Most Used CarPlay Apps While Driving: Insights from 40,000 km

A ZDNet expert shared the results of a year-long CarPlay test, covering over 40,000 km. The core principle: driving demands full attention, so app interactions must be minimized. The author recommends using Siri voice commands or stopping to adjust settings to avoid road risks.

Among navigation apps, Waze emerged as the leader, trusted by the author for years. While reliable, it occasionally requires switching to Google Maps due to glitches. For off-road trips or areas without internet, OsmAnd Maps—a paid app with offline maps, 3D buildings, and GPX tracks—is ideal for drivers, cyclists, and hikers.

For weather monitoring, the author uses Carrot Weather, offering flexible settings and conversational styles, and Weather on the Way, which provides route-based forecasts. Entertainment favorites include music services like Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music*, along with Audible audiobooks. For communication, Telegram and WhatsApp* are preferred, while ChatGPT enables quick information searches.

The expert highlights that CarPlay doesn’t mirror the iPhone interface: apps are simplified, and features like video conferencing in Microsoft Teams or Zoom are audio-only. Due to mobile connectivity issues while moving, planning app usage in advance is recommended.