There are only a few apps you can reserve for your home screen, so I asked POPSUGAR editors which ones are special enough to keep on their phone's front page! Which downloads can't they live without? Which ones are they checking all day, every day? In what follows, here are the 20 apps — for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and beyond — that our editors are absolutely obsessed with.
Wunderlist
- Why we're obsessed — It's so much more than a to-do list. Thanks to instantaneous syncing, Wunderlist makes it supereasy to share and collaborate on any kind of list, whether it's movies to watch or thank-you cards to write. Senior audience development associate Grace Hitchcock uses it for shared grocery lists with her boyfriend: "As we shop in different aisles, we each check off the things we've put in the cart, and it updates in both our apps. Also really helpful he goes shopping while I'm at work — I can add to the list for him from anywhere!"
- How much it costs — Free (5MB of file storage and 25 tasks per list), Pro subscription ($5/month for unlimited storage and tasks)
- Who can download it — PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari [1]
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Grace Hitchcock [2]
Pocket Casts
- Why we're obsessed — Love Serial, This American Life, or just about any other podcast? Pocket Casts is about to change your life. It's got your typical autodownload capability, but thanks to powerful servers, Pocket Casts has the fastest refresh/podcast update in the biz. We also love that it can be synced between both iOS and Android devices.
- How much it costs — $6
- Who can download it — iOS, Android, and Web [3]
Venmo
- Why we're obsessed — The PayPal-owned app makes sending and receiving money so dang easy. Link a bank account or debit card, and pay someone in seconds. Whether it's for splitting the bill or paying up utilities, Venmo is perfect for amounts big and small (limit is $2,999.99). The app also shows a feed of payments from friends (if they choose to publicize) but doesn't show the amount. Friends can "like" each other's payments for things like "Last night. Forgive me."
- How much it costs — Free, 3% for some debit cards
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [4]
Mint
- Why we're obsessed — Well, A) it's pretty and B) it helps you manage your money. This personalized financial tool compiles your current bank account, loan, and credit information into one beautiful dashboard. Copy editor Emelie Burnette checks Mint "every single day, literally, so I can constantly remind myself that I am poor when I'm itching to buy another Kate Spade bag." She also points out the handy beta credit score monitor that's free right now, bill reminders, and financial tips.
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS [5], Android [6], and Windows Phone [7]
Audible
- Why we're obsessed — Amazon Audible has over 150,000 audiobook titles from bestsellers and other books in every genre. One editor said the app is "totally necessary for crowded commutes where holding a book/Kindle is difficult."
- How much it costs — First 30 days are free, then $15 per month.
- Who can download it — iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Kindle, Fire Tablet, iPad, and PC [8]
Waze
- Why we're obsessed — Let us count the ways Waze has saved our driving lives. Perfect for people in a rush, this app uses community to gather real-time traffic information. You'll see other alerts, too, like police ahead or if there's a hazard in the road. One of the marquee features is gas alert, which helps drivers navigate to the cheapest stations along their route.
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS, Android, and Windows Phone [9]
Alien Blue
- Why we're obsessed — The official Reddit app puts the front page of the Internet right at your fingertips. Upload images from your phone to Imgur, use night mode for reading in low light, and view viral pics right in the app. Beauty editor Emily Orofino says, "It's the app that I just find myself opening every five seconds!"
- How much it costs — Free, $2 for Pro (switch between accounts and more)
- Who can download it — iOS [10]
Find My Friends
- Why we're obsessed — This surprising editor favorite shows the current location of family and friends. It can be creepy, but it can also be useful. Set up alerts for when someone leaves or arrives — or notify others when you've left or arrived. Living director Annie Gabillet shared this tip: "If you don't want to give people access to your location all the time, you can set up time windows, so they just have it during a road trip, when someone is picking you up at the airport, or for a night out, for example."
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS only [11] (Want an Android-compatible version? Try Jink [12])
Heads Up!
- Why we're obsessed — This app is the best thing that ever happened to parties. In this fun Ellen DeGeneres-produced game, players pick a category, hold their phone up to their heads, and have their friends get them to guess the word that appears. The kicker? The app records your friends acting ridiculously as they give you clues for "Colin Farrell [13]."
- How much it costs — $1, extra categories are also $1
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [14]
Emojiyo
- Why we're obsessed — Emoji obsessed? This is the ultimate Emoji keyboard. It's got saved emoji combinations and kaomoji (aka these guys: (◕‿◕)) ready to plop into conversations. The clutch feature is being able to drag and drop different emoji to a "favorites" page. You can also text search emoji!
- How much it costs — Free, with $1-$20 for extra emoji
- Who can download it — iOS [15]
Sprout Baby +
- Why we're obsessed — It is the most comprehensive baby app for parents around. One editor loves Sprout because it syncs between him and his wife's phone. Keep tabs on baby's daily activity (e.g. first bath) and medical records. You can also set alerts for feeding, pumping, and medications. Proud parents can share baby's big milestones on Facebook, too.
- How much it costs — $5
- Who can download it — iOS only [16]
Sunrise
- Why we're obsessed — You will never use your default calendar app again after using Sunrise. Integrate Google Calendar, iCloud, or Exchange, then bask in its gorgeous interface. Easily share events with a one-tap button. Creating an event is quick, with an autocomplete feature that predicts what you're typing. Google Maps integration means you'll never lose your way!
- How much it costs — Free, $1-$20 for extra features
- Who can download it — iOS [17] and Android [18]
Hinge
- Why we're obsessed — Move over, Tinder. Hinge is the new dating app targeted toward "real people" looking to find "real" love. Created by a former Tinder exec, the app shows you only people you have mutual friends with on Facebook. Beauty editor Jessica Cruel pointed out, "If your mutual friends are shady, that is a red flag (ha). You can also list more information — more photos, height, education, work, etc. "
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [19]
Yik Yak
- Why we're obsessed — If you don't know about Yik Yak, that's probably because you're not in college. This location-based, anonymous messaging app is active at 200+ universities around the US. It's growing fast. Some of the more ridiculous things shared include, "On a scale of 1 to Nature Valley Granola Bar, how much is your life falling apart."
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [20]
Sleep Cycle
- Why we're obsessed — Say goodbye to groggy mornings. This incredibly refreshing app analyzes sleep movement through your phone's sensors (it's placed under the top sheet on your bed) and will wake you up during your lightest sleep phase. You set a 30-minute alarm window the night before. This may be the app to finally make you a morning person?
- How much it costs — $1
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [21]
Facetune
- Why we're obsessed — This automagical app will turn a grungy phone pic into a magazine cover-worthy fashion photo shoot. Facetune removes blemishes, whitens teeth, removes dark circles, and more to make you and your models look your best.
- How much it costs — $4
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [22]
- Why we're obsessed — If you were bitten by the travel bug, then you'll need this messaging app ASAP to keep in touch with family and friends. The app, available on nearly every mobile platform in the universe, was so good that Facebook acquired it for $16 billion [23]. There are 450 million users already on board, so chances are your family and friends are already on it. It's better than SMS, because you can send photos, texts, audio files, and more with just Internet. If you change phone numbers, it's easy to import your WhatsApp account to a new phone. We love it because of the A+ group messaging capabilities. Basically, it's the future of texting.
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia S40, Windows Phone, and Symbian [24]
Captio
- Why we're obsessed — It's as easy to use as this: "open it up, type, send, and you've just emailed yourself. Superbasic and old-school, but it can't be beat for quickly sending yourself a reminder," said POPSUGAR studios president David Grant. Emailing yourself is *still* the most efficient way to keep track of notes throughout the day for some people, especially because Gmail has perfected the art of email search. Plus, the app is completely optimized for speed.
- How much it costs — $2
- Who can download it — iOS [25]
VSCO Cam
- Why we're obsessed — This one's a no-brainer. Photojournalists and professional photographers 'round the world edit their mobile photos with VSCO Cam because of the app's advanced camera controls, like manual focus, shutter speed, and white balance. The beautiful filters are also leagues beyond the ones built into Instagram (F2 is an editor favorite).
- How much it costs — Free
- Who can download it — iOS and Android [26]
Spotify
- Why we're obsessed — Streaming subscription services are a dime a dozen, but Spotify is this editor's pick for a few reasons. The interface is beautiful. Album artwork is front and center, so it's like you're sifting through your records. If you become a Spotify premimum member, you'll also be able to save entire playlists on your phone — making offline listening super easy.
- How much it costs — Free for albums and artists only, $10 per month, $15-$30 per month family plan
- Who can download it — iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Tablets, Playstation and works as web player [27]