Apps have become indispensable to human life. Whether a student, business owner or stay-at-home parent, you likely use a variety of apps from the time you wake up every day. The average smartphone user currently spends over four hours per day engaging with apps, which makes sense, since the right app can transform your phone into a workstation, TV, cookbook, drawing board, and much more.
But here’s the thing – there are 1.6 billion apps on the Apple App Store, according to data from Statista. And developers launch new products every day. Finding the right app amidst such an unending variety can be overwhelming.
The good news is that we’ve curated a list of apps, across categories, that are a must for your iPhone. Let’s take a look.
Plex
The rise of over-the-top (OTT) apps has made it easy to watch films, TV shows, and other content on any device, from any location. But what if you want your own library of music, movies, and more? It’s now possible with Plex.
Features, pros & cons
Plex offers a media management platform that lets you stream content from your computer to your Android or iOS device.
All you have to do is install and configure Plex Media Server on your computer and download Plex’s playback app on your phone. Thereafter, you can access the media library on your computer from anywhere.
Moreover, the Plex app comes with a ton of free on-demand and pre-programmed content. It’s easy to use and offers a feature-packed free version. But Plex may not be the best choice for home theater PC owners.
Plex is suitable for people who want to build their own digital media server and stream it wherever they go.
Eve by Glow
Most women have faced the trouble of miscalculating their menstrual cycle. For many, understanding their own ovulation is the key to a thriving sex life. What’s more, the last thing you want is to get your period unexpectedly while hiking in the woods or running a marathon. That’s where Eve by Glow steps into the picture.
Features, pros & cons
Glow is known for its broad spectrum of apps that empower women to take control of their reproductive health at every stage, from menstruation to parenting. Eve is Glow’s period tracking app that lets you keep a close eye on your cycle.
What sets Eve apart is its intuitive interface, with an easily adjustable cycle spiral. You can check the status of a particular day or drag your finger around the spiral to shift the cycle. It comes in handy for women who experience irregular periods.
Also, Eve lets you log a wide array of activities, from exercise to sexual intercourse and birth control. You can even log your emotional and mental state. That, in turn, makes it easier to track PMS symptoms. The app provides you with a wealth of resources on sexual health, too. Plus, you get to be a part of a thriving user community.
The only slight catch with Eve is that it doesn’t provide an extensive overview of fertility and ovulation. Also, there have been concerns about Glow’s data security and privacy policies.
The app is ideal for younger women who have an active sex life but don’t want to get pregnant.
Facetune
The advancement of phone cameras has made it possible for almost anyone to capture good-quality photos and videos. But let’s face it – we’ve all snapped a selfie or two where we wish we’d put on makeup or had a better hair day. The good news is that Facetune can come to your rescue in such situations.
Features, pros & cons
Facetune isn’t your average photo editing app. Instead, it lets you make specific creative adjustments to your selfies and portraits. Whether you want to experiment with a new hair color or add a few freckles to your face, you can do it all with Facetune.
The app is easy to use and now comes with a catalog of presets for one-touch edits. You can even use its recently launched YOUniverse feature to generate artistic portraits based on generative AI.
Powered by Stable Diffusion, YOUniverse uses a text-to-image algorithm that lets you upload your selfies, type a prompt like “me as Jon Snow from Game of Thrones,” and watch the app work its magic.
While the app’s interface is pretty simple and intuitive, new users might find it a tad bit difficult to get a grip on all its features.
Facetune is the photo editor of choice for anyone looking to use selfies and self-portraits as a medium of creative expression.
Google Translate
Are you traveling to a foreign country and worried that you might have trouble communicating there? Or do you have a virtual meeting with an international client who isn’t particularly fluent in English? In either case, Google Translate will come in handy.
Features, pros & cons
Google Translate is a powerful app that can translate written text or spoken words in a jiffy. It gives you the ability to translate more than 100 languages, as long as you have a stable internet connection. Even if you’re offline, you can translate more than 50 languages.
What makes Google Translate valuable is its convenience and simplicity. If you have trouble pronouncing words in a foreign language, you can let the app do the talking. You can even input text from a photograph or handwritten note.
The only slight drawback is that you might lose context and specific nuances of a language after translating it. Also, the translations might have a few grammatical errors.
If you’re looking to communicate effortlessly in a foreign country or enhance your language skills, Google Translate is an excellent choice.
Dashlane
How many times have you had to reset your internet banking password because you forgot the previous one? If you’re like most people, it’s happened more often than you’d like to admit. With Dashlane, you can avoid such unnecessary hassle while logging into any online account.
Features, Pros, and Cons
Dashlane is a robust password manager and digital wallet app that works on a diverse array of operating systems, from Android and iOS to Windows.
It uses complex password generation algorithms to create strong and unique passwords. Also, you can save your passwords on Dashlane, which means you don’t have to worry about forgetting and resetting them.
The app uses patented zero-knowledge encryption technology to protect your personal information from online threats. While you can sign up for free, many of Dashlane’s advanced features require you to upgrade to a paid plan. Also, it isn’t the best fit for websites that require multiple logins.
If you’re someone who regularly shops online and makes digital payments, Dashlane will keep your transactions secure and hassle-free.
Did we miss out on any apps you can’t live without? Share your favorite apps on Twitter @AppleMagazine.
