Watch. Listen. Share. AirPlay lets you do it all.

The best CarPlay apps By Jackie Dove March 20, 2021 Apple CarPlay overrides your car’s native infotainment system and promises to put a familiar, distraction-free interface right at your fingertips.

AirPlay lets you share videos, photos, music, and more from Apple devices to your Apple TV, favorite speakers, and popular smart TVs. And what you share always stays personal and private. So sit back and enjoy everything you love — in more places than ever.

• With the release of two new iPhones, iOS 7 and a fresh Apple TV update, now is a great time to test out iOS' AirPlay capabilities, especially for iPhone 5s owners, who can now take advantage of.
• It’s convenient for presentations, watching videos or photo slideshows, and more. If you have Apple TV, screen mirroring is a breeze thanks to AirPlay. But if you have some other television, you can benefit from using some of these best screen mirroring apps for iPhone and iPad. What is Screen Mirroring?

And just like that, it’s on TV.

Get the full picture on Apple TV 4K.

More than a remarkable way to use AirPlay, Apple TV 4K is a higher definition of TV. Stream 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second. Enjoy your photos from iCloud. Connect Apple Music to your home theater. Even control your HomeKit accessories.

AirPlay 2–enabled TVs. Now that’s smart.

Leading TV manufacturers are integrating AirPlay 2 directly into their TVs, so now you can effortlessly share or mirror almost anything from your iOS device or Mac directly to your AirPlay 2–enabled smart TV. You can even play music on the TV and sync it with other AirPlay 2–compatible speakers anywhere in your home.

Look for this symbol in stores and online.

Control it all with a tap.

Convenient built-in controls appear on your iPhone in apps, on the Lock Screen, and in Control Center — so you can easily play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and adjust the volume on your TV.

When bigger is better, mirror it.

AirPlay mirroring lets you share what’s on your Apple device — websites, presentations, spreadsheets — with everyone in the room on a bigger screen.

Put Siri in charge of your TV.

With AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, you can use Siri on your iPhone to send a video to your TV.¹ Better yet, ask Siri to play a specific show in a specific room.

Hey Siri, play
Dickinson Season 2 on my living room TV

A must-see Siri suggestion.

When Siri suggests a show to watch — on the Lock Screen or in search — it will also include an option to use AirPlay. So one quick tap on a Siri suggestion, and you’re watching your favorite show on your favorite screen.

You change rooms.
Your TV follows.

Now AirPlay can automatically play movies and shows in the places you’re most likely to watch them. Over time, AirPlay learns where you prefer to watch TV, and can start playing to the TV in that room with just a tap.

Your audio. Your way.

HomePod mini and AirPlay. The perfect duet.

HomePod mini is a breakthrough speaker that uses AirPlay 2 to control music throughout your home — from whatever room you’re in. Together with Siri, it creates an entirely new way to discover and interact with music.

AirPlay 2. Now in more speakers than ever.

Major speaker manufacturers are incorporating AirPlay 2 into their home audio products. And every AirPlay 2–enabled speaker works with the Home app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Look for this symbol in stores and online.

Multiroom audio is music to everyone’s ears.

Play your favorite music in one room and stream a podcast to another. Or sync your HomePod or other AirPlay 2–enabled devices for music throughout your home.

Anyone can add songs. Now it’s a party.

With AirPlay 2 and Apple Music, your friends can add their own music to the mix.

Ask Siri to play what you want, where you want.

With Siri, your music is there for the asking. Just say the song, say the room, and enjoy the music. Siri can also play music on TVs, receivers, and speakers that you’ve added to your Home app.

Hey Siri, play
the latest album
by Run the Jewels
in the bedroom

Take a call. Make a call. And the music plays on.

Take an incoming call or play a game on your device without interrupting your music.

Best Airplay App For Windows

• Learn how to use AirPlay video
• Learn how to use AirPlay audio

HomePod mini

Mini packs a punch.

Apple Music

Over 75 million songs. 3 months on us.

Apple’s CarPlay enhances your driving experience by giving you access to all your essential apps in a convenient way. It helps you navigate, respond to messages, and listen to music or podcasts on-the-go. Some of the default iOS apps that are compatible with CarPlay include the Phone, Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and more. But you can add more functionality with third-party options. Take your pick from these best CarPlay Apps for iPhone.

Navigation Apps

1. Google Maps

Get real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and transit info on your daily commutes and trips to unfamiliar places. Google Maps also helps you explore local neighborhoods and discover interesting places.

No matter what part of the world you’re in, this is the best offline map app featuring hundreds of millions of businesses and places, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and other important places.

Price: Free

2. Waze Navigation & Live Traffic

This is another navigation app that keeps you informed about everything that’s happening on the road. It alerts you about traffic, crashes, construction, police, crashes, and more.

Further, it will give you alternative routes to avoid traffic and help you find the cheapest gas station on your way. You can even listen to music and podcasts right from within the app.

Price: Free

3. TomTom GO Navigation

Here’s an app with customizable maps based on what you need and when you need it. It’s available in 150 countries and continuously updated to ensure that you always find the best route and save time, even when offline.

You can search for destinations, scenic areas, tourist attractions, and more, so it’s a good travel app too. One exciting aspect is Moving Lane Guidance that lets you know what lane is yours for junctions and exits.

Price: Free (1-Month Subscription – $1.99)

Audio Entertainment Apps

4. Spotify

If you love music, then you’ve got to have Spotify to keep you entertained while you’re on the road. This music streaming app curates custom playlists based on your preferences to make sure you always have something to tune into.

Further, there are curated playlists for every kind of mood and thousands of podcasts to keep up with your interests. Many are originals that are not available on any other platform.

Price: Free (Spotify Premium starts from $3.99)

5. Audible

Reading has never been easier, thanks to audiobooks. Get audible to take your mind on journeys of its own as you navigate to your destination. Besides a plethora of bestselling novels and non-fiction from around the world, it also offers Original books for your listening pleasure.

Further, you can binge on podcasts too. When you subscribe, you get one monthly credit to get any book you want that stays in your library forever. Add this to your arsenal of CarPlay apps and expand your mind.

Best Airplay App Android

Price: Free (US Premium Plus Monthly – $15.99 per month)

6. iHeart: Radio, Music, Podcasts

Check out another one-stop solution to all your in-car audio entertainment needs. It offers thousands of live radio stations, podcasts, and unlimited music playlists that match your moods and activities.

It’s packed full of useful features such as Favourites and Your Weekly Mixtape, making it easy to discover new sounds that you’ll love. You can even create personalized stations based on your favorite artists using the library of millions of songs from varied genres.

Price: Free (iHeartRadio Plus – $5.99)

7. Overcast

Are you a podcast lover? Then here’s a must-have CarPlay app for you that’s got everything you need without any unnecessary features or fuss. The simple, intuitive UI makes it a breeze to listen to what you want whenever you want.

Other features of this leading podcast app include Smart Speed that saves time without distorting the audio or sounding unnatural, and Voice Boost, which makes every episode the same volume with a broadcast-quality remastering engine.

Price: Free (Overcast Premium – $9.99)

8. TuneIn Radio

Check out this radio app for the world’s most extensive library of live, original, and on-demand audio in this radio app for CarPlay. Enjoy everything from breaking news and live sports to exclusive music and podcasts from around the world.

No need to worry about picking the next thing to listen to as it boasts a range of stations curated by renowned influencers, DJs, and iconic personalities. A premium subscription will give you access to even more exclusive content such as the English Premier League, NHL, and ad-free entertainment.

Price: Free (TuneIn Premium starts from $4.99)

Communication Apps

9. WhatsApp

While CarPlay already gives you access to the default iOS Messages app, it also supports WhatsApp to help you stay even more connected on-the-go. Send and receive texts, voice messages, photos, and videos through a network connection.

You can even make audio or video calls, all for absolutely free. It is one of the most popular ways to communicate with others globally, so it is a must-have for your CarPlay experience.

Price: Free

10. Zoom Cloud Meetings

Stay in the loop with this video conferencing app that’s taken the world by storm. While incredibly useful for work and professional needs, it’s equally helpful for meeting with friends and family online.

It has a safe driving mode to help you talk while focusing on the road. Further, you can use -Siri Shortcuts to customize your voice commands to start, join, and listen to a list of your upcoming meetings.

Price: Free

We hope this roundup of some of the best CarPlay apps for your iPhone will elevate your driving experience and add more convenience to your life. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.

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