If you’re like me, you probably have no space left on your phone for new apps. However, it might be worth deleting some of those unused apps you haven’t touched in months to make room for some of these helpful, useful apps. Car enthusiasts, it’s time to download these apps and let that space on your phone work for you.
Whether you’re saving on gas, finding beautiful routes, or jamming to music on a road trip, these are the best apps for enjoying your drive even more.
Downloading…
When putting together this curated article, I wanted to make sure I included apps for all kinds of drivers. I checked out several existing lists and started digging around on forums to see which apps the car community was talking about.
From there, I checked out which apps were being discussed the most to ensure they had useful features and positive reviews. This resulted in an eclectic mix of apps for off-road adventurers, track warriors, and road trip enthusiasts.
Porsche ROADS
You don’t need a Porsche to enjoy ROADS — although it wouldn’t hurt. The Porsche ROADS app lets you put in your starting address, how much time you have, and which direction you want to go. From there, it finds the best scenic routes for you, taking you through canyons, coastlines, and mountains.
Other drivers can use the app to share their favorite routes, too, pointing out if they’re good for those who want a winding path or maybe a quiet forest. The app will also show you how long the route is and what scenery you’ll experience along the way. This is the perfect app for anyone who wants to take the most breathtaking route possible on a road trip.
Facebook Marketplace
While this could lead to some unneeded purchases or endless scrolling, Facebook Marketplace is an undeniably great place to look for used cars and car parts. Maybe I’m biased because I found pretty sweet deals on two of my cars there, but I’ve seen people all over Reddit raving about Facebook Marketplace, saying it’s a good app for finding cars at a good value outside of a dealership.
Of course, buying a used car from some random person comes with its own risks. You’ll need to do your due diligence before finalizing a purchase, but I’m truly impressed with the amount of unique, rare, and collectible cars I’ve seen listed on there. If anything, scrolling is a fun way to waste time.
Spotify
In my humble opinion, Spotify is a must for anyone who drives or spends a lot of time in their car. The paid subscription has been worth it for me, allowing me to make curated playlists depending on the mood I’m in, the genre I’m feeling into, or even the car I’m driving.
The most popular of all music apps, Spotify has over 11 million artists, over 100 million songs, and 6 million podcasts titles. You’ll never run out of music to listen to on a long car ride. If you get bored of your own playlists, there are curated playlists based on your listening profile, they even have playlists based on what you listen to during certain times of day.
Car Scanner Pro
Car Scanner Pro is a popular OBD2 app, short for onboard diagnostics. It allows you to check out all the behind-the-scenes stuff happening in your car that you can’t see by glancing at the dashboard. Having all this data is very useful so you can catch issues before they happen.
It’s not the most flashy app, but having acceleration tests, emission tests, and sensor information all at your fingertips is really impactful for your car’s health.
TrackAddict
If you like driving your car on racetracks, the TrackAddict app is a car community favorite. The main features of TrackAddict include capturing videos of your lap as well as all of the data you need from each lap. This includes lap times, driving line analysis, statistics, and performance comparisons.
The TrackAddict app has over 1,000 circuits from tracks around the world, but you can also add your own. Another interesting feature is the ability to choose from various modes, from rally to drag racing.
Waze
Waze has become a really popular GPS app that many prefer over the ones that come with their phone because of its extra features. The real-time traffic alerts have saved drivers time and headaches, providing alternative routes and important updates about the route you’re on.
One of the biggest reasons drivers prefer Waze is its accurate police notifications. As one Reddit user said: “Waze has saved me from A LOT of potential speeding tickets.”
GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a must-have (unless you’re driving an EV, of course). It shows you all nearby gas stations and their prices so you can choose the one that works best for your budget. It also shows gas stations that aren’t working correctly so you know which ones to avoid. I also like the tracking option so you can see how much you’ve been spending on gas or on long road trips.
In addition, GasBuddy provides discounts at participating gas stations, and there’s a GasBack section where you can save some cents on gas by making purchases at certain department stores and hotels.
Wrumer
In case you’d rather hear the sound of your car’s engine instead of a Spotify playlist, Wrumer is the app for you. A device is plugged into your car’s OBD2 port and then connects to the app, which plays your engine’s sounds through your speakers. This brings the sound of your engine inside, making driving a lot more engaging.
What I like about this app is that it considers live data, like RPMs, so the sounds you hear inside are accurate to your driving. No surprise here, but this app is not compatible with electric cars.
OnX Offroad
If you enjoy taking your car off the beaten path, OnX Offroad can help you plan your next off-road adventure more easily. The app discovers nearby trails and then helps by planning and building routes in 3D. It also provides assistance during your mountain climb or rocky forest drive by tracking the trip and providing navigation. You can even save maps to access offline in case you’re in an area with a poor signal.
Simply select what type of vehicle you’re driving, whether it’s a 4×4 or dirtbike, and OnX will find off-road routes fitting for your vehicle in the area.
Rallista
Rallista is a great app if you want to find other car enthusiasts to drive or meet up with. You can map out routes and then find other drivers who may be interested in driving the route with you.
You can take it a step further by setting up professional driving events, both public and private. Rallista can even provide you with a sales team who can help put the event together.
Eyes on the Road
Whether you’re commuting to work or going on a long road trip, these apps can really make all the difference.
Hearing your engine roar from inside the car or keeping an eye on important stats can help you stay more alert and immersed in the drive ahead. And who would ever complain about saving some moolah at the gas pump along the way?