Android Auto overrides your car’s native infotainment system with a familiar, smartphone-like interface. It’s extremely easy to set up and relatively straightforward to use, but you’ll want to add third-party apps to get the full experience.
Whether you want to listen to music or chat with your friends, here are the best Android Auto apps.
Tidal
When it comes to musical quality, Tidal isn’t fooling around. The Android version of Tidal, the artist-owned music subscription app, works on more than 400 cars that support Android Auto, as well as third-party head units and Auto’s own phone interface. The Tidal global music and video streaming platform seeks to bring artists and fans together via exclusive artistic content. With Tidal, you can stream songs and discover new music, while members can also download tracks and music videos to listen to or watch offline.
Create your own playlist or use one of Tidal’s, curated by music editors and artists. Use the app to listen to whatever hi-fi album, playlist, or radio station you have on repeat. Stream music with no interruptions. The Premium subscription, which offers unlimited music on multiple devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets, plus access to Tidal X events, costs $10 per month, while lossless hi-fi costs $20 per month, offering subscribers the same Premium subscription content but delivered in lossless, CD, and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) quality (1411kbps as opposed to 320kbps standard streaming). Try it for free for 30 days.
Google Play
Pandora
There’s a reason why radio is so strongly associated with driving, and that’s because you can’t spend time picking your next tune. Pandora is perhaps the top music streaming service for personalized music radio that learns as you listen, continually serving up better and better recommendations as you listen more. Unlike traditional radio, you can skip songs you’re not interested in — though the number of skips available is limited on free accounts.
You can remove limitations on skips and replays, as well as ads, for just $5 a month, and you can also turn Pandora into a Spotify-style on-demand streaming service for $10 a month. We’d stick with the radio just for convenience’s sake, but it could be worth it if you really come to love your Pandora recommendations. The new version now features podcasts, where you can discover your favorite podcast or get personalized recommendations based on your listening habits. There are more than 100,000 podcast episodes available, with more added every day.
Google Play
Scanner Radio
If you’re the type to keep your ear to the ground while on the road, Scanner Radio is happy to oblige, offering up live audio from over 7,000 fire and police scanners, weather radios, radio repeaters, air traffic, and marine radios all over the planet. You can turn on notifications for alerts any time a scanner hits more than 3,500 listeners, ensuring you’re in on the latest major events. Also, you can check in with the scanners nearest to your location, view the top 50, and browse the directory by information genre. You’re always up to the minute and in the know with Scanner Radio. A paid version for $3 removes the ads. The newest version has been updated for Android 10.
Google Play
NPR One
Just because you’re in the car doesn’t mean you’ve left the world behind — it’s usually quite the opposite. If you can’t abide miles of commercials, jingles, product hawking, and mindless chatter, you can stay connected to what matters with NPR One. You get the latest local, regional, national, and international news in a cohesive, curated narrative flow. With NPR One, it’s not a one-way street: You can skip stories you’re not interested in, and the app knows not to present that genre to you again. Likewise, a light tap on the light bulb tells the app to give you more of that kind of story. You can search for your favorite shows, programs, and podcasts, and enable a sleep timer with five presets. While on the go, you can skip, pause, and search without taking your hands off the steering wheel.
Google Play
This popular messaging app gives drivers a hands-free way of receiving and sending messages. When used in conjunction with Android Auto, you can simply tap on the message as it appears on your car’s display, then use your voice to draft and send replies. If you’re using GPS or another app at the time, messages will appear in the top third of your display, so you can craft your response without switching app screens and potentially missing your turn.
Updated versions feature new privacy settings that let you control who can add you to groups. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups. The app now supports call waiting, so you can choose to accept an incoming call while you’re on another call. You can now require a fingerprint to unlock the app by tapping Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint Lock to set up unlock with a fingerprint.
Google Play
Amazon Music
Amazon Music works similarly to Google Play Music, but it’s probably preferable for Amazon Prime subscribers. Any music tied to your Amazon account — be it in the cloud, music you’ve uploaded to the service, or songs found on your phone — will all be available when you decide to use Amazon Music with Android Auto, alongside features like Prime Stations. Voice commands are also available for hands-free use, meaning you can say “OK, Google” followed by a phrase like “Play Call Me Maybe on Amazon Music.” The most recent update debuts free streaming music, so you can listen to top playlists and thousands of radio stations for free.
Google Play
OverDrive
Your local library — not to mention some 20,000 others, with 90% located in the US — is always at your fingertips with OverDrive, and you can read as many books as you want for free. While you can borrow e-books, audiobooks, and streaming video from your library using OverDrive on your Android device, the audiobook functionality comes in especially handy while you’re driving. With OverDrive, you’re never too late to check out a book, place a hold, or worry about getting the books back on time. The app takes care of that. All you need is a valid account with a participating library, school, or other institution.
Google Play
Spotify
Spotify is still the largest music streaming service in the world, and it would have been a crime if it wasn’t compatible with Android Auto. Thankfully, it is, so you have access to Spotify’s massive database of available songs, albums, and artists. If you’re not subscribed, you can still get access to music streaming for free, just with ads. If you want to download your songs for use in places without mobile data, or if you’re on a limited data package, then you’ll need a Spotify Premium subscription for $10 a month. We have a guide to help you get a discount on that though. Getting set up with Android Auto is easy — just plug your phone in and you’re good to go. Spotify is constantly updating the app for smooth functionality.
Google Play
Facebook Messenger
We have other messaging options in this article, but if you’re already using Facebook Messenger to keep in touch with friends and family, then you don’t want to change just because you’ve gotten into your car. If you have Facebook Messenger on your phone, then any incoming messages you receive will be sent to your Android Auto (if active), so you can keep up with everything. You can also have Android Auto read your messages out loud, and you can tap a large button to send a pre-typed “I’m driving right now” message in reply to any of your messages. It’s simple integration, but it’s certainly welcome for driving when you want as few distractions as possible.
Google Play
Waze
You can get all sorts of useful real-time information about the road ahead from the active community on Waze. The app also offers turn-by-turn directions, reroutes you based on traffic, and alerts you about accidents, hazards, and police locations. You can also use it to share your ETA and progress with friends and family, which is ideal when you’re meeting up somewhere. Throw in info on points of interest, the best gas prices nearby, and Facebook integration, and you have one of the best navigation apps around.
Google Play
Google Play Music
Google Play Music’s integration with Android Audio provides users an easy way to listen to and control their music while driving. You can use the familiar voice commands you use on your Android phone for a truly hands-free experience. If you want to hear a particular song, artist, or genre, all you need to do is ask.
By using your car’s display to navigate the app, you’ll be able to see music recommendations, recent plays, and mixes based on artists and songs you’ve listened to previously. For these options to work, make sure you have Google Play Music correctly set up and that you’re signed in.
Google Play
Pocket Casts
Your daily commute can be a great time to catch up on all the best podcasts. Pocket Casts, which is now fully compatible with Android Auto, is one of the best podcasts apps available to Android users.
When paired with the Android Auto UI, you’ll have access to play/pause and back/forward controls. You can also browse for new podcasts, set filters, and take advantage of previously-made “Up Next” queues. You’ll have to prepare these playlists before you launch Android Auto, however, so you may still need to fiddle with your phone before hitting the road.
Google Play
Audible
Instead of relying on satellite radio or Spotify playlists, listening to an audiobook can make you feel productive when you’re on a long road trip. Amazon’s Audible has thousands of audiobooks to choose from, ranging from bestsellers to nonfiction to books the whole family will enjoy. The undisputed market leader is now compatible with Android Auto, giving you unlimited access to Audible’s impressive title selection no matter where the road takes you.
When you’re using the Audible app, you’ll be able to change the narrator’s reading speed, skip ahead or back by entire chapters, and briefly replay the last few lines of text that were read so you can be sure you didn’t miss anything important.
Another benefit of the Android Auto app is that you can directly access the Audible store from your car’s dashboard, so you don’t have to stop and fumble for a device to get your next book. You can review your wishlist, check on the latest bestsellers, and browse genre-specific categories, all without having to use your phone.
GOOGLE PLAY
Editors’ Recommendations
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