Apple CarPlay has become an essential feature for iPhone users, seamlessly bringing communication, navigation, and entertainment apps directly to your car’s built-in display. Whether you want to stay connected, listen to your favorite music, or get real-time navigation updates, CarPlay makes driving safer and more enjoyable.
Here’s the ultimate list of the best CarPlay apps available worldwide in 2025, organized by category.
Apple’s Own CarPlay Apps
Apple provides a strong foundation of built-in CarPlay apps that work right out of the box:
- Phone – Access favorites, recents, contacts, keypad, and voicemail.
- Music (Apple Music) – Stream millions of songs, including Apple Music Radio (Beats 1).
- Maps – Navigation with turn-by-turn guidance, lane assistance, POIs, and ETA sharing.
- Messages – Use Siri to create, read, and reply to messages safely.
- News+ – Audio stories for Apple News+ subscribers.
- Now Playing – Universal control for any audio source.
- Podcasts – Syncs with your iPhone for podcast listening.
- Books – Audiobook playback via Apple Books.
- Calendar – View events and addresses directly on your display.
- Settings – Manage Driving Focus, light/dark mode, and Siri suggestions.
- Dashboard – A unified view of navigation, music, Siri suggestions, and calendar events.
- Widgets – Quick access to shortcuts and suggestions.
Navigation Apps
One of the most important CarPlay categories is navigation. These apps help drivers worldwide find the best routes:
- Google Maps
- Waze
- HERE WeGo
- TomTom GO Navigation
- Sygic GPS Navigation
- Rever Motorcycle GPS & Rides (for bikers)
- ETA (time-to-destination app)
- 2GIS (popular in Eastern Europe and Asia)
- NAVER Map (widely used in South Korea)
- Roads by Porsche / My Porsche (for Porsche owners)
Communication Apps
Stay connected while driving without compromising safety:
- Telegram Messenger
- Microsoft Teams
- Zoom Cloud Meetings
- LINE (popular in Asia)
- Cisco Webex Meetings
Music & Audio Apps
CarPlay offers one of the most diverse selections for music lovers worldwide:
- Spotify
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- YouTube Music
- Tidal
- SoundCloud
- Mixcloud
- Dash Radio
- Plexamp
- VOX
- VLC
- LiveOne
- SiriusXM Radio (US-focused)
- Berliner Philharmoniker (classical music fans)
- Radio Deejay (Italian radio station)
- SongCapsule (music diary app)
Audiobooks & Reading
CarPlay isn’t just for music – it’s also a great way to enjoy books while driving:
- Audible
- Google Play Books
- Scribd
- Blinkist (book summaries)
- Bookmate
- Kobo Books
- Libby (library app)
- AudioBooks.com
- Walmart eBooks
- Instapaper (for articles and saved reading)
Podcasts & Radio
If you prefer podcasts or live radio, these apps integrate perfectly with CarPlay:
- Overcast
- Pocket Casts
- Breaker
- Castro
- Pandora
- iHeartRadio
- Downcast
- Spotify Podcasts
- TuneIn Radio (global live radio stations)
- Audacy
News & Sports
Stay updated on the go with these global CarPlay-compatible apps:
- Bloomberg
- CNBC
- CBS Radio News
- NPR One
- The Athletic
- MLB At Bat
- NBA
- NHL
- NFL team apps (e.g., Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints)
EV Charging, Fuel & Parking
With electric mobility on the rise, CarPlay now supports EV and parking apps:
- ChargePoint
- PlugShare
- EasyPark
- SpotHero
- Walmart Fuel
Food & Restaurants
Some regions even support ordering food through CarPlay apps:
- Domino’s Pizza
- Chick-Fil-A
- Dunkin’
- Panera Bread
Weather Apps
Stay informed about weather and road conditions:
- MyRadar Weather Radar
- Weather on the Way
Other Utilities
A few extra CarPlay-compatible apps make life on the road easier:
- Alarm.com (smart home integration)
- Rocket Homes (real estate browsing)
- Airstream RV (for RV owners)
CarPlay in 2025
Apple CarPlay has grown into a complete driving companion, offering not just navigation and music but also productivity, communication, and even food ordering apps. While some apps are region-specific, the global ecosystem is massive and continues to expand.
Whether you’re streaming music on Spotify, navigating with Google Maps, catching up on an Audible audiobook, or joining a Zoom call, CarPlay makes it all possible without taking your hands off the wheel.
In 2025, CarPlay isn’t just about convenience — it’s about creating a smarter, safer, and more connected driving experience worldwide.