Third-Party Navigation Apps for iOS 12 CarPlay

Apple's release of iOS 12 introduced support for third-party navigation platforms on Apple CarPlay, removing the longstanding limitation that restricted drivers strictly to Apple Maps. This update allowed popular mapping services like Google Maps and Waze, along with specialized offline tools like Sygic and TomTom, to run directly on in-dash vehicle displays. Below is an overview of the supported third-party mapping applications, their key capabilities, and how to get them running on your vehicle screen.

Major Supported Navigation Apps

With iOS 12, Apple opened CarPlay's navigation framework to outside developers. The most prominent supported mapping apps include:

  • Google Maps: Offers its signature search engine integration, real-time satellite imagery, accurate transit times, dynamic rerouting based on current traffic conditions, and access to saved places, commute presets, and recent searches.
  • Waze: Provides real-time crowd-sourced data, highlighting police speed traps, road hazards, accidents, red-light cameras, and construction zones. It also supports reporting incidents directly from the car's touchscreen interface.
  • Sygic GPS Navigation: Known for reliable offline mapping capabilities, Sygic downloads regional maps directly to the iPhone, making it functional in rural areas with poor or nonexistent cellular connectivity. It also incorporates speed-limit warnings and lane assistance.
  • TomTom GO Navigation & AmiGO: Delivers offline 3D maps, lane-level guidance, accurate speed-camera warnings, and predictive route planning.
  • HERE WeGo: An alternative focused on straightforward turn-by-turn directions, downloadable country-wide offline maps, and public traffic updates.

Regional Mapping Services

In addition to global platforms, iOS 12 CarPlay unlocked localized navigation solutions optimized for specific regional infrastructure:

  • 2GIS: Widely used in Eastern Europe, providing detailed building-level 3D maps and lane information.
  • KakaoMap and TMAP: The leading navigation platforms in South Korea, featuring local address algorithms and real-time highway camera data.
  • Baidu Maps and AutoNavi (Amap): Premier navigation platforms for drivers in China, tailored to local transit rules and expressways.

Core Features and Differences on CarPlay

Third-party mapping apps on iOS 12 feature simplified user interfaces tailored to in-car safety standards. Key characteristics include:

  • Touch and Knob Controls: Interfaces adapt to both touchscreens and rotary control knobs found in vehicles from manufacturers like Mazda, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
  • Audio Ducking: Third-party audio alerts automatically lower the volume of your media playback rather than abruptly cutting off podcasts or music.
  • Voice Search Limitations: While these apps have internal voice-search tools powered by their own software (such as Google Assistant within Google Maps), standard steering-wheel Siri commands in iOS 12 default to Apple Maps unless interacting directly inside the open third-party app.

How to Add Third-Party Navigation to CarPlay

To display third-party maps on your car screen, the applications must be installed and configured properly on your iPhone:

  1. Ensure the iPhone is running iOS 12 or newer.
  2. Install your chosen navigation app (such as Google Maps or Waze) via the App Store and open it once on the phone to grant location permissions.
  3. On the iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > CarPlay.
  4. Select your connected vehicle from the list and tap Customize.
  5. Drag your preferred navigation app to the primary screen layout so it appears on the first page of your vehicle's display.