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- The real value of Android Auto is in apps that go beyond defaults.
- These apps will entertain, help, and keep you safe.
- All you need is to have the app on your phone.
If you use Android Auto to navigate or control your in-car media, you’ll know it’s an incredibly useful app. But if that’s all you use the software for, you’re missing out on a ton of functionality.
Hundreds of apps are compatible with Android Auto. While these apps don’t do anything different on your car’s screen than on your phone, using the car-specific version isn’t too disruptive. These apps will make your life a lot easier. You don’t need to do anything special to use these apps on Android Auto. Just download them to your phone and connect.
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Here’s a look at six Android Auto apps you should have if you don’t already.
1. Fuelio
This is probably the Android Auto app I use the most. Fuelio shows you all nearby gas stations and current prices. That ability alone is worth using the app, because you can find the closest station in an emergency or save a little money here and there by going to a different station down the road. There’s rarely much of a difference from one station to another, but I can save about 10 cents a gallon at a quick glance, and those savings add up.
Fuelio also lets you log your mileage and expenses to see how well your car is running and how much you’re paying, and log any service and repair costs so you have that information close at hand when you need it. This feature came in handy a few times when my oil change sticker fell off, and I needed a quick reference for when I last changed the oil.
2. Pocket Casts
I tend to listen to podcasts more than music while driving, and I always have multiple episodes of a few podcasts on deck. I’ve tried a few podcast apps, but Pocket Casts is the best.
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The app supports several platforms, has a mute feature that makes each episode go by quickly, and the queue feature works flawlessly. In addition, the interface is less cluttered than any other media resource.
3. SpotHero
If you’ve ever parked in a crowded city for a concert or sporting event, you know the struggle of finding a spot and wondering if you paid too much. SpotHero helps you find available parking spaces on both floors and surfaces, buy a spot in advance, and see different options for where you need to go.
The Android Auto version doesn’t let you buy reservations (you’ll need to do that on your phone), but it does let you pull up your reservation, see details like the time, navigate to your location, and open your pass on a mobile phone if you need to scan it.
4. Weather Radar
I’m a meteorologist, and sometimes just seeing the weather forecast isn’t enough. The Weather and Radar app is one of the few tools that allows you to see real live radar on your car’s screen.
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If you’re on a road trip and you see ominous clouds ahead, you can take a quick look to see if they’re going to overtake you or maybe you should make an early pit stop for lunch. If you’re driving in bad weather, you can use the app to keep an eye on hard cells in your lane. The tool even supports side view with Google Maps or Waze to keep your navigation in view.
5. GameSnacks
This is one of the built-in Android Auto apps, but probably the most used tool in my car. GameSnacks is an app that lists the games you play on your car’s touchscreen. The games are all pretty basic and reminiscent of flash games from the early 2000s. My kids played a lot of games while we were waiting in the car, and it’s the perfect answer to the question, “Can I play a game on your phone?” I even fire up some games when I want to put my phone down and spend some time with software that isn’t designed to suck or trick me into paying real money.
6. PlugShare
I don’t have an electric vehicle (EV), so I haven’t used it myself, but I have friends who swear by it. The PlugShare app for Android Auto is essential for EV owners. It allows you to find the nearest charger on any network, search by plug type, see current reliability based on user reviews, report problems with chargers, navigate to charging stations, and more.
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The most useful part of this app is that it allows you to search for nearby services, too. For example, if you need a charger near a public restroom or one near food options.
