GM bringing CarPlay back to the 2027 Silverado and Sierra put a lot of pressure on the “infotainment nobody asked for” trend. If you drive an older car and your factory head unit was underwhelming a decade ago, retrofitting Android Auto through a cheap aftermarket unit or a wireless adapter is a bigger upgrade than most people expect. These are the best apps for adding Android Auto to older cars on Android.
What to look for in the retrofit stack
- Wireless Android Auto support. Wired Android Auto works in most head units built in the past five years; wireless takes an adapter or a firmware update.
- Custom launcher options. If the head unit runs stock Android, a car-first launcher makes a huge difference over the default Android home screen.
- OBD-II integration. A retrofitted unit is the right place to add a proper trip computer with real engine data.
- Offline maps. Not every drive has cell service. The stack should still work without it.
- DRM-safe audio streaming. Not every music app plays nicely on head units; the mainstream ones do.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android Auto | The core Google projection experience | Android, in-car | Full | Free | 4.3 |
| AAWireless companion | Configuring an AAWireless dongle | Android | Full | Free (app) | 4.5 |
| Carlinkit CarPlay2Air | Configuring Carlinkit CPC200-CP2A adapters | Android | Full | Free (app) | 4.2 |
| AAAD | Sideloaded Android Auto Additional Apps | Android | Full | Free (open source) | 4.4 |
| Car Launcher AGAMA | Turning any Android head unit into a car UI | Android | Ad-supported | About $10 one-time | 4.6 |
| Torque Pro | OBD-II gauges and diagnostics | Android | Trial | About $5 one-time | 4.5 |
| Waze | Community-driven navigation | Android | Full | Free | 4.5 |
The apps
1. Android Auto – best for the core experience
Android Auto is Google’s projection app that runs on your phone and displays a car-safe UI on a supported head unit or, in Coolwalk, on the phone screen itself. Wireless works with any adapter that speaks AA Wireless; wired works with any Android Auto compliant head unit and a good USB cable.
Where it falls short: Some head units refuse USB-A to USB-A cables; USB-A to USB-C works better. Wireless drops if the phone is not up to date.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, in-car.
Download: Google Play — Aptoide
Bottom line: The app that starts every retrofit. Install first.
2. AAWireless companion – best AAWireless dongle configuration
AAWireless companion is the phone-side app for the AAWireless dongle, the most popular after-market wireless Android Auto adapter. It handles firmware updates, region settings, multi-phone pairing, and the periodic troubleshooting that dongles need.
Where it falls short: Only useful if you own the AAWireless hardware.
Pricing:
- Free: The app.
- Paid: The hardware.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Install alongside the dongle; forget it exists otherwise.
3. Carlinkit CarPlay2Air – best Carlinkit adapter configuration
Carlinkit CarPlay2Air is the equivalent app for the Carlinkit family of adapters, which cover both wired-to-wireless Android Auto and wired-to-wireless CarPlay dongles. Firmware updates, region and language, and the compatibility tables for common head units all live here.
Where it falls short: Only useful with Carlinkit hardware. Different firmware channels can lock you into features unexpectedly.
Pricing:
- Free: The app.
- Paid: The hardware.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The other main dongle brand’s companion. Pick one dongle and stick with it.
4. AAAD – best for sideloading more apps
AAAD (Android Auto Additional Apps) is an open-source loader that lets you run Android apps inside the Android Auto projection that Google would not normally allow. Firefox, video players, and even lightweight games can appear in the AA launcher through AAAD. Useful when parked, not while driving.
Where it falls short: Requires the ADB-based install flow. Google can and does break AAAD compatibility with new Android Auto builds.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android.
Download: GitHub
Bottom line: For people who want more than the default AA app list.
5. Car Launcher AGAMA – best custom launcher
Car Launcher AGAMA replaces the stock launcher on Android head units with a car-first UI: big touch targets, one-tap access to navigation, music, and phone, and OBD-II gauge widgets. The paid upgrade unlocks themes and additional widgets, but the free tier is usable.
Where it falls short: Only relevant if the head unit runs stock Android (not Android Auto only). Ad-supported free tier.
Pricing:
- Free: Ad-supported.
- Paid: About $10 one-time.
Platforms: Android (head units and phones).
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The launcher of choice for aftermarket Android head units.
6. Torque Pro – best OBD-II integration
Torque Pro is the long-standing OBD-II app. Pair with a cheap Bluetooth ELM327 dongle, plug into the port under the dash, and get real gauges (boost, oil temp, transmission temp) that most factory head units never showed. Runs alongside Android Auto on the phone or standalone on a head unit.
Where it falls short: Setup takes an evening of finding the right PIDs for your specific car.
Pricing:
- Free: Torque Lite for basic gauges.
- Paid: About $5 one-time for Torque Pro.
Platforms: Android.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Buy the pro version and a $15 dongle; the payoff is huge for the price.
7. Waze – best community-driven navigation
Waze shines in a retrofitted head unit. Community-reported speed traps, hazards, and slowdowns beat the stock nav in every older car. It runs natively inside Android Auto with a car-safe UI and voice-guided turn-by-turn.
Where it falls short: Cellular data required for real-time reports. Offline is not the strength here.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, in-car.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The default nav in Android Auto for most drivers.
How to pick the right one
Start with Android Auto on the phone. Everything downstream depends on it working.
Add a dongle: AAWireless for the widest head-unit compatibility, Carlinkit for the aggressive pricing. Install the matching companion app.
If your head unit runs stock Android rather than Android Auto only, replace the launcher with Car Launcher AGAMA.
Add Torque Pro if you want engine data on the screen.
Use Waze for daily driving; use Google Maps for offline planning.
AAAD is for the power user willing to sideload and troubleshoot.
FAQ
Can I add wireless Android Auto to a wired-only head unit? Yes, with an AAWireless or Carlinkit dongle. The dongle sits between the phone and the head unit’s USB port.
Do I need a paid head unit to use Android Auto in an older car? Not necessarily. Aftermarket Pioneer, Sony, and Alpine double-DIN units cover Android Auto for well under $300. Adding a Carlinkit or AAWireless dongle then adds wireless support.
Does Android Auto work in the phone screen instead of a head unit? Yes, but Google removed the standalone mode in 2022 and now recommends Google Assistant driving mode instead. It is not as full-featured.
Which is the best free navigation app in Android Auto? Waze for community reports, Google Maps for offline maps and lane guidance. Both are free.
Can I run YouTube on Android Auto? Not on the official app. AAAD or CarStream sideloads video apps at your own risk, and only while parked.