It offers a huge database including songs, artists, albums and even podcasts for your trip. Moreover, it works even without a paid subscription, but this version does come with an unfortunate addition of ads.
Keep in mind that Spotify is not the only music streaming service that is compatible. If you have a subscription from before for Pandora, Deezer, Google Play Music or Amazon Music, the listed apps are also compatible and will work well on the in-car display through Android Auto.
Many people still enjoy listening to the radio while driving around and Scout FM radio app might be just what is needed. It offers a variety of both radio shows and podcasts to choose from, after which it uses those choices to offer more similar ones that you would like allowing the listener to get recommendations based on their personal taste. The interface is simple and straightforward which makes the app very easy to use while driving.
Audible became more popular lately as many book lovers turned towards listening to their favorite books anytime, anywhere rather than reading the paper version. This also includes listening to some of the favorite titles on the ride to work each day. The app offers numerous interesting audiobook titles across many different genres to be chosen from with custom narration speed and automatic sync between all devices.
Overall, Android Auto in-car interface is compatible with more apps than Apple’s CarPlay. Luckily, even though not all cars are able to support this interface, some companies such as Pioneer have released Android Auto head units that can be installed on the car’s dashboard and provide the service seamlessly.
