4 free CarPlay apps that hold me entertained on lengthy roadtrips

There’s not a lot on this world I dislike greater than a subscription. I am the kind of one that pays for full-year subscriptions to apps or different companies at one time, then thinks about renewing them the following yr. That very same mentality extends into my automobile. I’ve written about infotainment here at Pocket-lint for fairly a while now, and these 4 apps keep in my rotation it doesn’t matter what.

Whether or not it is getting your audiobooks at no cost by supporting native libraries or maintaining together with your favourite school sports activities groups, there are many free apps that may hold you greater than entertained and knowledgeable in your day by day commute. It simply takes some digging to seek out them. Fortunately for you, I’ve finished all of the digging.

That is my new favourite approach to get audiobooks

I nonetheless subscribe to Audible, however this makes me really feel a lot better

Did you ever go to the library as a child? There have been loads of days when a tiny Tanner was bopping across the native library with a load of books in hand. I nonetheless have my previous library card mendacity round the home, someplace. Nevertheless, after transferring to West Texas, I discovered the Libby app, which led me to get my free library card on the native library.

In doing so, I now have entry to over 5,000 audiobooks in my native library and over 10,000 Kindle books, all with my library card. The most effective half? You’ll be able to take the audiobooks on the highway with Libby’s CarPlay compatibility. If you do not have a fairly well-stocked native library, Libby won’t give you a lot, however in the event you’re anyplace close to a big metropolitan space, I can promise it is well worth the brief journey to get your new library card. On high of all of that, you are supporting local libraries within the course of, which is about essentially the most healthful factor you are able to do in 2025.

Sustain with each sports activities staff you observe

As a fan of a number of school groups, this app is wonderful

The Varsity Community app is the brainchild of Learfield, the licensing firm that in all probability owns the rights to your college’s radio and audio applications. Learfield is not going broke anytime quickly, however which means its revenue margins do not depend on charging customers to make use of an app. If you happen to’re like me and end up behind a steering wheel at any time when your favourite groups are enjoying, the Varsity Community app is the perfect free answer you may ask for.

The app gives play-by-play audio streams from the radio voices you in all probability already know and love. I used it final weekend to hearken to Mississippi State’s first SEC win in two seasons, and plan on utilizing it this weekend to maintain up with Texas Tech and BYU (together with the remainder of the nation, it appears). If you happen to’re like me and dwell on the highway, there is no higher app for conserving you in contact with the groups you already love.

Podcasting will be improved, consider it or not

Till Spotify will get its act collectively, I will be utilizing this

My greatest beef with Spotify podcasting, which I have been quite vocal about on this very website, is that the app by no means performs the episode or present I would like it to after I end my first episode of every day on my commute. Overcast, nevertheless, allows you to construct podcast playlists to tailor your day by day podcast dosage to your personal liking.

It is unbelievable to me that Spotify hasn’t found out a approach to make the identical operate a bit extra intuitive in their very own consumer interface but. Nonetheless, till it does, you will solely catch me listening to my favourite podcasts by Overcast. From the perfect sports activities exhibits within the enterprise to hard-hitting day by day information feeds, Overcast retains me knowledgeable and entertained, all at no cost — a declare that almost all third-party podcasting apps can not make.

Understanding the climate in your route has by no means been simpler

I put 30K miles a yr on my automobile, and I must know what’s forward of me

Whereas it might not have the perfect fame, MyRadar’s CarPlay software remains to be the perfect in its class by a protracted shot. It gives pretty up-to-date Doppler climate radar data alongside any route or at any location a driver might select.

Understanding the climate at any given time is a robust software for deciding when to depart on a extra prolonged highway journey or just for understanding what lies forward. Lately, as flying has develop into dearer, I have been taking longer and longer highway journeys, and I’ve discovered that MyRadar is considered one of my most-used utility apps within the CarPlay ecosystem. Does MyRadar have a fame for promoting information? Completely. Fortunately, I’ve it on good authority that MyRadar is about to get a brand new competitor in that house, so hold an eye fixed out.