Apple CarPlay: Top Apps for Drivers According to ZDNet

A ZDNet expert spent over 40,000 km behind the wheel in a year, actively using Apple CarPlay. In their review, they highlighted the apps that proved most useful for long trips and daily commutes. The key criterion was minimal driver distraction combined with maximum functionality.

Waze emerged as the leader among navigation apps, which the author has used for many years. For offline navigation and off-road trips, OsmAnd Maps was recommended—a paid service with GPX track and 3D map support. For weather monitoring, Carrot Weather (with a customizable interface) and Weather on the Way, which displays forecasts along the route, were suggested.

In the entertainment category, the author advises creating playlists in advance using Apple Music, Spotify*, or other services to avoid searching for tracks while driving. For audiobooks and podcasts, Audible, Libby (for free access via libraries), and Pocket Casts were mentioned. Additional tools include Telegram* for secure communication and ChatGPT for quick answers to questions on the go.

Separately, apps for finding gas stations and charging points were noted: GasBuddy for traditional vehicles and ChargePoint for electric cars. For parking, EasyPark and SpotHero were recommended to help reserve spots in advance.