Apple's App Store has an overwhelming number of apps across various categories and of varying qualities. But for me, some stand out above all others as the best of the best.
So below, I’ve detailed five such apps – these are things that I use more or less daily, and I couldn't go without either these exact apps or something similar.
This isn’t a complete list of my favorites and you may have alternatives you prefer, but you can’t really go wrong with any of these – they’re among the best of their respective categories, and extremely useful.
1. AccuWeather
A good weather app is vital if you ever leave the house, and AccuWeather is a very good weather app.
Its headline feature is delivering hyperlocal forecasts, so you’ll have a clearer idea of what the weather will be in your exact location, rather than just in the general area. It delivers these with impressive accuracy, particularly for rain – predicting when it will start and stop raining down to the minute.
But AccuWeather has all the standard weather app features too, including longer term forecasts looking ahead up to 90 days, and all sorts of metrics like temperature, along with how warm it actually feels, plus wind speeds, humidity, UV index, air quality, and more.
2. 1Password
A password manager is near-essential in 2026, as it makes for a secure and convenient way to create, store, and manage your various passwords – and helps ensure you’re using good cybersecurity practices, like not reusing passwords.
Of course, iPhones now have a built-in password manager, but I’d still recommend using an alternative instead – and I especially rate 1Password.
Like most Apple things, Apple’s password manager works best on Apple operating systems and browsers. So if you have any Windows, Android, or Linux machines in the mix – or prefer a browser other than Safari – then while you can still potentially access Apple Passwords, you’ll likely have a smoother experience with an independent password manager.
Beyond that, third-party options can be more feature-packed, and 1Password is certainly packed full of features.
These include automatic password generation with parameters you can set (such as length and whether it’s memorable), autofill across numerous platforms, passkey support, a secure notes section, easy and secure sharing tools, and more. You’ll find some of its features in Apple’s Passwords app, but not all of them.
3. Evernote
Personally I find having a good note-taking app is essential for organizing my life and remembering everything I might need to, and while I’ve dabbled with others I always find myself coming back to Evernote.
This app syncs across devices and platforms, so you’re not limited to Apple hardware, and you can use it to create notes, tasks, to-do lists, and to sketch, attach files, record audio, and sort things into notebooks.
You can also easily search for specific notes or content within notes, and there are AI tools, including audio or handwriting to text transcription. So there’s a lot here, though it’s worth noting that if you want to use it on more than one device or create more than 50 notes, you’ll have to pay for a subscription.
Still, for me this is well worth it – in fact I use Evernote so much that I’ve set the Action button on my iPhone to launch it.
4. Google Maps
You probably don’t need Google Maps – after all, Apple Maps is a lot better these days than it was at launch, but Google’s alternative remains my preference, and it’s a service I rely on any time I’m traveling somewhere unfamiliar.
It’s probably the most popular mapping app on the planet, and has been for a long time and with good reason, as it’s generally accurate and reliable, and has all the tools, information, and features you’re likely to need.
This includes a Street View mode to see how places actually look, navigation tools for driving, cycling, walking, and getting public transport, details and reviews for millions of businesses, offline maps, the ability to save places and make custom lists, and handy things like fuel-efficient route options and automatic rerouting based on live traffic information.
And those are just some of the headline features – there’s much, much more here, all wrapped up in a clean, easy to parse interface, and with no hidden costs.
5. JustWatch
While the apps above – or similar alternatives – should be important for just about anyone, this is perhaps a bit more niche, but for me it’s an essential app, and one I turn to daily.
JustWatch lets you search for a specific movie or show, and will then tell you which – if any – platforms it’s available on in your country. It also has a feed of new releases, telling you what’s new each day to any platforms you follow.
Plus, if you add something to your watchlist, you’ll get an alert when it’s added to a streaming service you have access to, and if you’re a bargain hunter, you can see when shows and movies that you’d have to rent or buy have dropped in price.
So if you’re as hungry for TV shows and movies as I am, then JustWatch is an essential app, but even if you’re not, it can be a fast, convenient way to search for specific content when the mood strikes you.
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