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 without spending a dime by supporting native libraries or maintaining along with your favourite faculty 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 carried out all of the digging.

That is my new favourite approach to get audiobooks

I nonetheless subscribe to Audible, however this makes me really feel significantly 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. Nonetheless, 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. One of the best half? You may 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 for those who’re wherever close to a big metropolitan space, I can promise it is definitely worth the quick journey to get your new library card. On prime of all of that, you are supporting local libraries within the course of, which is about probably 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 faculty groups, this app is wonderful

The Varsity Community app is the brainchild of Learfield, the licensing firm that most likely owns the rights to your faculty’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. When you’re like me and end up behind a steering wheel every time your favourite groups are taking part in, the Varsity Community app is one of the best free answer you possibly can ask for.

The app gives play-by-play audio streams from the radio voices you most likely 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). When you’re like me and reside on the highway, there isn’t any higher app for maintaining you in contact with the groups you already love.

Podcasting could be improved, consider it or not

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

My largest 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 once I end my first episode of every day on my commute. Overcast, nonetheless, allows you to construct podcast playlists to tailor your day by day podcast dosage to your individual liking.

It is unimaginable to me that Spotify hasn’t discovered a approach to make the identical perform a bit extra intuitive in their very own person interface but. Nonetheless, till it does, you may solely catch me listening to my favourite podcasts by way of Overcast. From one of the best sports activities exhibits within the enterprise to hard-hitting day by day information feeds, Overcast retains me knowledgeable and entertained, all without spending a dime — a declare that almost all third-party podcasting apps can’t make.

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

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

Whereas it might not have one of the best popularity, MyRadar’s CarPlay utility continues to be one of the best in its class by an extended 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 instrument for deciding when to depart on a extra prolonged highway journey or just for realizing what lies forward. Just lately, as flying has turn into costlier, I have been taking longer and longer highway journeys, and I’ve discovered that MyRadar is one among my most-used utility apps within the CarPlay ecosystem. Does MyRadar have a popularity for promoting knowledge? Completely. Fortunately, I’ve it on good authority that MyRadar is about to get a brand new competitor in that area, so hold a watch out.