While sporting an Apple Watch on your wrist definitely looks great and fulfills the age-old need of telling time, it’s the less obvious benefits that really set the world of smartwatches apart from the competition. From playing your favorite songs to testing your general knowledge, a device filled with the best Apple Watch apps can help run your life.
Most Apple Watch owners are already aware of the most popular benefits it can bring. But your Apple Watch, like your smartphone, is capable of performing and helping out with a number of tasks you’ve likely never even considered. Here’s a selection of the most useful jobs your Apple watch can help you with:
- Exercise/Activity
- Mental Wellness
- Mental Workouts
- City Navigation
- Hydration
- Weather Info
- Password Memory
- Astronomy
- General Knowledge
When it comes to finding the best Apple Watch apps, there’s a whole library of downloadable apps to choose from. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of our 15 favorites. Be aware, some of these apps are available for free, while others may require a one-time fee or regular subscription fee.
If you’re yet to pick up an Apple watch, you can find the latest model here:
Otherwise, scroll down to discover your new favorite smartwatch app. Note, we’ve included the average rating next to each app, just to give you some insight into what the community thinks.
1. Headspace: Meditation & Sleep (4.9/5)
BEST FOR MANAGING STRESS
In a world where managing your mental wellbeing is a top priority, there’s no better or more important app to add to your collection than the Headspace: Meditation & Sleep app. While a little pricey at $12.99 per month, the 4.9 rating after over 680,000 ratings from users suggests you won’t regret your decision. It’s a great addition for dealing with daily stress and increasing your overall happiness. And if you’re still on the fence, check out the range of reviews stating how “honestly life changing” the app is and how it helps users “understand what meditation is.”
Related Stories
2. Peloton — at home fitness (4.9/5)
BEST WORKOUT APP
The Peloton — at-home fitness app houses thousands of classes, both on-demand and live. What appeals to so many fitness enthusiasts is unlimited access to these classes which are led by over 30 of the world’s top instructors. This means there’s someone there sweating along with you to keep motivation high at all times. You can download the app and enjoy a 30-day free trial to see how you get on with it before committing to the $12.99 monthly subscription fee. But, with so many options at your disposal, including running, cycling, yoga, HIIT and meditation, it’s little wonder so many people trade in their heftier monthly gym fees for this much more budget-friendly option.
3. Strava: Run, Ride, Swim (4.8/5)
BEST ACTIVITY TRACKER
If you live an active lifestyle and want a way to keep track of just how many miles you’re putting on the road, look no further than the Strava: Run, Ride, Swim app. Whether running, cycling or swimming, this smart app records all your data and allows you to analyze it to help improve your performance. And, perhaps best of all, it’s free. You’ll also enjoy access to one of the world’s largest trail networks for training inspiration as well as challenges to try, both against yourself and other app users.
4. Seven – 7 Minute Workout (4.8/5)
BEST GYM ALTERNATIVE
All it takes is seven minutes a day. That’s the premise of the hugely popular Seven – 7 Minute Workout app. In short, this app is filled with a seemingly endless number of workouts and exercises which let you work out anywhere, anytime and without the need for any equipment. No matter whether you’re looking to lose weight, gain strength or just maintain a healthy lifestyle, there’s a seven-minute workout for you in this app. And if you’re still not convinced, check out some of the thousands of reviews stating just how much difference that seven minutes a day can really make.
5. Elevate – Brain Training (4.8/5)
BEST MENTAL WORKOUT
With an average rating of 4.8 and just shy of 250,000 votes, you can be sure the Elevate – Brain Training app is going to do exactly what it advertises. A former App of the Year, this effective brain training program works to improve your focus, processing speed, math skills and memory. After downloading and filling in your details, the app will give you a personalized training program. This program will learn over time and change to optimize training effectiveness.
6. Moodistory Mood Tracker, Diary (4.8/5)
BEST FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The Moodistory Mood Tracker, Diary is another option for managing your mental wellbeing. It’s a lot newer to the market than the Headspace app, but users enjoy the app’s intuitive design for tracking your mood and emotions, as well as the one-time fee of $4.99 over a monthly subscription fee. Moodistory proclaims self-care and empowerment as its cornerstones and offers help for dealing with life’s ups and downs as well as mood swings, depression and bipolar disorders.
7. Trivia Crack (4.5/5)
BEST TRIVIA
Can you think of a better way to while away your time when it’s not convenient to have your phone out than answering trivia on your wrist? Because we can’t. That’s exactly what you’ll have with the Trivia Crack app added to your library. This fun app has over half a million ratings from users, and houses hundreds of thousands of brain-testing questions. Furthermore, the online element allows you to compete with other users and even chat with them as you go. You’ll also find 20 different game languages and collectible cards that let you prove just how smart you are!
8. Thirstic: Smart Water Tracker (4.8/5)
BEST FOR HYDRATION
You may not have considered how your wrist computer can play an integral role in keeping you hydrated, but the Thirstic: Smart Water Tracker is here to open your eyes to the possibility. The app boasts an incredibly user-friendly interface that tracks both your intake of water and reminds you to drink throughout the day. Plus, what’s really smart about the app is that it adapts its advice to weather conditions and your activity level to ensure you’re always correctly hydrated.
9. Streaks (4.8/5)
BEST FOR HABIT FORMING
No matter whether you’re looking to exercise more regularly, learn a new language or even quit smoking, the Streaks app can help you out. This highly customizable habit tracker allows you to keep tabs on up to 12 specified tasks you’d like to complete every day. You’ll get reminders when it’s time to complete your tasks which can come through your watch or other devices connected to your iCloud. Your goal is to build consecutive-day streaks and in achieving that, form new habits or break bad ones.
10. Spotify: Music and Podcasts (4.8/5)
BEST MUSIC
Having all your favorite music and podcasts in one place is super convenient, and that’s why the Spotify: Music and Podcasts app is so popular. The 4.8 rating comes after 14 million (yep, you read that right) ratings, and while the service does require a subscription for offline and ad-free listening, the benefits definitely outway the cost. You’ll be able to enjoy access across all of your devices, not just your Apple Watch. The app itself sports an intuitive design that is impressively user-friendly.
11. CARROT Weather (4.7/5)
BEST WEATHER
Staying on top of the weather can be the difference between a day filled with fun and a day filled with rain, wind and unhappiness. The CARROT Weather app keeps you in the know by delivering up-to-date and accurate info about current, hourly and daily forecasts. The app also offers alerts and warnings for lightning strikes, storm cells, precipitation and interesting astronomical events, too. Additionally, users love the Carrot Weather app’s dialogue with attitude, an example being, “Rain starting in 15 minutes! Have fun with that, human.”
12. Night Sky (4.4/5)
BEST NIGHT SKY
Advertised as your personal planetarium, the Night Sky app gives you everything you need to quickly identify the stars, planets and satellites you see in the night sky. The Apple Watch app can inform you about current and future stargazing conditions as well as take you on virtual tours. Plus, you’ll also find on-screen pictures of constellations and compass-led directions when browsing the sky, saving you the need to pull your phone out of your pocket.
13. 1Password – Password Manager (4.4/5)
BAD MEMORY PICK
The 1Password – Password Manager eliminates the frustration of constantly forgetting passwords. This handy app is used by normal people and businesses alike to store, generate and fill-in passwords with a few quick taps. Simply remember the main, master password to gain access to your library of saved passwords. Once you have your $3.99 monthly subscription in place, you’ll be able to relax about forgetting and finding yourself in a place like these users who admit they “don’t know how [they] would function without it.”
14. Citymapper: All Your Transit (4.3/5)
BEST NAVIGATION
While the 4.3 rating may suggest it’s a little short of perfect, the Citymapper: All Your Transit app definitely provides a convenient way to navigate your way through new cities with ease. Using turn-by-turn navigation through on-screen prompts and voice instruction, you’ll be able to get from A to B without any difficulty. Destinations include New York City, Chicago, L.A. and a whole host of other locations, including newly added options from across Germany and France. You’ll also be able to save important places like your home, workplace and go-to stops to provide faster route planning.
15. StepDog – Watch Face Dog (4.3/5)
BEST NOVELTY
If you’re old enough to remember carrying around a small device called a Tamagotchi, then the StepDog – Watch Face Dog app may speak to you. While it is essentially a glorified step counting app in the form of a fitness Tamagotchi, you’ll find hours of fun and motivation as you’re able to affect your in-watch furry friend by tiring him out with all of your daily steps. And should you want a particular on-screen dog, it’s possible to purchase in-app extras to fulfill your wishes.
The Apple Watch Series 6 Comes With a Big New Feature Designed for a COVID World