10 Free Apps We’re Especially Grateful For
The Lifehacker staff regularly review tons of apps, but some of them have stayed with us over the years. Some apps are just nice to have, while others have become indispensable in our daily life. To celebrate the ones that bring us the most joy, we’ve compiled a list of ten free apps that we’re very grateful for. From fighting angry dragons to counting mindfulness minutes, each app has a special place in our hearts (and on our home screens).
Overcast (iOS)
Need a non-Apple podcast app? Try Overcast, which features smart playlists, voice boosts, and podcast recommendations from people you follow on Twitter.
Venmo (iOS, Android)
Venmo is the de facto way that millennials send each other money for beer, and comes in handy when you need to split the bill for lunch without trying to get the waiter to swipe six debit cards.
Clash Royale (iOS, Android)
Have a few minutes to kill? Why not kill some knights and dragons in Clash Royale, a competitive strategy game in which your army will fight against the troops of another player. Matches can last from 30 seconds to 3 minutes – an eternity when your army is destroyed by a platoon of angry skeletons.
Pocket (iOS, Android, Internet)
If your morning trips don’t allow for a lot of sitting, you can still read in the morning. Pocket works on iOS and Android devices, as well as your favorite web browser. It saves articles you find on the Internet for later use, even when you’re offline.
Nuzzel (iOS, Android)
If you mainly visit Twitter for the latest news, try Nuzzel. It extracts stories from all over the network that your friends and followers have shared. This is a great way to stay in the know without tweeting about Dril .
Seamless (iOS, Android, Internet)
It takes a long time to cook. That’s why Seamless food delivery service has become one of the most essential apps to support your life with food-based nutrient delivery.
Libby (iOS, Android, Windows)
Libby is similar to the Amazon Kindle app, but specifically targeted at library books. It has a beautiful interface and connects to your public library’s ebook catalog.
Omo (iOS)
If you just want a meditation app without the (literal) bells and whistles, get Omo. It’s a simple meditation app that offers simple time presets and automatically syncs with Apple HealthKit to record minutes of mindfulness.
MyFitnessPal (iOS, Android)
It’s hard to pay attention to the food you eat if you always forget what you ate for breakfast. MyFitnessPal lets you catalog food, exercise, and other health-related factors to help you understand what you’re putting into your body (and why your scale seems to overreact after Thanksgiving dinner).
Signal (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)
You may think your text messages are safe, but you cannot be too careful. Download Signal, an encrypted VoIP and messaging app that protects your communications and lets you permanently remove your conversations and texts from the recording.