You have the smartphone now - welcome to the 21st century! - and you want to fill it with apps which you can use in your daily life and which enhance your experiences. Being a motorcycle rider, or a good friend or relative of one, your gaze will surely turn to those additions which are moto-related. In that segment of the app world, as with most of them, there are plentiful choices with multiple purposes and several different functions and features. Deciding which to download is a difficult task made all the more so due to the small screen of your device and the long lists.

In order to assist you in finding the best smartphone apps available for riders in the here and now, we have compiled the list below. These apps have risen above the rest in terms of usefulness, actual user reviews, and number of downloads. Most also have well-supported customer issue resolution practices and all have been tested and vetted as safe.

Open yourself up to the information these apps provide and any one of them could change your riding experience for the better, and at least one of them could save a life. Have a look, do your own research to determine if the app will suit your needs, and then get to downloading!

Best Biking Roads

(iOS and Android)

Want access to 10,000 route reviews submitted from 80 nations around the world? This is the app for you. The Best Biking Roads app makes finding new and interesting rides easy no matter where you are or when you go.

It was created by the website of the same name to allow motorcycle riders to log their journeys and share them with everyone. Each listing is rated in eight separate categories and is searchable based on your proximity to it or by a text string. Nearly 20,000 riders are already using it, so why not join them and add some routes of your own?

REVER

(iOS and Android)

It is impossible to talk about motorcycle apps in the modern era without mentioning REVER. Often described as the "Strava for motorcyclists," REVER is built on the idea of discovering, tracking, and sharing your rides. It is particularly valuable for adventure and dual-sport riders because it integrates data from "Butler Maps," highlighting the best paved and unpaved roads in the country directly on your screen.

The free version is robust, allowing you to track your mileage, duration, and route lines to share with friends. However, the Pro version unlocks 3D flyover maps, weather radar overlays, and offline mapping capabilities that are essential when you venture beyond cell service range. With millions of users, the social community aspect ensures you never run out of new ride ideas or challenges to join.

CoPilot GPS

(iOS and Android)

CoPilot is not your ordinary GPS app. It actually downloads all of its maps when it is installed on the device so that it will work even if not connected; each region has its own download to allow for this, and maps may be added later.

On the surface, CoPilot acts like the software included with a full-featured GPS unit; it will allow trip routing, automatically recalculates should you diverge from that path, allows for 2D, 3D and "Driver Safety" views, has thousands and thousands of points of interest, includes lane assist, and it can even speak in a voice you select. That is merely the beginning of its feature list for the free version, and the Live version of the app adds even more utility. That uprated version also brings live weather updates, real-time traffic, current fuel prices, and connectivity to others using the same app. If you need to go somewhere that you are unfamiliar with, take this app with you on the ride and you are certain to know exactly where you are going.

Waze

(iOS and Android)

While not exclusive to motorcycles, Waze is perhaps the most practical "daily driver" app a rider can have. Unlike standard GPS apps that focus purely on navigation, Waze focuses on what is happening right now. Its crowd-sourced data is unmatched for spotting police presence, speed traps, and sudden traffic jams that could be dangerous for a vulnerable rider.

For a motorcyclist, the real value lies in the hazard reporting. A car hitting a massive pothole or a patch of road debris might just be an annoyance, but on two wheels, it can be a disaster. Waze allows you to hear audio alerts for "object on road" or "vehicle on shoulder" through your Bluetooth helmet headset well before you see them. It is an essential layer of situational awareness that works perfectly alongside your other moto-specific tools.

Detecht

(iOS and Android)

If you are looking for the specific app mentioned in the introduction that could "save a life," this is it. Detecht acts as an automated guardian angel for solo riders. Its primary claim to fame is its Crash Detection algorithm, which uses the smartphone's accelerometer and gyroscope to detect an accident. If a crash occurs and you do not respond to the alarm, the app automatically notifies your pre-selected emergency contacts with your exact GPS location.

Beyond safety, Detecht has evolved into a fully capable navigation tool. It analyzes road curvature to help you find "Twisty Roads" rather than just the fastest route, effectively competing with dedicated GPS units. It also features a hazard warning system where the community can flag potholes, loose gravel, or road debris in real-time. It is the perfect blend of peace of mind and excitement for the modern rider.

Rain Alarm

(iOS and Android)

The main idea behind Rain Alarm is very simple - warn the user of incoming precipitation. It does this by using the location of your phone to compare against national (in whichever covered nation you are at the time) weather service radar information. The various alarms can be configured any way you like so that you can tailor the app's inner workings to your own moisture preferences.

For instance, if you don't mind getting a little wet, it can alert you only after a storm starts to get on top of you; or, you can have it tell you when the rain is entering a specified range so that you can get home and put the bike under cover. It is all up to you! There are two types of this app, one for phones with Google Maps installed and one with its own mapping, and those are further divided into Free and Pro (called "XT" for iOS) versions. The Pro app is the one you want for real-time updating.

WeatherBug

(iOS and Android)

WeatherBug is quite simply the ultimate weather app for your smartphone. No other app has access to the largest network of weather stations on the planet like this one.

Want to know the forecast in Bengali? Or, just for your local Thursday bike night? In either situation, WeatherBug will get you the information you need and much, much more. A new social aspect has been added which allows users to browse amazing weather images and upload them as well. Severe weather alerts? Yep, it has them - many of them! Live weather cams? Yep! Need help with finding comfort in the storm? It can do that too! Since riders are completely exposed to the weather conditions, having information about the weather readily available is an absolute must in this modern, climate change affected world in which we all live and ride.