Which apps work with Apple CarPlay?

IPhone Tips
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Looking for an updated list of apps that work with Apple CarPlay. Just bought a new car and want to make sure I can get the most out of CarPlay. Not sure which messaging, navigation, and music apps I can use safely while driving. Would appreciate recommendations and recent experiences from others.

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Which Apps Can You Actually Use with Apple CarPlay?

So, let’s just lay it out: Apple CarPlay isn’t the big, wild, free-for-all you might hope for. It’s got this walled garden vibe that’s great for not accidentally crashing into a mailbox while playing Candy Crush, but not so great if you’re hoping to run your entire phone from your dashboard. Some apps are built-in, others you can add, but there are definite boundaries. Here’s what you can get, how, and what the experience is really like.

Navigation Apps (Because Who Trusts Apple Maps On Its Own?)

  • Apple Maps
    As expected, this one’s there from day one. Open CarPlay, tap Maps, punch in an address. Done.

    • Pros: Actually not bad these days, decent lane guidance, works with your iCloud contacts.
    • Cons: Puny compared to Google Maps in some rural spots.

  • Google Maps
    Not kidding, everyone I know drove off the lot, downloaded this, and never went back.
    How:

    1. Install Google Maps on your iPhone.
    2. Plug phone in (or use wireless), open CarPlay.
    3. Tap the Google Maps icon.
    4. Search for your taco shop or whatever.

  • Waze
    For the traffic-heads and the “cop spotted in one mile” crowd. Also integrates reports from other drivers.

    • Install Waze on your iPhone.
    • It’ll show up on CarPlay automatically.
    • Tap it, and drive like everyone’s watching.
    • Waze Official FAQ

Music & Podcasts (Goodbye, Awkward Local Radio Ads)

Here’s where things actually get kind of interesting. CarPlay isn’t just for Apple Music!

  • Apple Music
    No setup needed if you have a subscription.
    Hit the music note icon, browse via touch or Siri.

  • Spotify
    How:

    1. Download Spotify on your phone.
    2. Open CarPlay, look for the green circle.
    3. Browse your playlists, hit play.
    4. Or, hit the Siri button: “Play my Discover Weekly on Spotify.”

  • Pandora, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Audible, Pocket Casts
    If it’s an audio thing with an iOS app, check the App Store — odds are it’s CarPlay-friendly. The steps don’t change much:

    1. Download.
    2. Plug in.
    3. Tap it on CarPlay.

Messaging (But Safety First, Seriously.)

So, full texting while driving? Nope. But if you’re cool talking to your windshield, Siri’s got you.

  • iMessage

    • Touch the messages icon.
    • Dictate your message; listen to Siri read back replies.
    • “Hey Siri, text Mom: I’m running late, yes I left the oven off.”

  • WhatsApp
    Seriously, it shows up right alongside iMessage if you have the app.

Calling (Because Sometimes You’re Actually Using Your Car as a Phone)

  • Phone stuff is all there — your entire contact list, recent calls, keypad.
  • Use Siri (“Call Alex Smith on mobile”) or just tap the phone icon in CarPlay.

“But Can I Watch Netflix on My Tesla Screen?” (No. Seriously. No.)

CarPlay is strictly anti-distracted-driving. You’re not going to run games, watch video, or scroll Reddit while moving.

Step-by-Step: Adding and Using Apps on CarPlay

  1. Make sure your car supports CarPlay: Obvious, but check your manual or Apple’s Car Compatibility List.
  2. Plug in your iPhone (or connect wirelessly if that’s an option—most folks still use a cable).
  3. Download the app you want on your phone.
  4. Open CarPlay, and look for your app’s icon on the dashboard screen.
  5. Tap and go: Interact via touch, or press and hold the Voice/Siri button on your steering wheel.
  6. Rearrange icons (on iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay, select your car, then customize the layout).

Wikipedia’s CarPlay Page also gives a full feature rundown, if you’re into the encyclopedic approach.

“But What Else?” (Or, The List You’ll Never Get From the Brochure)

  • NPR One
  • Overcast
  • TuneIn Radio
  • MLB At Bat
  • iHeartRadio
  • Slacker Radio
  • Telegram (for messages, sorta)
  • Tidal
  • Vox

If the iOS app’s developer has put in CarPlay support, it’ll just show. Check the app’s description before you install it, though—there are random outliers.

Worth Knowing

  1. Can’t add or sideload non-approved apps.
  2. Video? Games? Mmm, nope.
  3. App not showing? Restart your phone and your car, or check Settings > General > CarPlay.

For More

If you want every app available, check the App Store’s CarPlay collection.

And that’s pretty much the unfiltered lowdown on what you can (and can’t) do with Apple CarPlay. It’s not flawless, but it’s way better than arguing with a non-touchscreen radio from 2007.

38 Likes
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Honestly, @mikeappsreviewer pretty much nailed the mainstays, but honestly, CarPlay’s list of apps always feels just a liiittle bit off-everyone’s-expectations. You’ll find Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps (shocker, right?), Spotify, Apple Music, Audible, and Pandora on there—those cover the basics. It is nice they added WhatsApp for messaging, but don’t get too hyped if you’re a Telegram diehard, as its functionality is barebones at best. (Seriously, Telegram on CarPlay is like “smoke signals” compared to the full app.)

Couple things though: Some less famous music/podcast apps—like Overcast (superior to Apple Podcasts if you ask me), Pocket Casts, even Deezer and Tidal—work just fine. If you’re hoping for stuff like Google Hangouts or Signal, pff, forget about it. Also, NPR One and MLB At Bat are a YES if you want news or live games, but what’s weird is some apps look like they’d be perfect for CarPlay and just…aren’t supported (looking at you, YouTube, not YouTube Music).

Big tip—never assume newly released iOS apps will show up in CarPlay just because they do “audio” or “messages,” devs need to explicitly support it. The app store’s not great at surfacing every single one either.

Also—CarPlay layout: If you want your dashboard icons to make sense, DEFINITELY customize your CarPlay home screen from your iPhone’s settings. Otherwise, welcome to “Why is my audiobook app four swipes deep?”

And I gotta disagree with the “most folks still use a cable” thing—a lot more cars now have wireless CarPlay and honestly, it’s a game-changer, unless you love untangling wires while merging.

One thing nobody tells you: if your favorite app isn’t there, it’s not a CarPlay issue, it’s 99% the app developer not bothering to implement support. No magical sideloading hacks here, unless you’re trying to void a warranty and run third-party dashboards, which please don’t.

My personal wish: actual app discovery on the dashboard, but Apple seems allergic to risk. In a nutshell: If you see the app in the “CarPlay Compatible” app store collection, you’re golden. If not, all the creative wishes in the world won’t help.

And nah, you can’t watch a movie while parked… unless you’re in a Tesla and even then, that’s not CarPlay. Sorry, road trip Netflixers.

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If you’re expecting CarPlay to be a magic portal to your entire phone, prepare for some disappointment—Apple’s idea of “open app support” is about as generous as TSA’s liquid policy. Yes, as @mikeappsreviewer and @cazadordeestrellas already said, ALL the major navigation apps are there—Apple Maps (duh), Google Maps (thank god), and Waze (for the crowdsource-obsessed)—but start hunting for alternatives and you’ll hit a wall fast. The music choices are solid: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora, iHeartRadio, etc. Podcasts? Same situation—Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Audible, NPR One.

But messaging is where Apple’s strictness reaches DEFCON 1. You get Messages/iMessage, WhatsApp if you really must, and a few others (Telegram barely works—think “carrier pigeon” level). Basically, if you want to do anything beyond voice/quick reply, you’re out of luck. Forget Discord, Signal, Slack, or anything else even sort of fun.

CarPlay only lets audio-first apps play, so YouTube is a hard NO (unless you mean YouTube Music, which works but is clunkier than Spotify). Sideloading or hacking in third-party stuff? Not unless you want to break literally everything and void a warranty faster than you can say “unsupported device detected.”

Reality check: Apple updates this list sloooowly, so unless devs specifically update and re-submit their apps for CarPlay, you’ll notice a bunch of random omissions. Pro tip: open the App Store’s “CarPlay” section and scroll—what you see is, pretty much, what you get. Sometimes an app looks perfect for CarPlay (looking at you, TuneIn Radio), only to end up half-baked or missing features. And yeah, you can rearrange your CarPlay screen, but you’re still stuck in Apple’s ecosystem—no custom widgets, visualizations, 8-bit Mario. Maybe in 2040.

If you’ve got a favorite app, check directly with its developer—don’t trust random internet lists, as they get outdated fast. Oh, and if you dream about video while driving, just…don’t. This isn’t a Tesla.

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If you’re hoping CarPlay will let you fiddle with any app from your iPhone, well, it’s more like a velvet rope at a club—except the bouncer is Apple and he only lets in navigation, audio, and a handful of messaging apps. Here’s the reality (condensed):

Navigation: Apple Maps is getting good, but Google Maps is still the seasoned crowd favorite. Waze gets you all the “cop up ahead” hype, though its interface is busier than a highway at rush hour.

Music/Audio: The diversity here’s not bad—Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora, iHeart, Audible. Podcasts? Overcast and Pocket Casts are smooth (Audible does audiobooks perfectly). But stuff like SoundCloud is missing features or plain absent.

Messaging: Besides iMessage and WhatsApp, it dries up fast. Telegram? You’ll get basic notifications, no deep interaction.

Pros for ’ on CarPlay: Clean interface, rock-solid Siri voice control, and less chance you’ll rear-end someone fiddling with junk apps. Integrates seamlessly with steering wheel voice buttons.

Cons: Minimal flexibility—no video, no screen mirroring, no custom widgets. Some of the competitors (@cazadordeestrellas and @mikeappsreviewer) nailed it: if you’re hoping for Discord, Signal, or anything more “fun,” prepare to be let down.

Reality: Apple isn’t opening the floodgates, and what’s on your dash today might be the same for months. Want more? Check the App Store’s CarPlay picks regularly, but manage expectations. And double-check any app’s support for CarPlay before blaming your car.

Summary: Stick to navigation, audio, and a couple of chat apps—safe, stable, and legal (if a little boring). If you really need to customize, you’ll have to look outside Apple’s orchard… but at least your driving will stay distraction-free.