Gadgets

These 5 free Apple CarPlay apps make my commute actually enjoyable

Published

7 days ago

February 14, 2025

Empowerment

These 5 free Apple CarPlay apps make my commute actually enjoyable

Summary

Apple CarPlay allows downloading of free apps for entertainment while driving, adding value to your commute.

Americans spend 43 hours in traffic — that’s a long time.

Messaging apps on CarPlay offer secure chat and voice reply options, without taking your hands off the wheel.

Anyone with a long commute knows how boring it can be. Who wants to spend hours stuck in traffic with nothing to do? Not me. Fortunately, most new vehicles come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, mirroring your phone to your car screen — and it’s often better than the native infotainment system. However, many people don’t know how to use Apple CarPlay to its full potential.

Even if it isn’t a standard feature, it’s pretty easy to add Apple CarPlay to your car via aftermarket CarPlay screens or wireless adapters. This handy piece of car tech allows you to download your favorite apps to keep you entertained along the way.

Best of all, the apps on my list are free.

4 CarPlay tips that will change your driving life

There’s nothing too complex about CarPlay, but Apple doesn’t teach you everything.

1 Overcast

The easiest way to listen to podcasts

According to INRIX, the average US driver spent 43 hours in traffic in 2024. Rather than listening to announcements about the jam you’re already in, you could listen to a podcast. Overcast is an award-winning podcast player, and Apple’s editors’ choice, with offline listening, playlists, and speed settings. There are endless podcasts available covering every genre, so you’ll find something to make rush hour bearable.

Overcast

Overcast is a podcast player.Overcast is a podcast player with unique features for the iPhone and other Apple devices. The Smart Speed features helps you get through podcasts faster without distorting audio.

11 best podcasts to listen to right now

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2 WhatsApp

There’s no need to text and drive

WhatsApp / Pocket-lint

In case you don’t know, WhatsApp is an end-to-end encrypted online messaging service. Because of this, it’s more secure and private than standard messaging platforms, like iMessage. I like using WhatsApp via CarPlay since it’s so intuitive — when messages are received, a notification pops up on the screen showing who it’s from, and Siri can read the text aloud so I can stay hands-free.

The next sequence asks if you would like to reply, to which you can say yes or no, and speak your reply out loud for Siri to type. It also reads back what has been typed to make sure there are no embarrassing misheard words. It’s so easy, and you don’t need to take your hands off the wheel.