Nobody likes being stuck in traffic, but outside of knowing backroads specific to your location, there’s not much drivers in urban or populous areas can do about it. Luckily, Beat the Traffic+, the four-dollar companion to Triangle Software’s free app, is here to help, using the GPS power of your iOS device to show you the fastest possible route to your destination.

How it works is simple: you can view real-time or predicted traffic patterns specific to your GPS location (routes are color-coded from green to red by order of speediness), which is convenient enough on its own. The “plus” comes in by allowing you to customize “My Traffic” locations that let you create and choose from a list of commonly-visited destination routes, view regularly updated surveillance shots from most highways, and use the forecast planner to pick the best roads for planning trips.

Currently the app supports 34 major cities or metropolitan areas, and picks up construction, accident, or weather-related problems that might bring your trip to a grinding halt. The only catch is that these extra features, though initially free for two weeks, cost $19.99 a year after your trial period has expired. However, you can still access all the features available in “plus” with the free app -- albeit without the personalization.

The bottom line. Whether you’re a "plus" subscriber or not, though, Beat the Traffic is a pretty worthwhile app if you're an iPhone user who spends a lot of time behind the wheel.