Move aside, Spotify. Get out of here, WhatsApp. Scram, Facebook! We asked our community of tech lovers about their recommendations for must-have smartphone apps (outside of the usual suspects). As always, we have no affiliate deals or hidden connections with these apps. They’re just genuine recommendations from real users who’ve given them the big Just About Tech thumbs up! So read on for ten lesser-known apps that might just change your life.
WiFi Analyser - for high-quality connectivity
Most of the apps on this list require an internet connection, so let’s start with an app that helps ensure your WiFi connections are safe and reliable. Here’s EveOnlineTutorials, who recommended it:
“Whenever I get a new phone, the first app I download is WiFi Analyzer. I rely on connecting my phone to the internet for both work and content creation. The strength and security of my signal is therefore very important for me. WiFi Analyzer gives me all the info and peace of mind I need before I attempt an upload or access certain servers.”
It also has the functionality for ping, personal data leak, speed, and WHOIS checks, among other features. EveOnlineTutorials uses the iOS version, though Sturmer points out that there’s also an open-source Android version with a “whopping ten million downloads”. Sturmer used to have it but now uses the similar app WiFi Heatmap app, which allows users to upload their floor plan to visualise strong and weak WiFi spots.
Check out WiFi Analyzer on iOS or WiFi Analyzer on Android.
Sleep Cycle - for restful sleep and pleasant rises
There are plenty of sleep-aid apps out there, but the majority of them require companion smartwatches. Not Sleep Cycle. Here’s the recommendation, courtesy of Makster:
“It’s a sleep tracking app that helps detect how you're sleeping and helps to account for different variables, such as temperature, city, and bedtimes. My favourite feature, however, is its smart wake-up system. You set a 30-minute period in which you want to wake up, and then the app will detect when you're coming out of REM (Rapid Eye Movement - the restful deep sleep in which we dream) and slowly increase the volume of your alarm to wake you up gradually. It often feels like I’m waking up naturally because I can hear my alarm entering my dream, which is a lot nicer than being hit with jarring bleeps in the middle of a kip.”
Check out or Sleep Cycle on iOS or Sleep Cycle on Android.
OnePulse - for earning an extra buck or two
OnePulse’s tagline is “influence some of the world’s biggest brands by simply being yourself”. We reckon their brand team is probably overpitching it a bit, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good app to download. OnePulse is essentially a paid survey app, but according to Dave, it’s one of the best of them:
“Since joining Just About, I’ve become more interested in being rewarded for doing things that I’m doing anyway. Before you dismiss OnePulse as being the same as the other survey apps that pay next to nothing for loads of your time and data, hear me out. I’ve tried loads of these apps, and this one is the most interesting, fun, and fair.”
We recommend checking out Dave’s breakdown of the app’s payment structure, which you can find in his original post alongside a deeper analysis of OnePulse’s offering.
Check out OnePulse on Android or OnePulse on iOS.
Trakt - for staying on top of your favourite shows
Have you ever completely forgotten about a show you love because it took too long for the next series to come out? Between mid-season breaks, multitudinous streaming platforms, spinoff shows, long waits between seasons, and the sheer volume of great stuff to watch, keeping track of it all is challenging. Enter Trakt, a website and mobile app recommended by 0ffworld:
“With Trakt, you can keep track of everything you’re watching. I prefer it over Letterboxd, because it covers series as well as movies. The watchlists, calendar, and dashboard are easy tools for staying up to date and finding out when that new season airs. It’s not groundbreaking or worldchanging, but if you’re like me and you watch a lot, it’s a very convenient app! A handful of features are behind a paywall, and I'm subscribed to those features, so I'm a bit biased. But you can always just try it out for yourself, see what you think, and then join Just About Film & TV!”
Check out Trakt on Android or Trakt on iOS.
Flightradar24 - for real-time flight updates and more
From entertainment tracking to aviation tracking, Flightradar is a one-stopover-shop for all your flight info needs. According to Lanah Tyra, who nominated the app, it’s a delight for frequent flyers and aviation enthusiasts alike:
“It’s my go-to app for tracking flights when I’m travelling because I find airports’ flight information screens - and even airline apps - to be unreliable, especially when flights are delayed. Flightradar24 works with aircraft registration numbers and shows where your flight has been and where it's going. That’s especially informative when your flight is delayed due to inbound flights or when a replacement aircraft is being sent to you.
“It also has a few useful paid functions, one of which allows you to point your camera up to the sky to identify passing planes. Another provides you with weather reports on your flight route to see if you can expect turbulence, delays, or potential rough landings.”
Check out Flightradar24 on Android or FlightRadar24 on iOS.
aloSIM - for easy-access e-SIMs abroad
So you’ve successfully booked your flight and you’ve landed in a new country. Unless you have a top-notch SIM plan with free international roaming, you risk sky-high bills for using your data abroad. One option is to research and buy a local SIM in the airport. However, that’s time-consuming, often confusing, and may mean having to temporarily replace your phone number. As avrona notes, apps like aloSIM or AirAlo provide a very convenient electronic alternative:
“Even with my high-end SIM plan, there are countries in which I still have to pay extra for mobile data. Some providers demand a huge amount of money for a few megabytes per day. For those locations, I use aloSIM, which provides eSIM options at reasonable prices for 175 countries.”
Check out aloSIM on Android or aloSIM on iOS.
Identification apps - for learning more about the world around you
Flightradar24’s premium feature may allow you to identify passing planes, but what about the rest of the world around us? Rather than listing a single identification app, Sturmer provides a list of five that together make up what he calls his “standard curiosity pack”:
“I tend to use them less often these days, but that’s only because I’ve pretty thoroughly learned the world around me, and that’s thanks to them. Now, when a bird starts to sing or a rare bug lands on my table, I know what they are. Each app helps to identify insects, plants, mushrooms, birds, or general stuff - as is the case with Google Lens, which I tend to use for translations or converting photos to text to help with a search.”
The first is Picture Insect, an online insect encyclopaedia and identifier - check it out on iOS or Android.
The second is PlantNet, which does the same for plants on iOS or Android.
The third is Picture Mushroom, for all your fungi identification needs - check it out on iOS or Android.
The fourth is BirdNET, an app from Cornell University used for the audio identification of birdsong. Check it out on iOS or Android, or visit its official website.
And finally, the popular generalist identification app, Google Lens. Check it out on iOS or Android.
Personal Safety - for quick access to help in emergency situations
Few things are more important than your own safety, and while phones can always call emergency services for free, that may not always be possible - or in rare cases, even advisable, such as when one needs to call for help discreetly. As an additional safeguard, Limal recommends the app Personal Safety:
“I always install a personal safety app on my phone. While there are many alternatives to Personal Safety, they all serve the same essential purpose: protecting you. Statistics show that one in three women experience harassment or stalking, and every fifth woman could be a victim or rape or assault. Safety apps like these allow you to quickly - or even automatically - alert emergency services or trusted contacts when you need help. Sometimes just revealing that an alert with coordinates has been sent can potentially prevent any further harmful action.”
Check out Personal Safety on Android or a list of alternatives for iOS.
DreamLab - for doing good when doing nothing
Members of our Just About EVE Online community will be well aware of Project Discovery - a crowdsourced science minigame built inside the game. DreamLab is similar, except that all you need to do is download the app and let the good karma roll in. Thanks to MURRRAAAAY for this fascinating nomination:
“I cannot recommend the app DreamLab highly enough! Everyone should download and use it! While you’re charging your phone, the app uses your phone’s number-crunching power along with that of many other phones to effectively create a hivemind supercomputer that automatically researches diseases like cancer and Covid. I’ve been using it for years now and put it on every night when my phone is charging, so I’m doing some good while I sleep! ❤
“If anyone has had cancer affect their family or friends, they’ll know we need to find a cure ASAP, which is why I use this on my phone whenever I can. It’s just part of my daily habit now. You should make it part of yours too 💪”
Check out DreamLab on Android or DreamLab on iOS.
EyeEm - for the photographers’ photographer
While once Instagram was the app in which budding photographers could get discovered, its saturation and pivot to video makes that an unlikely prospect in 2024. TheGreatestBanana12 suggests an alternative, the photography app EyeEm:
“EyeEm is a photography platform for people to share their photos with an audience chiefly composed of other photographers. As well as liking, commenting, and sharing photos as per a standard social media platform, it has an inbuilt marketplace where you can put your photos up for sale following a review from the EyeEm team. It also features photography competitions and an inbuilt photo editor.
“What’s more, EyeEm has a partnership with Getty Images, so there’s a chance your photos may be selected for that too. I’ve been enjoying the app for a while, and I’ve had a few photos selected for the marketplace. As someone fairly new to the world of photography, it’s given me a great sense of achievement. It also works as a great place to connect with other photographers and improve your skills.”
Check out EyeEm on Android and EyeEm on iOS. If you’re more video oriented, check out our breakdown of the best free and paid video-editing software.
Honourable mentions:
Paul, who works at a sight-loss charity, recommends Passenger Assistance - an app that informs train stations of a person’s unique needs ahead of time, potentially streamlining dangerous or daunting journeys for those less abled. Check it out on iOS or Android.
Theismay, who has dyslexia, recommends the AI-powered app Grammarly for anyone looking for help with punctuation, grammar, or brevity. Check it out on iOS or Android.
xXThumperXx, who struggles with getting to sleep, recommends Rain Sounds - an app packed with relaxing soundscapes for every taste. Check it out on Android.
Gaypengwing recommends Squarelets - a cosy puzzle game that they discovered at WASD. “It doesn’t need the internet, making it great for long journeys. Also, the devs are so lovely, and it’s great to support such friendly people.” Check it out on iOS or desktop.
SpecialEffectLiam recommends TrainPal - a cost-effective way of booking trains in the UK and Europe. Check it out on iOS or Android.
Shovel recommends No Thanks - an app that allows you to scan food and drink by barcode to discover whether it’s BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) safe. “It’s a new way to shop ethically while making sure you’re not contributing to harm with your purchases.” Check it out on iOS or Android.
Zeref_Vermilion recommends Remini, an app that uses AI to near-instantly enhance photos for social media. Check it out on iOS or Android.
Nine, who’s an artist and VTuber, recommends Easy Pose - an app for creatives that provides custom poses for reference drawing. Check it out on iOS or Android.
Which apps had you never heard of and which will you be downloading now? Have you tried any of these apps before? Let us know below! Some text has been amended for brevity. You can find the original wording at the bounty post. Image credit in order: Rob Hampson, GIPHY, tungnguyen0905, Brett Jordan, ijmaki, Firmbee, JESHOOTS-com, Pamjpat, canaros, klimkin, kkolosov, Horacio30.
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