Android Auto is one of the best things since sliced bread. Whether you have an aftermarket Android head unit in an older car or a new car that supports it natively, it’s one of the most transformative ways to make your driving safer, smarter, and more convenient.
However, Android Auto is only as good as your apps. It relies entirely on your phone’s apps and their Android Auto integration, and some apps integrate better than others. In this list, I’ve rounded up five of the most unique and useful Android Auto apps that will make the time you spend in your car a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.
Pocket Casts is better than Spotify for podcasts
It’s the only way I listen to podcasts in my car
Spotify has seen numerous improvements that have made it a more viable podcast player than ever, and it has one of the best selections. However, it’s still a music-first app, and if you’re trying to switch to a podcast on the fly during a traffic stop or before heading out, its combined interface can be a little annoying to handle.
I tried every podcast app after canceling Spotify—here’s the one I’m sticking with
It’s better in almost every way.
It’s much easier to replace Spotify with a proper podcast app designed from the ground up for use in cars, which is exactly where Pocket Casts comes in. The app’s clean interface and improved playback controls let you manage your favorite podcasts in just a few quick taps.
GameSnacks turns waiting in your car into fun
Perfect for those 10 minutes when you’re waiting in a parking lot
When you have time to kill in your car (which is honestly pretty often), it’s easy to resort to doomscrolling through social media on your phone. I prefer to turn my attention to games, but I don’t always feel like playing through a half-hour run in Balatro if I’m just waiting a few minutes for someone.
Fortunately, GameSnacks on Android Auto is there to save the day. It’s a collection of simple but addictive games developed by Google. They’re completely ad-free and run buttery smooth, even on my $100 Temu Android head unit.
GameSnacks has a surprisingly wide selection of high-quality games you can play, most of which are clones of popular formats you can enjoy on your big screen: match-three, 2048, jigsaw puzzles, endless runners, and even chess, which is heaps of fun to play against your co-driver (when parked, of course).
Note that you might not be able to install GameSnacks on your phone directly from the Google Play Store. It seems like Google has removed the app, or it comes pre-installed on some phones. In any case, if you don’t have GameSnacks, you can probably sideload the apk instead.
SmartLife lets you control your home from the driver’s seat
Turn everything off remotely in just two taps
I typically rely on Google Home to control my cheap smart bulbs, but unfortunately, there’s no Android Auto support for the app. Fortunately, the SmartLife app that’s built for the Tuya platform is the perfect replacement, as all of my current smart home devices are compatible with it.
SmartLife has an easy-to-use Android Auto interface that lets you control your pre-configured scenes. Right now, I only have one scene that I use to turn every device off, since it’s all just smart bulbs and a smart plug I use for my clothes iron.
It’s all I really need—the app gives me an easy way to turn everything off without having to pull over and use my phone. It’s straightforward, I know, but the peace of mind this app gives me is undeniable.
The downside of the SmartLife app is that it has only limited Matter support, and some devices may be incompatible. If your preferred smart home app, like SmartThings or Home Assistant, already has Android Auto integration, just use that instead.
Sygic is the offline navigation app Google Maps wants to be
A navigation app that works even in remote areas
Navigation is the primary reason most of us use our head units in the first place. Google Maps is king, and Waze is often regarded as the best alternative, as it generally does a better job of informing you about speed limits and road alerts.
However, you don’t always have internet access when driving, especially in remote areas. Google Maps has very limited offline map support, and Waze straight-up doesn’t have offline maps.
Whenever I’m offline, I turn to Sygic. This navigation app was designed to be used offline from the ground up. The app allows you to download entire regional maps and use turn-by-turn navigation, all without internet access. I’ve already downloaded my entire country so that I can finally stop getting lost in those remote, mountainous roads.
BlackPlayer is the best local music player
The only app I use for my own music library
There’s an endless list of free MP3 music players on the Google Play Store. Many of them lack basic features, are packed with ads, or just have an ugly design that turns me off.
That’s why BlackPlayer has been my go-to music player for the past few years, ever since Google Play Music was shut down. It’s a very minimalist player with a material design, and it integrates perfectly with Android Auto.
Even with a relatively small library of songs, I still prefer BlackPlayer over Spotify because it has no ads and doesn’t randomly pause my music whenever I’m outside a radio tower’s signal range.
Quality apps make the difference
There’s a near-endless selection of Android Auto apps, but only a handful are truly unique at what they do—and the important part is that they do it well. If you’ve only been using Google Maps and Spotify, now is the perfect time to turn the page and explore these standout apps.
These 8 Apps Make Android Auto Even Better
Do more and have fun in your vehicle with these Android Auto apps.
