With almost 2 million titles available in the App Store, it's difficult to choose the best iPhone apps and which ones to install on your smartphone. We will help you decide, as we have selected for you the most useful iPhone applications from dozens of key categories.
So you bought a new iPhone. Cool. What should I do with him now... call him? The iPhone does much more than let you communicate by voice or FaceTime. The App Store has a huge number of applications that turn your smartphone into a fitness tracker, an encyclopedia, or a tool for learning foreign languages. Think of any possible use for the iPhone, and it's almost certain that an app already exists.
However, the problem is to find what is necessary and useful. The App Store is jam-packed with apps—there are millions of them. There are both good and useless. But it’s definitely not worth wasting your time, just use this article to learn about the most useful applications for iPhone.
Fantastic
A very convenient calendar, focused exclusively on Apple devices and considered one of the best alternatives to the standard calendar.
Fantastic - Calendar & Tasks
Flexibits Inc.
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
The main feature of Fantastical is natural language recognition, when instead of the exact date you can write “tomorrow morning” or “meeting for half an hour,” as well as integration with a large number of services and third-party applications, including Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter, 1Password.
Fitness and health apps
Strava
Running and cycling enthusiasts who are motivated by competition with others will love Strava, the fitness app for iPhone. After the global update it got better.
It doesn't matter if you're competing with yourself or trying to outdo a stranger who passed you on a steep climb, there's no better app than Strava.
App Store
Adidas Running App
Don't worry about the word "running" in the title. The Adidas Running App is for anyone who wants to track any type of workout. It is also suitable for cycling, hiking, skiing, kayaking and even casual walking. The Adidas Running App has a wealth of information about your routes and activities.
For example, the route on the map is marked with flags after each mile. On them you will see detailed graphs about your speed, pace, terrain elevation and much more. If you wear a supported heart rate chest strap while using the app, your heart rate will also be reported. Audio feedback, music integration and many other features make this one of the best running and activity tracking apps.
App Store
MyFitnessPal
Free and perhaps the best calorie counting app for iPhone, MyFitnessPal is ideal for tracking your body condition and exercise. The simple interface makes it easy to use many functions, which is important for repeated routine counting several times a day.
The key feature of MyFitnessPal is a huge database with the nutritional value of any products. No other service compares to this. True, to access a number of additional functions and disable advertising you need to pay 749 rubles per month. It's a little expensive.
App Store
Snapseed
A good free photo editor with a variety of tools, from cropping and rotating photos to color correction and filters.
Snapseed
Google LLC
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
The application has a very convenient interface that allows you to quickly perform certain operations using gestures. Snapseed has a lot of fine adjustments, a history of changes is saved for each photo, but the key difference from its competitors is the ability to edit certain areas of the frame without affecting the entire photo.
The best chat apps
Facebook Messenger
No matter how you feel about this social network, its messenger is practically unparalleled. You don't need a phone number to use Facebook Messenger. You can use the application on any wearable gadget without having to take out your smartphone, which is a positive difference from WhatsApp.
Messenger works on any platform, unlike iMessage, and has many cool features like mobile payments, stickers, as well as audio calls and video chats with AR masks. You can even play games with people from your contacts. Oh yes, it's all free.
App Store
Microsoft Outlook
The lightweight and convenient mobile version of Microsoft Outlook for exchanging emails supports almost any account. There is even a separate box for important letters.
The app is updated frequently, is available for the Apple Watch, and supports 3D Touch technology. Unlike other Office Mobile programs, Outlook for iPhone is completely free.
App Store
Gmail
Google's email app is a great communication tool. Like Microsoft Outlook, Gmail allows you to read messages from Hotmail, Yahoo and other services using the IMAP protocol.
Gmail doesn't integrate your calendar like Outlook does on iPhone. However, the application provides a more convenient way to interact with the email database than Apple's pre-installed mail. The service itself is fast, convenient, and even allows you to cancel a sent email within five seconds.
App Store
Skype
Skype is one of the best communication applications. You can make video calls and text using animated emojis. A large selection of bots allows you to quickly get the information you need, as well as communicate with them for fun.
Like other versions of Skype, the iPhone application allows you to call or text other users for free. You can also call any landline or mobile phone for a small fee. For some countries, there is even a function to receive a personal number, which anyone can call you on Skype from a regular phone.
App Store
Kik
Many instant messengers require a phone number that will be visible to your interlocutors, when only a nickname is enough to work with Kik.
With over six thousand bots in the app's base, Kik is far superior to both Facebook Messenger and Skype when it comes to communicating with artificial intelligence. In addition to this, there are group chats, photo and video sharing, and games.
App Store
Viber
The ability to easily transfer calls from a mobile phone to a computer and vice versa was the feature that made Viber a unique application.
The service also allows you to exchange text messages with stickers, make video calls and calls to regular phones - for free. All messages are encrypted, although your phone number will be visible to others.
App Store
Snapchat
Security and virtual harassment concerns aside, the quick photo and video sharing app Snapchat is a very interesting one. Of course, if you understand the unusual interface.
Snapchat should not be thought of as an application for securely sharing information and photos. Rather, it is a simple tool for sharing funny photos with the addition of various effects. Messages sent via Snapchat are deleted within a short time. Take a photo, write or draw something over it, select the “lifetime” of the photo and send. Just remember – all data remains on Snapchat’s servers.
App Store
Spark Mail
Spark Mail has a cool interface and can categorize emails. Messages are sorted into “Personal”, “News” and “Notifications” folders, although one general mailbox is possible.
Spark supports multiple accounts, but doesn't group them into one category like Outlook. The application has many settings, including for swipe actions. You can pin important emails and put them aside for later.
App Store
1Password
The best password manager in which you can store website data, credit cards, documents and other confidential information.
1Password - Password Manager
AgileBits Inc.
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
Just enter all your details once, and you won't have to remember them every time you need them - all the information will always be at your fingertips. You don’t have to worry about the safety of your data - it will be protected using reliable 256-bit AES encryption, as well as a single master password.
Useful applications and utilities
Firefox
The open-source Firefox browser is also available for iPhone and is a great choice for web surfing. The tab interface is much more convenient than on Safari.
There is synchronization of bookmarks and other information from Firefox to PC. “Reading Mode” removes annoying ads, and “Reading List” allows you to save interesting articles.
App Store
Microsoft Office Lens
If you install the Microsoft Office Lens app on your iPhone, you no longer need a scanner on your tablet. Office Lens for iOS can convert photos of documents and records into plain text with the ability to edit. This happens using OCR technology - optical character recognition.
The scanned image can be saved in PDF, Word, OneNote, or PowerPoint format. It is also possible to send it via email or any application from the “Share” menu on iOS.
App Store
Google Gboard
At first, Google's Gboard virtual keyboard was inferior to the standard keyboard on the iPhone. But soon the application from Google received many convenient functions.
You can swipe to type, find GIFs for your messages, and add search results.
App Store
MoneyWiz 2
A useful application for keeping track of your finances. With it, it will be easier for you to balance debits with credits - you just need to remember to enter all your expenses and income, and all your money will be in the palm of your hand.
appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/936248215
Key features include support for multiple accounts, budgeting, reports for a selected period, synchronization with the Mac version, and a Notification Center widget that allows you to quickly add transactions without even opening the application.
Applications for work and planning
Dropbox
If your files are scattered across different devices - a work computer, a home PC and a laptop - you need a reliable tool for synchronizing them. The Dropbox service allows you to store files in the cloud and access them from anywhere there is an Internet connection.
The iPhone app makes working with the service even easier. It has a simple interface, easy loading and fast synchronization with all accounts.
App Store
Microsoft Office Mobile
It’s unlikely that anyone would want to write a work report or fill out a huge table on a smartphone. However, Microsoft Office Mobile manages to make this process surprisingly convenient.
All documents are saved and synchronized on the OneDrive cloud drive. You can easily finish working on a document on one device and continue on another. You will be familiar with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. True, an Office 365 subscription costs from 349 rubles per month.
App Store
Evernote
Evernote is a diary app for iPhone that lets you take notes on the go and easily find any information you've written down. Evernote has always been a leader in managing and syncing notes across devices.
However, current pricing plans limit many features to subscription users only.
App Store
Any.do
Any.do app is designed to create and manage task lists. There is a unique feature called Any.do Moment, which develops the habit of creating a list of tasks for the day.
Geolocation-based reminders also work well – they appear when you visit a certain place. Overall, Any.do is a great app for tracking tasks and goals.
App Store
Todoist
Todoist allows you to organize your tasks in a convenient way and offers support for a huge number of platforms. The paid version has tags and reminders, including those based on geolocation.
You can make notes and add files. In addition, the application creates visual productivity graphs for you.
App Store
Wikipanion
A practical client for using Wikipedia. The application provides convenient search, reading and transition from article to article. You can add bookmarks, not only to the article, but also to its individual sections.
appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/288349436
In addition, you can share a link to the article with friends, save the image to your Camera Roll, or go to the location described in the article on the map. For anyone who frequently reads Wikis on a mobile phone, we recommend Wikipanion.
Social media app
Despite, or because of, its limitations, Instagram has long surpassed Flickr as the premier photo-posting service. Instagram's social media features are addictive, with plenty of photo editing tools and video support.
New features are constantly being added to the application. You can communicate with anyone via messages, post stories and conduct live broadcasts. There's even support on Apple Watch.
App Store
For a long time, Twitter, a social network for writing short posts of 280 characters, did not have its own application. However, dozens of third-party companies did this, although the results were often dismal.
But then Twitter Inc. have finally released the official Twitter app on iPhone. It was fast and reliable and immediately gained a huge user base. If you tweet frequently, this app will make your life a lot easier. And if you are just thinking about registering, it will help you quickly master all the basics.
App Store
Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board, but that description can be misleading. The service is intended primarily for making purchases and contains many virtual storefronts. In addition, Pinterest allows you to share any images from the Internet or life and organize them into boards.
With the app installed on your iPhone, you can easily take photos and upload them to your boards. There is also the ability to view other users’ boards, and even quickly buy things you like.
App Store
Tumblr
Tumblr has fewer restrictions than the most popular service for posting your photos, Instagram. Here you can post not only photos, but also make text entries, upload GIFs, videos and much more.
However, even more important is the repost function, which increases the degree of interaction between users. There is practically no opportunity to leave unpleasant or offensive comments on the service - simply because there are no comments at all, only reposts.
App Store
GroupMe
Create closed groups with friends, family or colleagues and communicate with them in a variety of ways. The GroupMe app is very flexible and allows you to start with a regular chat, where you can then add other people. Joining groups is easy using QR codes.
The group can even have its own notification sound, and there is also a function to turn a photo into a text meme. This is a great alternative to Facebook Groups.
App Store
Feedly
The best RSS feed aggregator that will help you quickly and conveniently read content from the sources you subscribe to.
Feedly - Smart News Reader
Feedly Inc.
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
All you need to do is specify the topics you're interested in, and Flipboard will create a personalized magazine for you. You can like articles in it, further increasing the accuracy of content selection. You can share materials with friends or send them to various services (for example, Pocket).
Application for photos and videos
Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe is known for its excellent photo editing software, and Photoshop Express is one of the iPhone photo editing apps. It has the most lightweight interface and excellent tools for correcting lighting and colors.
There are also a number of excellent preset filters, although you can create your own. The only drawback is that some functions are paid, or require an Adobe account to work.
App Store
Apple iMovie
The iPhone editing app iMovie allows you to quickly edit videos shot on your iPhone. iMovie has many different effects for your footage.
You can freeze a frame, add filters, subtitles, background music, or trim the beginning and end of the recording. And now the application is completely free.
App Store
Facetune
Want to make your face look a little more beautiful in your iPhone photo? An iPhone photo app called Facetune does just that.
It can improve the appearance of your skin, hair, make your smile happier and even improve your facial contour. Facetune does all this and much more.
App Store
ProCamera
Most iPhone photo editing apps work with the image itself. But ProCamera is one of the few programs for adjusting the frame directly during shooting.
The application interface resembles a digital SLR camera. You can adjust ISO, exposure compensation, shutter speed and white balance. The stabilization feature waits until the phone is stationary before taking a photo. Everything was done perfectly.
App Store
Prisma
The free iPhone photo app Prisma takes ordinary smartphone photos and uses artificial intelligence to turn them into works of art. Of course, it immediately became a hit.
A simple street photograph turns into a landscape in the style of Van Gogh or Picasso in a few seconds. This is an application that is definitely worth trying. All processing takes place not on the phone, but on the servers, so if the connection is weak, you will have to wait a little for the results.
App Store
PicsArt
PicsArt is arguably the most comprehensive photo editing app on the iPhone that has its own community. It rightfully made it onto our list of the best photo editing apps for iPhone.
You can work with layers, overlays, clone stamps and masks. There are a lot of functions, and the interface sometimes seems too overloaded. But now it is simpler and more convenient than in earlier versions.
App Store
Overcast
Convenient podcast manager. With Overcast, you can enjoy your favorite shows on all your devices, including Apple Watch.
Application not found
In addition to subscribing to new podcasts, the app allows you to organize your existing subscriptions and even password protect them. There is expanded support for gestures, playback speed settings, synchronization of listened episodes across all devices, as well as a built-in browser and full AirPlay support for playing podcasts on Apple TV.
Simplenote - notes with a history of changes
Instead of "Notes"
Since I constantly used third-party applications to record important text data, I even missed the moment when standard “Notes” turned into a real combine with a huge number of possibilities. Just think, they even learned how to scan documents.
Some people will definitely like this versatility, but I long ago came to the conclusion that highly specialized solutions suit me better. They are fast, reliable and sometimes offer unique features.
For example, Simplenote has a real time machine built into it, which makes it possible to return to any recent version of a note. This allows me to get the previous revision of the data regardless of changes.
This application was created to significantly increase the efficiency of your work with text data. To do this, there is a convenient tagging system, with which you can throw a post into a couple of project sections at once.
Last but not least, I want to emphasize the appearance of the program. It has a minimalistic interface that is highly visual.
- (for free)
- (for free)
Shazam
An application that, based on a fragment of a song, can tell you its artist and give you all the detailed information.
Shazam
Shazam Entertainment Ltd.
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
Simply hold your iPhone close to the sound source and wait for the app to recognize the track. It works even in very noisy conditions and with sharp extraneous sounds. Now you don’t have to guess again what kind of cool song is playing on the radio - you just need to use Shazam, which will always be at your fingertips.
Applications for education
Wikipedia
One of the best uses of a smartphone is to quickly find out something during an argument at a noisy party. And hope that you are right. Wikipedia is the best service for finding information in our era.
Moreover, the mobile application for iPhone returns results faster than any search in the browser, so it is rightfully included in our TOP applications for iPhone.
App Store
Duolingo
Can learning a foreign language somehow help other people from all over the world? It sounds strange, but that's exactly what happens when you learn a language through the free Duolingo app.
Among all such free services, Duolingo is undoubtedly the best. After a recent update, the following lessons are also available offline. You can now learn a foreign language even without an Internet connection.
App Store
Flipboard is an app that collects content from your favorite social networks, digital publications and blogs and turns it all into a kind of magazine. The app is free and only requires creating an account.
Flipboard looks especially good on the iPad. Thanks to the proper use of gestures, the application becomes incredibly convenient. It looks good on the iPhone, even despite the smaller screen.
App Store
Rosetta Stone
Among the best iPhone apps for language learning, Rosetta Stone is second to none. The iPhone app is a replica of the lessons available online.
After logging into the mobile app, you can continue learning from where you left off. A simplified interface makes navigation easy and allows you to practice in any conditions. The courses are not cheap, but they are the best existing way to learn a new language.
App Store
Foursquare
A client of a popular social network that allows the user to find out what places his friends are and also show his location.
Foursquare City Guide
Foursquare Labs, Inc.
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
Foursquare is essential if you want to keep up with all your friends' adventures, find the best places to eat nearby, find out about great deals, and never miss a party.
Selecting the best iPhone apps for 2022
This article presents a variety of software categories: photo processing, social networks, instant messengers, task schedulers and health monitoring. There's even an app that lets you turn a photo into art. The list is divided into 12 categories so you can jump straight to the information you're interested in. There are no games here because they require a separate article.
Yandex maps
A mapping service from the Russian Internet giant, which many prefer to a similar solution from Google.
Yandex Maps and Navigator
Yandex LLC
Price: Free
Download
Price: Free
Using the application, you can find any address and get the most detailed information about traffic jams and optimal routes for traveling both by public transport and by your own car. Satellite images, street panoramas, people's map, public transport routes (for 38 cities in Russia and 21 cities in Ukraine) and offline maps - all in your iPhone, which is always at hand.
Entertainment apps
Netflix
Like some of the other services on this list, Netflix has already become a cultural phenomenon and a must-have iPhone app. The company produces exclusive series like The Crown, House of Cards and Stranger Things. According to many users, they are superior to the content available on regular or cable television.
Add here a huge collection of already released films and TV series and you get a service that has everything you need. And now most of the content can be downloaded for offline viewing. It's also worth noting that Netflix is one of the few apps on this list that offers a paid subscription. the basic one costs 599 rubles.
App Store
Spotify
All the music in the world is collected in one place! Spotify offers a huge catalog of songs from every genre imaginable and even creates playlists based on your listening history. This iPhone music app also includes podcasts, where content can be downloaded for offline listening.
You can also easily switch between devices. It is possible to use Spotify both for free with advertising and without it for 269 rubles per month. In addition to turning off advertising, a paid subscription provides additional features such as listening in high quality with a bitrate of 320 kbps.
App Store
Vimeo
Vimeo is a more mature version of YouTube, which is why it ended up in these cool iPhone apps. The quality of video and content is higher here. You'll find a variety of independent films, music videos, and professional-level comedy videos. No cats, memes or compilations of bike falls. Not to mention the advertising and offensive comments that you can constantly see on the most famous video service.
Bookmark videos and share them on other resources. Follow users whose content you like. Create a Watch Later playlist and download them for offline viewing. Other convenient features include picture-in-picture mode, which allows you to use other sections of the application while watching a video.
App Store
TuneIn Radio
Internet radio remains one of the wonders of modern technology. You can listen to both broadcast and internet stations without geographical or even time restrictions. Want to go back to the 40s or 50s? There are dozens of stations with this kind of music.
TuneIn Radio is the best music app for iPhone. There are also sports broadcasts and even podcasts. However, in the free version you will have to endure advertising.
App Store
Twitch
Even if the version of Twitch for iPhone does not allow you to broadcast your gameplay to other viewers, but with the help of it you can watch the broadcasts of your favorite streamers and chat with them, and it’s not for nothing that it has become one of the TOP applications for iPhone.
Twitch allows you to watch thousands of different people play computer games or simply communicate with viewers on various topics. The service has almost no copyright restrictions, which cause many problems for YouTube Gaming. Twitch on iPhone is a great opportunity to join a huge community of fans of this platform.
App Store
Crunchyroll
If you love anime (or Asian live TV), Crunchyroll is a great streaming service with that focus. It is also important that there are no advertisements in it.
Crunchyroll offers tens of thousands of anime episodes and can show multiple simultaneous broadcasts on overseas channels. There are also some social networking features. The only thing missing is Netflix-style recommendations.
App Store
Dubsmash
Dubsmash is a service for short videos in which the movements of your lips are synchronized with the audio track. It's stupid, pointless and also very funny. Sometimes more is not required.
True, Dubsmash can be found in other applications. The number of sound files submitted by users is enormous: from controversial statements by politicians to famous movie quotes and animal sounds. You can find anything. And if even Hugh Jackman uses the application, it’s definitely worth a try.
App Store
iDownloader
Makes it easier to download, upload and share media content on iPhones (like the 11 Pro Max) and iPads. Simultaneous downloading of up to 50 files is supported.
What is in this program:
- downloads in the background;
- player for audio recordings with the ability to create favorite playlists;
- file viewer that can be opened in programs installed on Apple gadgets;
- extensive settings (you can clear your browsing history, manage passwords for accounts on websites, block ads, etc.).
We told you: How to set a ringtone on an iPhone: step-by-step instructions for 2 OS – Windows and Mac
The files are loaded into a separate folder, from where they can be deleted, changed names, and sorted.
Things 3 - a simple to-do list
Instead of "Reminders"
The first versions of this application became winners of the Apple Design Awards back in 2009, and the latest received the coveted title in 2022. The program is very simple and easy to use, so this is natural.
Over the years I have used 3 planners: OmniFocus, Remember The Milk and Things. Each of them works well as a tool for the Getting Things Done philosophy, but it was the last one that I ended up liking the most.
The fact is that OmniFocus requires too much attention and is intended for overly complex multi-level projects, which in my work do not occur so often, while Remember The Milk is needed for those who completely forget about things.
I would like to call this decision the most intelligent one. It does not distract from performing work tasks, but provides all the necessary information about each of them in a timely manner.
And the developer managed to create an incredibly simple interface that is not only convenient, but also pleasant to use. I just want to plan something and then implement it as quickly as possible.
- (RUB 749)
- (RUB 3,790)
Our review: Review of Things 3. Task scheduler for 6 thousand rubles
WordEx - learning to read quickly
With the WordEx application you will finally finish reading the book you started reading a year ago
Remember how you used to speed read in school? This application is for re-learning speed reading. You can set the speed you want, download your books, or buy a book from the app. There are different types of subscriptions - monthly or annual. If you don’t have time to read regular books, try reading at speed without losing understanding!
Bigo Live - make money on live broadcasts
Bigo Live is a worthy analogue of TikTok and Instagram
A popular streaming app you might not know about. In the application, you can participate in various competitions and receive cash prizes, communicate via video with random users (like in chatroulette), but viewers will be watching you. In Bigo Live you can even earn money by collecting bonuses in the form of beans sent by viewers - this is the internal currency. The minimum you need to collect is 6,700 pieces, and 210 beans are $1. The good thing about broadcasts in the app is that you don’t have to worry about editing - they like to watch talent in the original! Do you think this is better than TikTok? Share your opinion in our Telegram chat.
RoomScan Pro
- Cost: iOS - free
- Size: iOS - 44.1 MB
- Download RoomScan Pro for iOS
The application will be useful for those who are planning to do renovations or who simply need to know the area of the room. The smart program creates a room plan and calculates the length of the walls and area. Walk around the perimeter of the room, placing your smartphone against the walls. The result is a schematic plan of the room. You can also change the location and size of the walls yourself. This application is also paid, you are given a week to use the demo version.
Streaks
If you don't know what good programs to install after purchasing an iPhone, then you should pay attention to Streaks, which won the Apple Design Award. The software is designed to develop useful habits. To improve your quality of life, you need to train yourself to perform useful actions, and on a regular basis. The utility will help you deal with this. It will track all your positive achievements, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Pocket - perfect delayed reading
Instead of "Reading List"
This is one of the first apps I install on my new devices. Everyone uses it for different purposes, but in general the program is a “pocket” into which you can throw almost any information in order to return to it later and offline.
When I sort through materials in my RSS feed, I initially post the most interesting news items, life hacks or other useful information here. There is rarely time to immediately understand the saved data, so I study it in detail after the fact.
Of course, it’s very cool that you don’t need the Internet to access the information stored here. I have no problem scrolling through this whole thing on the subway, without even connecting to the always overloaded Wi-Fi in any of the nearby capitals.
It’s very cool that Pocket keeps informational occasions without unnecessary information, advertising and other heresy. It turns out that this is actually a reading view with headings, pictures and text, and it can be scanned very quickly.
The program is full of additional features, many of which are even paid. But most often I just use a list of favorite positions, into which I dump information for the future, as well as search.
- (free + purchases)
- (for free)
RunKeeper
This is the best calorie counting app for iPhone, perfect for running. For accurate calculations, the software uses GPS on your smartphone to track a certain distance by walking, running, cycling or other methods. The utility is able to take into account speed, distance, time spent, number of calories burned and a number of other indicators.
