Best Music App for Android Auto

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This 10 Android Auto Music Apps Beats Spotify!

Looking for the best music app for Android Auto that’s not Spotify? You're not the only one.

Let’s be honest—Spotify is great until it isn’t. You try to listen on your drive, and it:

• Buffers endlessly

• Eats your mobile data like it’s on sale

• Won’t let you pick songs unless you pay

So what’s the solution? Try these 10 music apps that work better with Android Auto, support offline playback, use less data, and still deliver great sound.

The Best Music App for Android Auto (Hint: It's Probably Not Spotify)

If you’re searching for the best music app for Android Auto, start by asking yourself:

• Do I want to stream or play offline?

• Do I care about audio quality?

• Do I want to avoid monthly fees?

We’ve tested dozens of apps and narrowed them down to 10 that make sense for the average user. Some are free, some offer offline playback, and some are built for discovery.

Here are the details:

Top 10 Android Auto Music Apps That Beat Spotify

Below are 10 apps that work great with Android Auto and might be the perfect addition to your dashboard. I also provide information about the Best Android Sheet Music App​s you must chech it.

1. YouTube Music

Overview:

Owned by Google, YouTube Music integrates seamlessly with Android Auto. It pulls in playlists, recommendations, and history from your YouTube account.

Best For: Personalized playlists and discovery.

Offline Mode: Yes, but only with YouTube Premium.

Price: Free with ads, Premium costs $9.99/month.

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 2.0 (mostly due to ad interruptions on the free version)

External Link: YouTube Music on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"I switched from Spotify to YouTube Music and haven’t looked back. My mixes are spot on every week." – Reddit user, r/AndroidAuto

"Great sound, but forces you to pay for basic stuff." – Trustpilot Reviewer

Drawback: Clunky on slower networks, and the free version doesn’t let you skip or play offline.

2. Amazon Music

Overview:

If you already pay for Amazon Prime, you get access to 100 million songs through Amazon Music. That’s a solid bonus.

Best For: Prime members and those who like HD/Ultra HD audio.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: Free with Prime, or $8.99/month for Unlimited

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 1.8 (based on app glitches and support issues)

External Link: Amazon Music on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"It works with Android Auto. No fiddling around." – Android Police Forum

"Sometimes playlists don’t load. But when it works, it’s great." – Trustpilot Reviewer.

Drawback: Playlist syncing can be slow, and the app UI is still behind others.

3. Apple Music

Overview:

Yes, Apple Music works on Android too—and surprisingly well. You can stream, download, and even sync your iTunes library.

Best For: Ex-Apple users and audiophiles.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: $10.99/month

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 3.0

External Link: Apple Music on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Shockingly good on Android. Seamless with Android Auto." – Reddit user

"Good sound quality, but no free tier." – Trustpilot

Drawback: No free version at all, and account setup can be annoying for Android-first users.

4. VLC for Android

Overview:

A free, open-source music and video player. It plays files stored locally on your phone.

Best For: People who like to keep downloaded MP3s or audio files.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: Free

Trustpilot Rating: N/A (not listed), but highly rated on the Play Store

Play Store Rating: ★ 4.2 (1.6 million reviews)

External Link: VLC on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Perfect for old-school music collections." – Android Auto Reddit

"Reliable and doesn’t nag you for money." – Play Store Reviewer

Drawback: No streaming. a plain and solid offline player.

5. TIDAL

Overview:

High-fidelity audio streaming with artist exclusives. TIDAL is for those who take their sound seriously.

Best For: Audiophiles who want studio-quality sound.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: $9.99/month (Hi-Fi), $19.99/month (Hi-Fi Plus)

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 2.5

External Link: TIDAL on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Fantastic sound. Worth it for people with good speakers." – Quora

"Expensive but premium quality." – Trustpilot Reviewer

Drawback: Limited free content. It can be overkill for casual listeners.

6. Pandora

Overview:

Pandora pioneered the smart radio idea. It creates playlists based on your taste using its Music Genome Project.

Best For: Users who like discovery with minimal effort.

Offline Mode: Yes (on Plus or Premium)

Price: Free with ads, $4.99/month for Plus

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 1.4

External Link: Pandora on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Their stations are still better than Spotify's." – Reddit

"Offline mode is behind a paywall, but the radio feature is unmatched." – Trustpilot

Drawback: The free version is limited and ad-heavy.

7. Deezer

Overview:

Popular in Europe, Deezer combines smart recommendations with live lyrics and “Flow,” a custom mix that learns your style.

Best For: Personalized listening and global music.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: Free with ads, Premium starts at $10.99/month

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 1.9

External Link: Deezer on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Love the Flow feature. Found artists I’d never hear on Spotify." – Trustpilot

"Could use a UI refresh, but sound quality is solid." – Play Store Reviewer.

Drawback: U.S. support isn’t as strong as Europe's.

8. iHeartRadio

Overview:

If you love radio, iHeart is a top choice. Offers real-time radio stations, podcasts, and genre stations.

Best For: Live radio and podcast listeners.

Offline Mode: No

Price: Free (optional Premium tiers)

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 1.7

External Link: iHeartRadio on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Great for talk radio and podcasts in the car." – Google Play

"Wish offline mode was free." – Trustpilot

Drawback: Requires a strong data connection. No offline support in the free version.

9. SoundCloud

Overview:

Home to indie artists, remixes, and underground content. You’ll find music here you can’t get anywhere else.

Best For: Explorers and underground music lovers.

Offline Mode: Yes (with Go+)

Price: Free with ads, $9.99/month for Go+

Trustpilot Rating: ★ 2.0

External Link: SoundCloud on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Found some amazing unknown artists here." – r/Music

"Annoying ads in free version, but worth it for niche content." – Trustpilot

Drawback: UI can be clunky, and not everything is Android Auto-friendly.

10. Rocket Music Player

Overview:

This is a lightweight, ad-free local music player. Ideal for users with offline libraries.

Best For: Playing stored songs and albums.

Offline Mode: Yes

Price: Free (optional premium plugin)

Play Store Rating: ★ 4.3

External Link: Rocket Music Player on Play Store

Notable Reviews:

"Simple and fast. No bloat." – Play Store Reviewer

"Perfect for when I don’t want to stream." – Android Forums

Drawback: No streaming features or online integration.

Comparison Summary (In Narrative Form)

If you want free streaming with ads, start with Pandora, YouTube Music, or SoundCloud.

If you’re an offline music lover, VLC or Rocket Music Player is perfect.

For high-quality sound, go for TIDAL or Apple Music.

iHeartRadio is the best for live stations, while Deezer is great if you want to explore something new globally.

And if you already pay for Amazon Prime, using Amazon Music is a no-brainer.

Frequently Asked Questions (People Also Ask)

Can I play music from my phone on Android Auto?

Yes. Android Auto supports streaming and local playback through supported apps like VLC, Rocket Music Player, and YouTube Music.

Which music app works best offline for Android Auto?

VLC and Rocket Music Player are great free offline options. Amazon Music and Apple Music also offer offline playback.

Is there a free music app for Android Auto?

Yes. You can use YouTube Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, iHeartRadio, and VLC for free, though some features may be limited without a subscription.

Does Apple Music work on Android Auto?

Yes, Apple Music has full Android Auto support and works smoothly, even if you’re using Android.

Final Thoughts: Don't Be a Spotify Slave

Spotify's great, but it's not the only choice. With Android Auto, you’re free to pick a music app that fits your needs—whether that’s free streaming, offline playback, or high-quality sound.

Try one of these 10 apps today and see how your driving (and music) experience levels up. You might even forget what Spotify looked like.

Your car. Your tunes. Your choice.