
When using the Audible app, you can change the narrator’s reading speed, skip ahead or back by entire chapters, and briefly replay the last few lines of text that were read so you can be sure you didn’t miss anything important. Amazon’s Audible has thousands of audiobooks to choose from, ranging from bestsellers to nonfiction to books the whole family will enjoy. Instead of relying on satellite radio or Spotify playlists, listening to an audiobook can make you feel productive when you’re on a long road trip. You’ll have to prepare these playlists before you launch Android Auto, however, so you may still need to fiddle with your phone before hitting the road. You can also browse for new podcasts, set filters, and take advantage of previously-made Up Next queues. When paired with the Android Auto UI, you’ll have access to play/pause and back/forward controls. Pocket Casts, which is fully compatible with Android Auto, is one of the best podcast apps available to Android users. Your daily commute can be a great time to catch up on all your favorite podcasts. Throw in info on points of interest, the best gas prices nearby, and Facebook integration, and you have one of the best navigation apps around. You can also use it to share your ETA and progress with friends and family, which is ideal when you’re meeting up somewhere. The app offers turn-by-turn directions, reroutes you based on traffic, and alerts you about accidents, hazards, and police locations.

You can get all sorts of useful real-time information about the road ahead from the active community on Waze. It’s simple integration, but it’s certainly welcome for driving when you want as few distractions as possible. You can also have Android Auto read your messages out loud, and you can tap a large button to send a pre-typed “I’m driving right now” message in reply to any of your messages. If you have Messenger on your phone, then any incoming messages you receive will be sent to your Android Auto (if active), so you can keep up with everything. There are many other messaging options, but if you’re already using Meta (formerly Facebook) Messenger to keep in touch with friends and family, then you don’t want to change just because you’ve gotten into your car. Spotify is constantly updating the app for smooth functionality.

Getting set up with Android Auto is easy - just plug your phone in and you’re good to go. If you want to download your songs for use in places without mobile data, or if you’re on a limited data package, then you’ll need a Spotify Premium subscription for $10 a month. If you’re not subscribed, you can still access music streaming for free with ads.

Spotify is the largest music streaming service in the world, and with its connection to Android Auto, you have access to Spotify’s massive database of available songs, albums, and artists.
