CarPlay vs Android Auto: what actually differs

CarPlay and Android Auto are the same idea built by two companies: plug in (or pair) your phone and the car's screen shows a simplified, driving-safe version of your apps. CarPlay works only with iPhone. Android Auto works only with Android phones. So the real question is rarely "which one" but "does my car support mine", and what to do if it does not.

Side by side

The day-to-day experience is close. People who switch phones usually find the one they already use feels more natural, which says more about habit than quality.

Where they really differ

Ecosystem. CarPlay leans on Siri, iMessage and Apple Maps. Android Auto leans on Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google's messaging apps. If you live in one ecosystem, its car system fits you better.

Layout. CarPlay puts a dock of apps along one edge and can show several widgets at once on wider screens. Android Auto uses a split screen with a map, media and a notification column. Both adapt to the car's screen shape.

Car support. Most new cars sold in the last several years support both. A few manufacturers have started to phase them out in favor of their own systems, so check the specific model and trim rather than the brand.

How to check whether your car supports them

1. Look in the car's infotainment menu for "Apple CarPlay", "Android Auto" or "Phone projection".
2. Check the manual, or the manufacturer's site for your exact model year and trim.
3. Apple and Google each publish lists of supported models.
4. Try it: plug in a phone with a good data cable. Many cars prompt as soon as a compatible phone connects.

A car that supports wired projection does not necessarily support wireless. Wireless adapters exist that plug into the car's USB port and connect to the phone over wifi, but they only work if the car already supports the wired version.

When your car supports neither

This is more common than most comparisons admit: older cars, base trims, and cars with no screen at all. You have two realistic paths.

• Replace the head unit. An aftermarket stereo with CarPlay and Android Auto built in gives you the full experience. It costs more and usually needs fitting, and some cars make it hard because the stereo is part of the dash design.
• Use the phone as the screen. A dashboard app on a phone mount puts speed, maps, music and calls on the phone itself. Nothing to install in the car.

Our app, Cardashly, is built for the second path. It is not CarPlay or Android Auto and it does not put anything on the car's screen: the phone is the screen. If your car already supports Android Auto, use Android Auto. A phone dashboard makes sense when there is nothing to project to.

Which should you pick?

If you are choosing a phone, pick the phone you prefer. The car system follows. If you are choosing a car and care about this, check that the exact trim supports your phone's system, wirelessly if that matters to you.

Android owners in a car that only offers CarPlay are not stuck either: plug-in adapters can run Android Auto over the car's CarPlay connection, with some caveats about lag and compatibility.