I used Spotify, YouTube Music, and Plexamp on Android Auto for a month, and the self-hosted one won

After a month of testing Spotify, YouTube Music, and Plexamp on Android Auto, the self-hosted Plexamp emerged as the preferred music app. While access to a large streaming catalog is valuable, listeners who have curated their own music collections may find more value in dedicated music players like Plexamp. Plexamp offers features that enhance music discovery and enjoyment, such as Sonic Analysis that finds similarities between songs and albums, Album Radio that plays similar songs from entire albums, and Mixes for You that creates custom mixes based on listening history.

Additionally, Plexamp's loudness-leveling feature maintains consistent playback volume across tracks, and its Sweet Fades feature adjusts transitions between tracks for a seamless listening experience. Plexamp also supports gapless playback for continuous albums and live recordings, and allows users to configure pre-caching for uninterrupted playback even in areas with poor reception.

Users can control how often a song is played again through smart playlists, which update automatically based on listening history. Plexamp also enables independent music playback on multiple devices, allowing for seamless listening experiences across different locations without interference from other devices. After trying all three apps, the user has opted to continue using Plexamp for their car drives, appreciating the control and customization it offers over their music collection.