5 Alternatives to Spotify's Car Thing

A unique gadget says goodbye, but its functionality lives on in these alternatives.

Sami Haj-Assaad | 

Dec 5, 2024 | 3 min read

Spotify

Amazon

Amazon Echo Auto

The most direct replacement to Spotify's Car Thing is the Amazon Echo Auto. Like the Car Thing, it connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and then to the car through an auxiliary cable or Bluetooth. Users can control their phone apps, including Spotify, using Echo Auto's voice recognition capabilities.

The Echo Auto also allows for various other hands-free abilities, such as sending and replying to text messages and controlling your smart home devices. Unlike the Car Thing, however, Echo Auto lacks a screen where you can see and control your media. Instead, users must use voice recognition to command the device.

Garmin

Garmin Speak

The Garmin Speak is similar to the Amazon Echo Auto, allowing users to control Spotify via voice recognition. However, it also has a display and can provide navigation instructions, making it more convenient than the Echo Auto.

Bluetooth Media Buttons

If what you need are physical controls for your Spotify app, you can find a selection of Bluetooth media buttons on Amazon. These work by connecting to your phone and sending commands such as play, pause, next/previous track, and volume up or down to your device. They're relatively affordable but may not support voice commands for selecting a specific album or playlist on Spotify.

Portable, Mountable Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Screen

Spotify Car Thing has a display and can control a user's Spotify app. Many newer cars have built-in support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and offer the same type of control through their infotainment screen, but older cars may lack this capability.

Another option is a third-party screen that can be mounted on the vehicle's dashboard then connected to a smartphone to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Users will have a display with Spotify data and the ability to change playlists easily from the screen or with a voice command.

These devices may look ungraceful mounted on the dashboard of an older vehicle, but they pack a lot of functionality and can even connect to other auxiliary devices such as dashcams or parking cameras.

Kenwood

New Head Unit With Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

A more expensive but better-looking option is to replace the vehicle head unit entirely with one that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These head units can upgrade a car's capabilities, but there are a lot of prerequisites to installing one. For example, there needs to be a single or double-DIN space in the dashboard that can house a new head unit.

The vehicle also requires the correct connectors or a harness to adapt the new technology to ensure the new unit's full functionality. However, once it's installed and connected to your phone, you'll be able to see and control your Spotify content easily and safely while on the go.

Sami Haj-Assaad

Sami loves writing about cars and diving into their high-tech, innovative, and exciting features. He's been an automotive journalist since 2012, having written feature stories, reviews, and performing on camera for AutoGuide, Driving.ca, TechSpot, AutoTrader.ca, NUVO Magazine, and Car and Driver. He's won a number of awards from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada, including Journalist of the Year in 2020. You can hear him weekly as one of the hosts of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.