Once I wrote in regards to the 14 apps that I’ll at all times carry on my iPhone’s Dwelling Display, our editor Zach Epstein virtually misplaced it that none of them had been third-party apps. Sure, I’m that one who rocks solely built-in iPhone apps from Apple on the Dwelling Display.
To provide Zach some hope that the world isn’t that boring (and everybody else who thinks I’m off my rocker), I wished it to be identified that I do, in actual fact, hold third-party apps on my iPhone as effectively — all 10 of them.
That’s proper! There are solely ten third-party apps that I’ve discovered helpful sufficient to maintain on my iPhone within the App Library. Right here’s what apps these are and why they’ve earned a spot.
PlayStation
I’ve been an Xbox individual my complete life. I owned the unique Xbox all the method by means of the Xbox Collection X, and the PlayStation 5 was the primary console I’ve ever owned from Sony.
Ever since Helldivers 2 got here out, I’m ashamed to say I haven’t touched my Xbox. And, if I need to share the unbelievable sport clips I’ve captured with pals, I want the PlayStation app to make it simple. So the app will get a spot.
Xbox
Simply because I’m not taking part in Xbox proper now doesn’t imply that I’m not going to return to it, and doing so additionally signifies that I’ll seize some gameplay I need to share with pals.
Similar to the PlayStation app, sharing sport clips is the only real purpose I hold the Xbox app on my cellphone. I don’t use it for the rest like seeing when pals are on-line or managing my console — it’s all about sharing sport clips by means of iMessage.
YouTube
I really feel like everybody on the earth has this app on their cellphone. You won’t have Netflix or Max, however you’ll be able to guess you might have YouTube.
YouTube is the world’s video streaming service for everybody who doesn’t have a movie or tv deal at this level. I get a lot worth out of the service that, regardless of not being on social media, it has earned an everlasting spot on my cellphone.
Not solely do I’ve YouTube on my cellphone, however I truly pay for YouTube Premium. Enjoyable reality: YouTube is the one video streaming service that I pay to eliminate adverts on (I watch far more YouTube than different streaming providers).
Libby
I’m not a “hack” individual — that means that I’m not into the entire concept that you will discover “hacks” to earn more money or enhance your life. Every thing has tradeoffs, so I don’t just like the premise that you would be able to “hack” your method by means of life.
That stated, if there ever was a hack, this one is it for me. The Libby app connects to your native library system and provides you free entry to 1000’s upon 1000’s of ebooks and audiobooks.
I’ve been paying for books and audiobooks for years by means of Kindle, Apple Books, and my native bookstore, and I’ll proceed to take action. Nonetheless, there are tons of titles I can now learn to or hear totally free on my iPad mini or my iPhone.
Libby has saved me a ton of cash already and it’s now the primary place I am going to learn or hearken to a guide I’m enthusiastic about. Test along with your library in the event that they work with an app like Libby. In a world of hacks, the Libby app is an actual one.
After nearly twenty years on social media after becoming a member of Fb again in faculty in 2005, I’ve gotten rid of all the things. I’m now not on Fb, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat — you title the social media app, and I’m not on it. I even deleted LinkedIn!
In any case of this time, I’ve lastly discovered what I’ve been ready for that social media hasn’t been in a position to ship on: boards. Enter, Reddit. I’ve identified about Reddit for without end however, after lastly attempting it out final yr, it’s turn into the one app I exploit that would even be thought of a social media app.
As a substitute of everybody both posting for consideration or screaming at one another (which can be posting for consideration I suppose), Reddit jogs my memory of the times of outdated: folks sharing issues they’re enthusiastic about or asking questions and getting solutions on issues.
Subreddits, which let you observe a specific space of curiosity, additionally let me lower out all the different crap that feeds would try to present me. It’s been a improbable expertise, and I really feel like I’ve lastly discovered the one social space of the web I truly get pleasure from and discover helpful.
AllTrails
I really like working, climbing, tenting, and backpacking, so the AllTrails app is an apparent app for somebody like me to maintain on their iPhone. The app, particularly after its current replace, is mainly a requirement for anybody who desires to discover the outside.
My pal and I began backpacking in the course of the COVID pandemic, and the AllTrails app made moving into that pastime a lot much less annoying with all the options that AllTrails+ affords. I don’t assume I’d have hiked in among the locations I’ve been if the app didn’t exist, so I’m truly eternally grateful to that crew for creating such a helpful app.
Withings
As somebody who’s now of their mid-30s, well being is changing into a increasingly more necessary a part of my life. So, whereas Apple’s built-in well being options are nice throughout the iPhone and Apple Watch, there are some issues that you just do want different gadgets for.
I personally selected Withings who has an excellent observe document of making well being gadgets and use their scale, blood strain monitor, and thermometer. Every thing syncs wirelessly with the Withings app which additionally passes information to the Well being app, making it extremely simple to construct a much bigger image of my well being.
It’s been a good way to maintain observe of my well being progress to make sure different areas of well being like my weight, physique composition, and blood strain are wanting good with out having to attend for a health care provider’s appointment.
Finance apps
I’m not going to say precisely what banking apps are on my cellphone since I’m nonetheless just a little nervous about disclosing that sort of data publicly (I see you establish theft), however I’ll provide the gist.
I’ve three finance apps on my cellphone: one is for my financial institution the place I hold my checking, financial savings, and investments. The second is for my bank card to trace my spending and my journey factors. The third is an app to trace my steadiness and transactions popping out of my HSA (Well being Financial savings Account).
That’s it. No aggregator apps or something fancy — simply two apps and I’m in a position to hold observe of all of my funds. It’s a extremely easy setup that works very well for me.
That’s it!
That’s it, of us. These are the one third-party apps on my iPhone proper now. No social media apps (Reddit is a discussion board in my view and I stand by this), no streaming apps, no productiveness apps, and no video games. Just some apps that I get sufficient worth out of to maintain them on my iPhone full-time.
It wasn’t at all times this manner. I used to maintain dozens if not over 100 third-party apps on my iPhone at one level or one other. Nonetheless, as soon as I whittled this record all the way down to 10, I discovered that this was significantly better — much less noise and I knew that all the things on my iPhone was one thing I truly used.
Everyone seems to be totally different, and I’m positive there are many individuals who get a ton of use out of getting many extra apps on their telephones than I do. Nonetheless, for me, 10 third-party apps are excellent. Every thing else can occur on my Apple TV or within the browser.
