If you were lucky enough to unwrap a new iPhone this holiday season, or simply bought one recently, then you’ll probably be on the lookout for some apps – good apps can take Apple’s excellent phones to the next level.
That’s true whether you’re using the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max, the compact iPhone SE (2022), or any other top iPhone. But with so many apps to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.
That’s where this article comes in. Below you’ll find our pick of the 10 best iPhone apps. They cover a range of categories and include long-standing basics and newer or specialized applications that are nevertheless highly recommended.
1. ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI tool that probably needs no introduction – arguably more than any other AI service, it has taken the world by storm. But the iPhone app is extremely good.
You can ask ChatGPT questions to get help or inspiration for anything. It’s far smarter than Siri or even Google Assistant.
With the ChatGPT app you don’t need to type questions, you can speak them and even have ChatGPT answer them. Because it remembers previous questions and answers, you can talk to it more than most digital assistants, making the interaction feel natural.
For most things outside of home automation, ChatGPT can easily replace Siri, so we recommend not only downloading it, but putting a shortcut to it on your lock screen. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you can even set the Action button to launch it.
2. Evernote
A great notes app is an essential part of any smartphone, but finding such an app can be easier said than done – for whatever reason, this is something that companies seem to struggle to do.
Of course, there are tons of note-taking apps out there, but most have their own issues or simply cost too much. Evernote isn’t perfect, and it’s not free if you want the full experience, but its balance of price, features, and stability is better than most.
For many people, the free version will actually be enough. This gives you most of the basic features, including the ability to create notes and to-do lists, include images, and easily search your notes by name or keyword. However, it limits you to 60MB of monthly transfers and a maximum note size of 25MB, and only allows you to sync your account across two devices.
You’ll need to pay a subscription to remove those restrictions, but if you take a lot of notes or use a lot of devices, it might be worth it.
3. Threads
With the app formerly known as Twitter slowly collapsing under the weight of Elon Musk’s ‘leadership’, you may be looking for an alternative, and Threads could be that app.
This is one of the many sites and apps trying to take the place of Twitter, but it has the advantage of a built-in audience thanks to your account being linked to your Instagram account.
Threads also replicates many of the best Twitter/X features without as much spam and other unwanted content. So far, it seems friendlier than Twitter was even before Musk, though that may be due to its smaller user base, which is also its main problem. However, if it grows, this could easily be the new home for anyone who misses what Twitter used to be.
4. pocket castings
If you’re a podcast fan, Pocket Casts should be on your shortlist of podcast players. While there are tons of such apps to choose from, this one is one of the absolute best.
It is attractive, intuitive and packed with tools and features. You get the ability to shorten silence, change playback speed, use a sleep timer, control playback from your Apple Watch, and more.
Pocket Casts also makes it easy to discover new podcasts, with a handy ‘Discover’ tab that covers all kinds of interesting listens.
5. Google Maps
Sure, your iPhone comes with Apple Maps built-in, but while it’s much better than it was at launch, it’s definitely no match for Google Maps. It’s worth trying both apps to see which you like better, but we’re betting most people will be better off with Google’s Maps app.
This app has detailed, accurate maps for over 220 countries and territories and provides great navigation tools whether you’re driving, walking, cycling or using public transport.
You can see real-time traffic conditions, download maps for offline use, use Street View for ground-level imagery, get indoor maps for selected locations, such as airports and stadiums, and find businesses (and reviews of them).
6. AccuWeather
A good weather app is a vital component of any smartphone and AccuWeather is one of the best.
It’s a little different than most weather apps. Instead of showing forecasts for the entire day and the following days, it provides a detailed, hyperlocal forecast for the next four hours, giving a minute-by-minute breakdown of expected temperature and precipitation.
That’s AccuWeather’s main focus, but you can also get forecasts for days ahead, so it does the job of a conventional weather app as well. And while your mileage may vary depending on where you are in the world, we’ve found it to be incredibly accurate, especially with those four-hour forecasts.
7. Snapseed
Apple offers some basic photo editing tools on the iPhone, but Snapseed offers more options (and potentially more pleasing results) while keeping things simple. Still, it doesn’t overwhelm you with too many options or features aimed at professionals.
Includes 29 tools and filters to adjust, tweak and generally improve your images. In many cases, you can significantly improve a photo with a single tap, although there is the option of additional manual fine-tuning if you prefer.
We’d recommend Snapseed to anyone who takes a lot of photos on their phone, whether you’re an experienced photographer or an amateur videographer.
8. Halid Mark II
If you are an experienced photographer, another great app to get is Halide Mark II. This alternative to the iPhone’s built-in camera app is packed with features, including manual focus, focus magnifier, peak focus, histograms, a companion Apple Watch app for remote shooting, and more.
This is designed to be powerful enough for professionals, but with its intuitive gesture-based interface, it’s worth a look even if you don’t know your ISO from your RAW.
Halide Mark II isn’t free, but with subscription and one-time payment options, you should be able to find a payment type that works for you.
9. Duolingo
Duolingo has long been one of the best and most popular smartphone apps for foreign language learners, and now it’s expanded into math and music classes.
You can choose from dozens of languages, and Duolingo offers fun, colorful and affordable short lessons. It can feel almost as much like playing a game as learning a language.
Using Duolingo alone probably won’t make you fluent, but it’s a great option for preparing for a trip or to use alongside other language learning tools. It’s designed to fit into even the busiest of lives, so language learning can become a fun daily habit rather than a chore.
10. Balance
If your New Year’s resolutions include focusing on your mental health, Balance is a great place to start.
It offers a variety of 10-day meditation plans, teaching the basics followed by more advanced meditation techniques. In some cases, it focuses on specific goals, such as improving sleep or accepting change.
There are individual sessions for days when you don’t want to commit to a plan. Plus, there are soothing sleep sounds and relaxation exercises to help you drift off.
So far, so typical of a meditation app, but Balance additionally has ‘Immersive Meditations’, designed to aid relaxation through a combination of sound effects, guidance and even vibrations.
Balance will customize its meditation plans for you by asking a few questions at the beginning of the plan and after certain meditations. So you get a more customized experience than most meditation apps.