How Much Does Apple CarPlay Cost? Receivers, Install, Fees
Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Ryan
How much does Apple CarPlay cost? Apple’s CarPlay page lists no charge for CarPlay itself. If your car does not have it, a CarPlay receiver costs $288 to $1,500 on Pioneer’s own store (the $288 unit is reconditioned; new ones start at $430), and Best Buy lists in-dash installation at $149.99 with the hardware sold separately.
Key takeaways
- Apple lists no fee for CarPlay, and a subscription may apply to some apps you run in it.
- Pioneer’s CarPlay receivers cost $288 (reconditioned) to $1,500 on its store, and new ones start at $430 (23 October 2026).
- Best Buy lists $149.99 to install a touchscreen stereo, not including the stereo.
- BMW dropped its $80 per year CarPlay fee in 2019, and GM plans to drop CarPlay from future EVs.
The cost of Apple CarPlay depends on where you start: a car that already has it, a car that does not, or a newer EV that may not offer it at all. This page gives the prices we could confirm, with the source and date of each, and says where we could not find a number.
How Much Does Apple CarPlay Cost?
Apple’s CarPlay page does not list a fee for CarPlay. It says CarPlay is standard or optional on many new 2016 and later cars, with more than 800 models supported, and it adds that a subscription may be required for some apps. So there are three cases:
- Your car already has CarPlay. Apple lists nothing to pay for CarPlay itself.
- Your car has a screen but not CarPlay. The usual route is an aftermarket receiver (prices below). We did not find a sourced price for a manufacturer or dealer upgrade, so we do not quote one.
- You buy a new car. Whether CarPlay comes with a trim or package varies, so check the window sticker. We did not find a reliable list of option prices.
Does Apple CarPlay Have a Monthly or Yearly Fee?
Apple does not list one. The one automaker fee we found was BMW’s. TechSpot reported in July 2019 that BMW would charge $80 per year for CarPlay on 2019 and later models, with the first year free. In December 2019, 9to5Mac reported that BMW dropped the fee for cars running its latest infotainment system. Apps inside CarPlay, such as streaming services, can have their own subscriptions.
Is CarPlay Available in Every New Car?
No. MacRumors reported on 21 September 2026 that GM is keeping CarPlay in its gas vehicles but still plans to drop it from future EVs, and that the 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ still supports it. Motor1 reported that GM would drop CarPlay and Android Auto from upcoming EVs in favor of its own software while keeping them in combustion vehicles. If you are buying an EV, confirm CarPlay support for the exact model and year.
Aftermarket Apple CarPlay Receiver Prices
If your car lacks CarPlay, you can replace the stereo with a CarPlay receiver. Pioneer lists the following on its own US store. Other brands, such as Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, JVC, BOSS and Jensen, also make CarPlay receivers, as Crutchfield’s CarPlay guide shows, but we could not pull current prices for them.
| Pioneer receiver | CarPlay | Screen and size | Price on Pioneer’s store |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMH-1770NEX/B (reconditioned, 90-day warranty) | Wired | 6.8 in, double-DIN | $288 (sale; $360 regular) |
| DMH-W2770NEX | Wired and wireless | 6.8 in, double-DIN | $430 |
| DMH-1500NEX | Wired | 6.8 in, double-DIN | $480 |
| DMH-W4660NEX | Wired and wireless | 6.8 in, double-DIN | $600 |
| DMH-WT8600NEX | Wired and wireless | 10.1 in floating, 1-DIN | $1,500 |
Check the size and fit for your dash first. Most of these are double-DIN, and the DMH-WT8600NEX is a single-DIN with a floating screen.
Apple CarPlay Installation Cost
Best Buy lists in-dash car stereo installation with a touchscreen at $149.99, with the hardware not included. Its page says the service includes removing the old receiver and dash panels, connecting a wiring harness to the factory wiring if necessary, and reinstalling the panels. The page does not say what dash kit or harness your car needs, and Best Buy says its Car Fit Guide shows the parts for your vehicle. We did not find a sourced price for those parts.
| Example (our arithmetic) | Receiver | Installation | Total before parts and tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired CarPlay (reconditioned unit) | $288 (Pioneer DMH-1770NEX/B, sale price) | $149.99 (Best Buy) | $437.99 |
| Wired and wireless CarPlay | $430 (Pioneer DMH-W2770NEX) | $149.99 (Best Buy) | $579.99 |
If you install it yourself, you save the labor but still pay for the receiver and the fit parts. The quote for your own car may be higher or lower, because installation prices vary by shop and vehicle.
Wireless CarPlay Adapters
If your car already has wired CarPlay, a wireless adapter plugs into the USB port. One maker, Ottocast, lists two of its own adapters at $44 and $89 on sale in a May 2024 post. That is a vendor price from an older page, so check the current price. For tested picks, see our guide to the best Apple CarPlay wireless adapters.
What We Could Not Verify
We did not find a reliable published price for dealer or manufacturer CarPlay upgrades, factory option packages, or dash kits and wiring harnesses, so this page leaves them out. Ask your dealer or installer for a written quote for your exact vehicle. If you want to compare receivers, see our best double-DIN head units, and for what to run once it works, our best CarPlay apps for navigation.
Apple CarPlay Cost FAQ
How much does Apple CarPlay cost?
Apple’s CarPlay page lists no charge for CarPlay itself. What you pay depends on the route: nothing extra if your car already has it, or a receiver and installation if it does not. Pioneer’s CarPlay receivers cost $288 (reconditioned) to $1,500 on its own store, with new units from $430, and Best Buy lists in-dash installation at $149.99 with the hardware sold separately.
Does Apple CarPlay cost money every month or every year?
Apple does not list a monthly or yearly fee for CarPlay, though it notes that a subscription may be required for some apps. BMW announced an $80 per year CarPlay fee for 2019 and later cars, then reversed it in December 2019.
How much does Apple CarPlay cost per year?
Apple lists no yearly charge for CarPlay. The only automaker fee we found was BMW’s $80 per year plan, which BMW dropped in 2019 for cars with its latest infotainment system. Apps you use inside CarPlay can have their own subscriptions.
How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a car that does not have it?
An aftermarket receiver from Pioneer costs $288 (reconditioned) to $1,500 on its store, with new units from $430, plus installation. Best Buy lists $149.99 for installing an in-dash touchscreen stereo, not including the stereo. Dash kits and wiring parts are extra, and we did not find a sourced price for them.
Does every new car have Apple CarPlay?
No. Apple says CarPlay is standard or optional on many new 2016 and later cars, with more than 800 models supported. GM says it plans to drop CarPlay from future EVs while keeping it in gas vehicles, as of September 2026.
Can I get wireless CarPlay without a new stereo?
Some CarPlay adapters add wireless connection to a car that already has wired CarPlay. One adapter maker, Ottocast, lists its own adapters at $44 and $89 on sale, according to its May 2024 post, so treat that as a vendor price that may have changed.
Sources
- Apple: CarPlay
- Pioneer: DMH-W2770NEX, DMH-1770NEX, DMH-1500NEX, DMH-W4660NEX, DMH-WT8600NEX
- Best Buy: In-dash car stereo installation with touchscreen
- Crutchfield: Best car stereos with Apple CarPlay
- TechSpot: BMW to charge $80 yearly for CarPlay (July 2019)
- 9to5Mac: BMW will no longer require a subscription to use CarPlay (December 2019)
- MacRumors: GM wants you to know it still plans to ditch CarPlay in future EVs (September 2026)
- Motor1: GM won’t offer Apple CarPlay, Android Auto in future EVs
- Ottocast: How much does it cost to install Apple CarPlay (vendor post, May 2024)
