You could call me a mobile app enthusiast.
I love being able to do things on a smartphone in an easy, intuitive way. I’m going to share a few of my favorite apps with you.
This is not an “essentials” app list (such as Google Maps, Pinterest or Google Drive/Dropbox — which are staples in our daily lives). Instead, I want to introduce you to some of the most unexpected, creative, and intuitive experiences that I’ve had on an Android phone.
Since I haven’t used some of these for a few years, it’s possible that they have changed for the worse (please let me know if that’s the case), but when I have installed these apps, I’ve had a great time with each one of them!
Nomie (productivity)
You’ve likely heard of this one, but I feel like it has been left behind. It is an utterly brilliant jack-of-all-trades for tracking things. Water intake, pushups, weight, finances, time management, etc. It also has a beautiful, intuitive layout.
You start by creating a tracker, where you choose an icon and a color. Then, you choose the unit of measurement and how it should count. There are a lot of possibilities here, making this app endlessly useful and versatile. This one is free to use.
Mealime (cooking)
This is a meal-planning app with a built-in grocery list and some helpful automation. It provides recipes for you that fit your specific diet and preferences. I was surprised by the intuitive nature of this app and how many functionalities it has. It does have a subscription model, but the free option is plenty helpful!
Letterboxd (social)
Think of this one as social media for movie buffs. You can rate and review movies, comment on other peoples’ reviews, create lists, and show off your favorite films. Although I love movies, I don’t watch anything R-rated — so it’s harder for me to relate to people in this community. This one also has a subscription tier that is offered, but not required.
Wanderlog (productivity)
This is a do-it-all trip planner! You can create an itinerary, lists of landmarks to see, and even find things to do in the area you’re going to. You can collaborate with others on a trip so that they can see everything you see!
My favorite feature is that you can forward your booking emails to them, and they’ll automatically add the details to your trip! This app is free.
Forest (productivity)
While this is set up like a mobile game, it is technically a productivity app. It helps you focus by blocking apps that you need help avoiding. You just choose which apps will be blocked, start the timer, and you’ll be growing trees and shrubs in no time! There’s a pretty good community around the app, as well. This one has a free tier.
Bandlab (music creation)
Bandlab is a mobile recording studio! You can create beats, lay down vocals, or even plug in and track your guitar (but that requires additional hardware). When I used it, I found it to be really easy to use and powerful. You can create some cool music with this one! This app has a free tier.
Fluids (relaxation)
This one is hard to explain. While also not technically a game, it is still playful. Using your finger(s), you can “draw” colorful designs in a type of virtual water/paint. While it sounds simple, it is really quite addicting!
The experience reminds me of creating digital art, but nothing on the screen stays still for long — so there isn’t a good way to save it. Even though there’s a screenshot feature, it’s hard to capture exactly what you want before it “evaporates”. There are many different colors and styles, providing endless fun! This also has a free tier.