Essential apps
There are apps we all rely on every day. These are the ones I find essential. I’m sure at least one of these will take pride of place on your device when you’ve read this.
Feedly
Feedly compiles all your newsfeeds. You can put everything you need to see in one place. It’s available online and there are apps on iOS and Android.
This will be the first app you look at every morning.
It’s simple, you add your favourite newsfeeds, websites and even YouTube channels for a single stream of content. When you’ve done this, you only need to look in one place. It’s easy to set up and it will completely streamline the way you consume content.
No more scrolling between multiple news apps. No more tabs taking up space.
The best thing about Feedly for me is the free package. You can select up to 3 subject areas which should suit most users. If you need more though, or would benefit from the advanced features, there are paid options available.
I’ve been using Feedly for years and it’s the only place I need to go to see what matters to me. I can’t recommend enough and haven’t found anything that comes close to this.
Three easy things you can do with Feedly:
Put all your newsfeeds in one place
Save time looking at separate apps
Set it up to suit you
I'd try this one for yourself as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed.
Instapaper
Instapaper allows you to save your online content in one convenient place. You come across a post that looks interesting when you’re busy, you simply save it to read later. It’s available online and there are Mac, iOS and Android apps available.
You’ll never forget anything and have all your essential content close at hand.
When you’ve saved your content, you can create folders to archive things the way you want to see them. When you’re on-the go, it’s so handy to save videos and posts for later. It’s even better when it’s time to sit down and go through everything. This app will make things so much easier for you.
There is of course a browser extension to quickly collect your content. You can also access it via the web, which makes it a lot more accessible.
It’s available for free and you can upgrade for unlimited notes and the options to send content to your Kindle among other advanced features. I’ve been using the free service and I’ve never been pressured to update.
Three easy things you can do with Instapaper:
Keep track of the things you want to read
Create your own archive you can keep coming back to
Save content in seconds
If you haven’t tried an app like this, you’ll soon see the difference.
Day One
A great Journal app. I've used it for over a decade and I’m really happy with it.
Day One will help you record and reflect on what happens every day.
They keep making improvements and it's easy to set up on all your Apple devices. If keeping a diary isn't enough, you can also include audio and photos.
It even keeps track of where you were when you wrote your entry if you want it to. You can also set up multiple journals if you want to keep track of other things.
Whatever you want to reflect on, the Day One app can help you. It's also great to see what you were doing on this day over the years.
Three easy things you can do with Day One:
Record what you need in a way that suits you
Sync it between your Apple devices
Create multiple journals
There are so many reasons you should keep a journal, and this app makes it easy. I'd try it and see if it's worth a subscription.
Streaks
This is the habit tracking app I use. You just tell it what you want to achieve, and it does the rest for you.
Streaks helps you keep track of your daily practices.
It’s simple, you set your goal, or take advantage of its handy suggestions, and it presents a range of options to help you stay focussed. There are plenty of ways to customise it and it’s just so easy to use.
For example, if you want to meditate every day, you can set up reminders and just push a button when you’re done.
I love the way this app is presented. Everything just works and it’s all so simple. There’s iCloud support and the most amazing thing is that you only have to buy this app once to use it on all your Apple devices.
Three easy things you can do with Streaks:
Keep track of all your daily practices
Maintain focus
Quickly see what’s working and what needs attention
I’ll say it again, you only need to pay once to get all the versions of the app. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone else did that.
Pennies
A budgeting app that’s a great alternative to a spreadsheet. It’s also one of those rare apps that’s really useful on an Apple Watch.
Pennies provides a simple and effective way to keep track of your spending.
It supports multiple budgets and you can sync it between your devices if you need to. The best thing about this app is that it's just so easy to use.
You simply set a budget and then update it when you spend something. I often have the same one that automatically updates every month.
This app can be useful in so many ways, and it keeps track of everything. It’s also well designed and feels great when you use it.
Three easy things you can do with Pennies:
Keep track of your spending
Set up multiple budgets
Quickly see the information you need
It does exactly what it says on the tin and more. I'd try it out right now. It’s available on all your Apple devices.
Spark
Spark takes control of your email, and puts all of your accounts in one place. Even if you don’t use it for your primary account, It’s great to have this in addition for everything that isn’t essential.
It’s a great way to own information
Most people have built up a collection of email accounts over the years. They are often in several places and some may be forgotten.
This app can help you solve those problems, and it packs a lot of features to help you manage your messages.
It's safe and secure and it’s available on all your Apple devices. It can take over everything, or you can just use it to keep your main email account clear. I'll let you work out what's best for you.
Spark is free, with subscription offers available. It’s also part of the Setapp package.
Three easy things you can do with Spark
Put your email accounts in one place
Sync between devices
Organise everything
I really like the way this one is laid out and it's just so simple to use. You'll soon get the hang of it.
So, those are the apps I think are essential. I hope at least one of them comes in handy.
I’ll keep this post updated, as these services often change over time and I keep finding new ones.
If you’re new to the site, I think it’s important to point out that I don’t take part in any affiliate schemes and don’t benefit from recommending these apps. I use them, I love them and I’m sure you’ll get something out of them.
It will also help if you check anything important with the developer or app store before making a purchase. Finally, to avoid confusion please note that I’m not referring to the Apple Watch, Apple TV or now Vision Pro when I reference Apple devices.
To find out more about the Setapp service I mentioned, take a look at my post Essential digital services >