HUD Speedometer - GPS Speed Meter
HUD Speedometer turns your phone into a large, easy-to-read digital speedometer using GPS. It shows your current speed in big glowing digits, the direction you are heading, GPS signal quality, and running figures for the current trip: top speed, average speed, elapsed time and distance.
The HUD button mirrors the display so that, with the phone lying flat on the dashboard at night, the reflection in the windshield reads the right way round — a simple head-up display. It is also useful on a bicycle, scooter or boat, as a second speed reading in a car whose speedometer is hard to see, or simply to check how fast a train or ferry is going.
The web version is meant for phones: open the page, allow location access and keep the screen on. On a laptop or desktop computer there is usually no GPS, so the speed will stay at zero.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use HUD Speedometer
- Open it on your phone and allow location. When your browser asks for your location, choose Allow. The indicator in the top-left corner shows GPS accuracy; outdoors with a clear view of the sky it should settle within a few metres.
- Watch your speed. Your speed appears in large digits with the unit underneath. The compass at the top shows your heading from the GPS direction of travel while you are moving.
- Pick a unit. Tap Unit at the bottom to switch between km/h, mph and knots.
- Use HUD mode. Tap HUD to show a mirrored, large-digit view. Place the phone flat under the windshield in low light and read the reflection. Tap HUD again to return.
- Lock the screen against touches. Tap Lock to ignore accidental taps while the phone is mounted; long-press to unlock.
- Review trips. A trip starts automatically when the page opens. Tap Trips to finish the current trip and see a list of saved trips with distance, time, top and average speed.
- Adjust settings. In Settings you can set a speed alert, choose a colour theme, turn on burn-in protection for OLED screens and tune how strongly the speed reading is smoothed.
Features
- Large digital GPS speed with heading and GPS accuracy indicator
- Mirrored HUD mode for windshield reflection
- Units: km/h, mph and knots
- Speed alert above a speed you choose
- Current trip: top speed, average speed, time and distance
- Trip history (the 3 most recent trips on the web)
- Touch lock and burn-in protection for long use
- Speed smoothing settings and three colour themes
- Keeps the screen on while the page is open (where the browser supports it)
How GPS speed works — and why it differs from your car
Where the number comes from
Your phone does not measure speed directly from the wheels. The GPS receiver works it out from satellite signals, either from the Doppler shift of those signals (very precise when moving) or from how far your position changes from one second to the next. Many phone browsers report the receiver's speed directly; when a browser does not, HUD Speedometer calculates it from the distance travelled over the last few seconds.
Why your car's speedometer usually shows more
In many countries, vehicle speedometers are legally allowed to over-read but never to under-read, so manufacturers set them a few percent high. Tyre wear and tyre size also change the reading. A GPS speed is therefore often a few km/h lower than the dashboard at motorway speeds. Treat GPS as a useful second opinion, not as proof of your legal speed.
Getting a good GPS reading
GPS needs a view of the sky. Accuracy drops in tunnels, multi-storey car parks, dense city centres with tall buildings and deep valleys, and the first fix after opening the page can take several seconds. Heated or metallised windscreens can also weaken the signal. At very low speeds, small position errors look like movement, which is why the app smooths the reading and treats tiny movements as standing still.
Using a HUD reflection
A HUD works because the windshield acts as a weak mirror: the phone's bright digits are reflected towards your eyes while you look ahead. It works best at night or in dim light with screen brightness turned up; in bright daylight the reflection may be too faint. Put the phone where it does not block your view or an airbag, secure it so it cannot slide, and set everything up before you drive.
Safety first
Never interact with your phone while driving. Follow your local laws on phone use and mounting, keep your eyes on the road, and always rely on your vehicle's instruments and road signs.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it show 0 or "No GPS"?
The page needs location permission and a GPS signal. Make sure location is allowed for this website, location services are on in your phone's settings, and you have a view of the sky. Most laptops and desktops have no GPS, so the speed stays at zero there.
Does it keep working with the screen off or in another app?
No. Browsers stop sending location when the page is in the background or the phone is locked. Keep the page open in front; the page asks the browser to keep the screen on while it is visible.
Where are my trips stored?
Only in this browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing site data for this website or using a private window deletes your trip history and settings.
When is a trip saved?
A trip starts when you open the page and is saved when you open the Trips screen. If you close the tab before that, the current trip is not saved.
Is my location sent anywhere?
No. Positions are used in your browser to calculate speed and distance and are not transmitted.
How is the web version different from the phone app?
The phone app reads the magnetic compass when you are standing still, can keep running reliably for long drives, and its Premium upgrade adds unlimited trip history, CSV export and more colour themes. Purchases are not available on the web, so the web version shows the three most recent trips and three colour themes.
Limitations of the web version
- Needs a phone or tablet with GPS; desktop computers usually show no speed
- Stops when the page is in the background or the screen locks
- Heading comes from GPS direction of travel only (no magnetic compass)
- Trip history shows the 3 most recent trips; CSV export and extra colours are app-only
- Data is stored only in this browser
Disclaimer
HUD Speedometer is for general information only. GPS speed can differ from your vehicle's speedometer and may be inaccurate or unavailable. Always rely on your vehicle's instruments and obey speed limits and local laws on phone use. Do not operate your phone while driving.
Phone app
HUD Speedometer is also available as an app for phones and tablets: