These Are The Car-Related Apps You Can't Live Without

Navigation, route planning, EV charging, or gaming, there's an app for that

By Bradley Brownell December 6, 2024 8:15 am EST

OnX

Your phone is basically glued to your hand these days, so you might as well use it to make your driving experience better. Obviously we would never condone using a cell phone while you're driving, but there are plenty of apps that can really elevate your drive, or provide entertainment in between drives.

Earlier this week we asked you all what your favorite apps are, and you absolutely delivered. Here are the fifteen best apps that Jalopnik readers just can't live without. Check them out, download them, figure out your own new favorite.

Find The Good Roads

I've been enjoying the Porsche Roads app recently. It's a good way to find fun driving routes.

Me. I said this.

Who Actually Likes This?

I like how Apple maps says instructions like someone who knows the way. Turn in a minute two rights, not yet, not yet – this one – type instructions

Suggested by treessimon

Speed Traps

Like you said, Waze by far. But also for the speed trap alerts.

Suggested by J-BodyBuilder

Mediocre Cars, Good Apps

Irrespective of your feelings about the company and its CEO, the Tesla app is pretty good. You can check on and control a lot of components of the car, schedule and manage service, communicate with your service advisor, shop for Tesla stuff, and more. It's well put together and intuitive.

I've just started using the BMW app, but it's vastly improved from a few years ago, when I installed it for my wife's X5 and then deleted it for being useless. I gave it another try after getting an i5, and I'm impressed so far. I think they modeled a lot of it after Tesla, as it lets you do a lot of the same stuff.

Where Electricity?

PlugShare

Suggested by zoomzoomy2k

Reading Is For Winners

OBD Fusion is a good one for code scans and real time data, works with my Carista OBD plug.

Suggested by sectionhiker

The Car Magnet App Just For Anthony

"Or give us your fantasy app that doesn't exist, but maybe could someday. What is it and what does it do?"

This is a dangerous question, but I would very much like an app that summons a huge cargo helicopter with a big magnet hanging from it. It attaches to any car that is annoying me and tosses them... somewhere they won't inconvenience me anymore.

BUT... no one but me is allowed to have it. I don't need anybody holding ME accountable when I screw up.

Suggested by Anthony Thornton

Jalops Be Shoppin’

Best and worst: Facebook Marketplace. I've scored some amazing deals (2011 Subaru WRX Hatchback for $4,500, Cobb catback exhaust for $400) and made some great sales (same 2011 Subaru WRX Hatchback for $7,500 3 months later). But damn, it really sucks you in and makes endlessly scrolling for car parts far too easy. No, I don't need those wheels for my e91 BMW.

Suggested by SantaCruzin6

Spot A Fly

Spotify with downloaded offline playlists for out of signal road spots on road trips, or if you live in the boonies. Also integrated with Waze. I've tried a few off road 4x4 apps but nothing beats Funtreks books.

Suggested by Markoff8585

Play Station Portable?

The AetherSX2 PS2 emulator. More specifically, running Need For Speed: Most Wanted.

Suggested by MrMcGeein3D

Wiki Leaks?

Full download (i.e. offline) of Wikipedia with media – around 100 GB. Also works great for bike touring/packing, which is why I downloaded it in the first place.

Suggested by NBM343