Buying your first iPhone is a truly amazing experience. Not only are you investing in one of the most modern smart phones on the market, such as newcomers like the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but you also immerse yourself in Apple’s impressive ecosystem.
From just one simple iOS gadget, you’ll be able to stream music, use GPS tracking, browse the web, make video calls and control anything smart home devices you have in your house. And while the iPhone has several built-in functions to power these capabilities and more, another side of your iOS experience is unlocked through companion apps you’ll download from the App Store.
The only problem is that they exist literally thousands apps to choose from, so it can be hard to decide which ones you should download to your new iPhone. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of iOS apps you should download if you’re new to the iPhone world. It covers everything from social media to messaging, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, so there’s something here for everyone to embrace.
Owned by Meta (the umbrella company that also operates FaceBook), Instagram is an iOS-friendly social networking tool that lets you connect with friends and family through snapshots of life photos, messaging features, and a portal to the wider world of pop culture, including celebrities. artistic and business profiles.
Instagram’s array of photo editing filters will make you feel like a true craftsman, allowing you to adjust lighting and colors before sharing your media with your followers. Practically, you can give Instagram permission for all the photos and videos you already have stored on your iPhone.
Download files: Instagram
Spotify
No smartphone experience is complete without a music streaming service. Although you will have Apple Music pre-installed on your new iPhone, I highly recommend giving Spotify a try. Home to over 100 million songs, tons of playlists and genres, and social media integration, Spotify lets you take all your favorite albums and artists on the go. As long as your iPhone has an internet connection, you’ll be able to listen!
Talking about: Various paid Spotify subscriptions they give you access to additional features like offline listening. If you and the whole clan are thinking about giving the music streamer a try, you’ll be able to purchase a Spotify family plan for $17 per month that allows up to six users to be on one plan — each with their own personalized user profile.
Download files: Spotify
What’s up
WhatsApp was launched a few years ago and has become one of the most popular messaging apps. Known for its strict encryption practices that only allow the sender and recipient to see what is being sent. Once you register your phone number (WhatsApp Requirement), you’ll be able to communicate with all your contacts and other WhatsApp users via text, GIFs, emojis, and some super fun stationary and animated stickers.
You’ll also be able to use WhatsApp for phone and video chats, and the newer Community feature also lets you participate in larger group chats with up to 1,024 WhatsApp users.
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DoorDash
There’s no better feeling than ordering Dunkin’ Donuts at 5am without getting out of bed (I didn’t say this was completely responsible although). DoorDash is your one-stop shop for restaurant takeout, grocery delivery and more. Once you download the app, you’ll enter your address and credit card information, so whenever you place an order, your residence and payment methods will be set by default.
I also like that the iOS app allows you to actively track your orders and even communicate with your delivery person. You’ll also be able to receive DoorDash notifications on your iPhone’s notification panel as well as via text messages. And as an added bonus, if you sign up for certain Chase Sapphire credit cards, you’ll get discounts on most DoorDash orders.
Download files: DoorDash
Google driving
Similar to Dropbox and others cloud storage platforms, Google driving it’s a great way to store and share documents, photos, videos and other media. Perhaps best known for its desktop version for PC and Mac computers, Google Drive also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
As a brand new user, you’ll start with 15GB of free storage, but you can expand your digital treasure by paying monthly or annually Google One subscriptions. Google Drive also makes it easy to collaborate with those you’ve shared documents and media with. Perhaps the only downside is that if you want to create Google Drive documents and spreadsheets on your iPhone, you’ll need to download them Google Docs and Google Sheets applications separately.
Download files: Google driving
Oh Amazon, what would life be without you? The Amazon Shopping iOS app is one of the best ways to create and track orders, create shopping lists, and search the shopping mecca for today’s best deals.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll want to link your existing Amazon account (or create one if you haven’t already) to get the most personalized shopping experience. Like many of the other apps on this list, you can send Amazon notifications to your iPhone, so you’ll always be up to date on when and where they’ve ordered all their Christmas gifts.
Download files: Amazon Shopping
Waze
It’s time to ditch MapQuest in favor of an immersive GPS app that will guide you from A to B. While your iPhone has Apple Maps application pre-installed, I recommend taking it Waze for spin. This interactive platform is completely free to use and boasts an excellent user interface. My favorite part of using Waze is that traffic and road conditions are updated in real-time by users like you!
Not only will you get the best routes based on current accidents, but you’ll also get warnings about speed cameras, potholes and other driving obstacles.
Download files: Waze
Headroom
Are you feeling extra stressed lately? Maybe you want to give Headroom attempt. This amazing iOS app is the mobile version of the popular one meditation platforms which has been making waves for years. With a calm and pleasant interface, you’ll be able to use Headspace to practice the all-important art of concentration.
Features include daily meditation exercises, tutorials, inspirational videos, and other amazing mindfulness tools. You can also try Headspace for free for one or two weeks (depending on whether you choose monthly or annual cost when you sign up), but be sure to set a reminder a day or two before the trial ends!
Download files: Headroom
Pipes
There are a lot of free entertainment apps out there these days, but I think Pipes is worthy of additional attention. A completely free app for movies and TV shows, Tubi’s library is filled to the brim with content. The iOS app has a simple and intuitive user interface, which even includes the ability to create custom watch lists. It also doesn’t hurt that Tubi also offers live TV streaming!
While not as robust as platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, Tubi is a great way to enjoy free movies and episodes of your favorite shows at home or on the go.
Download files: Pipes
Acorn
Imagine if there was an iOS app that allowed you to use your spare change to create a diversified and profitable investment portfolio? Enter Acorns, friends! One of the best money-saving apps in business, Acorns will help you keep track of your credit and debit purchases while giving you the ability to spread those decimal amounts across many different types of investment accounts.
You’ll also be able to make lump sum contributions to your Acorns accounts, with subscription costs as low as $3 a month ($5 a month to invest).
Download files: Acorn