5 default iPhone apps I ditched as quickly as I attempted these options

Apple’s default iOS apps for the iPhone are fairly nice. They comply with a constant design language, they’re easy and but moderately {powerful}, they usually come free out of the field. That being mentioned, the App Store is house to a dizzying variety of third-party options to select from, with huge swathes of builders vying to one-up one another within the innovation division.

With this in thoughts, I’ve crafted an inventory of 5 third-party iPhone apps that I imagine outclass Apple’s in-house offerings in nearly each method. These apps all appear and feel native to the system, whereas offering tons of further options, toolsets, and customization choices to fiddle round with.

1 Overcast

The very best third-party podcasting app

Overcast

Overcast is a podcast participant with distinctive options for the iPhone and different Apple gadgets. The Sensible Velocity characteristic helps you get by way of podcasts sooner with out distorting audio.

There are a number of excellent podcasting apps obtainable for the iPhone, every of which brings one thing distinctive to the desk when in comparison with Apple’s own Podcasts app. Whereas I really like Pocket Casts and AntennaPod, my private favourite participant has received to be Overcast. The app is full-featured, but it comes with an interface that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to grasp.

A voice Increase mode, customized playlists, a sleep timer, and assist for each Apple Watch and CarPlay are current right here, and the single-person developer claims that there aren’t any third-party analytics, trackers, or advert companies inside the app. Overcast is free to obtain and set up, with a paid Premum subscription tier obtainable for eradicating commercials.

Associated

New iPhone? Delete these apps immediately

The iPhone ships with some fairly stable default apps, however not all of them are winners — listed here are those I at all times delete immediately.

2 Clear

The very best third-party note-taking and reminders app

Clear: Minimalist Todo Lists

Clear is an expertly crafted to-do record that encompasses a distinctive gesture-based interface.

As with podcasting apps, there are a wealth of widespread note-taking and reminder apps obtainable for the iPhone. Apple’s default Notes and Reminders apps get the job finished, however third-party options typically include further options, organizational instruments, and cross-device syncing choices. Personally, I depend on Clear to maintain on observe with my private lists of to-dos and errands.

Clear provides a stunning gradient-style interface design that I can not get sufficient of, in addition to a novel gesture-based navigational system that feels fluid and responsive. I additionally love the small prospers of audio all through – these crisp sound results make swiping by way of my notes really feel all of the extra satisfying.

Clear is free to make use of, and a Professional model is obtainable for unlocking widgets, Apple Watch assist, per-list personalization settings, month-to-month in-app collectibles, and extra.

Associated

5 Android apps I delete immediately from every new phone

I hate litter virtually as a lot as I hate superfluous apps — listed here are the defaults that I at all times delete when establishing a brand new Pixel cellphone.

3 Solves

The very best third-party calculator app

Solves: Calculator for All

Solves is a third-party calculator app for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac that gives an attractive-yet-powerful interface.

Apple’s first-party Calculator app lagged far behind the competitors up till the discharge of iOS 18 within the fall of final yr. Right now, the app lastly boasts a devoted backspace button, a dual-column view, in addition to iPad assist. However, third-party options proceed to outshine Apple’s efforts. Whereas there are many extra {powerful} options on the App Retailer, I at all times gravitate to Solves.

Solves works throughout the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, and it comes with loads of helpful options. These embrace cross-device historical past sync, coloration theming, an adaptive person interface, and extra. In apply, utilizing Solves merely feels higher than utilizing Apple’s Calculator — I admire the haptic feedback, the animations, and the truth that the app respects my iPhone’s gentle mode setting.

Solves is free to make use of and comes with no advertisements out of the gate, however a single-time Solves+ buy is required for added theming, unit conversion instruments, and different extra superior settings.

Associated

6 free must-have apps I always install on my iPhone

These iPhone apps are solely free, they usually’re put in on my iPhone always.

4 Albums

The very best third-party Apple Music app

Albums: Music Library Participant

Albums is a third-party music participant for the iPhone that faucets into Apple Music, and gives listening stats, observe organizational instruments, and extra.

If you happen to’re an Apple Music subscriber, then the third-party Albums app is a wonderful piece of supplementary software program. The app places musical albums entrance and middle, which is a breath of recent air in right now’s world of single-focused and extremely automated playlists. If you wish to sit again and hearken to LPs the best way the artist supposed, then Albums is price its weight in gold.

Albums comes with a ton of additional options, together with Final.FM compatibility for protecting observe of your listening metrics, Siri, iCloud Sync, and CarPlay integration, and an in-line notes characteristic for jotting down your ideas as you play again your favourite tracks. The bottom app is free to make use of, and there is a Premium model obtainable which unlocks further library insights, album tagging, a launch radar characteristic, and different goodies.

Associated

You won’t find these 9 excellent apps anywhere on the Google Play Store

F-Droid is a free and open-source different app retailer for Android – listed here are my favourite apps which can be solely obtainable on the storefront.

5 LocalSend

The very best third-party AirDrop substitute

LocalSend: Switch Information

LocalSend is a cross-platform software that makes it simple to wirelessly ship information from one gadget to a different.

Over the previous whereas, I’ve discovered Apple’s default AirDrop protocol to be a relatively unreliable expertise. The characteristic is pitched as a simple option to wirelessly switch information from one Apple gadget to the following, however I discover the instrument to be sluggish, unresponsive, and susceptible to seizing up solely.

On account of this, I’ve made the change to LocalSend, which is a free and open-source (FOSS) different that works throughout all platforms and working methods ( Android, Windows, and extra).

I’ve by no means encountered even the slightest hitch when utilizing LocalSend to switch my information, and its cross-platform compatibility is a significant bonus from my perspective. The app’s interface is straightforward and clear, and the auto-generated show names are an enthralling contact that I genuinely admire.

Associated

New Android phone? Download these apps first

Android hosts an enormous catalogue of high-quality cellular apps — listed here are those I instantly obtain on each new Droid I arrange.