Top 50 Freemium iPhone Apps to Try in 2021
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We are nearing the end of 2021, and apps continue to integrate into our daily lives. This year, I’ve penned over 70 articles, with a significant focus on iPhone applications.
My affection for the iPhone stems from its capability to enhance productivity while safeguarding privacy and minimizing digital chaos. My journey began with the iPhone 7, which revolutionized my efficiency and allowed me to incorporate more productivity tools into my routine.
This article showcases 50 iPhone apps that are either entirely free or offer in-app purchases for full functionality. I've also compiled similar lists for Mac users, which you can explore via the following links:
Top 50 Free and Freemium Mac Apps I’ve Found in 2021! Bookmark this one, it features tons of useful Mac apps! medium.com
- Make Time App
Inspired by a book of the same name, this app takes a unique approach to enhancing productivity. Simply launch the app, jot down your key daily focus, and set a timer.
Navigate to the Laser tab to establish a timer for the activity you wish to focus on, helping you to overcome procrastination. At day’s end, a notification prompts you to reflect on your highlight through a few simple questions.
The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly. After using it for two weeks, I noticed a significant shift in how I perceived my time, making each day feel meaningful.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Visually appealing
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Mindlist — Todo List & Planner
This minimalist to-do application highlights essential reminder features within a clean design.
Free from distractions, it boasts smooth functionality. Noteworthy features include: - No ads - Calendar integration - Customization options - Dark mode support - Quick performance - List creation capability
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: $3.99
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (228 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- TV Forecast
Choosing an app to track your favorite TV series is simple, but finding one that delivers an excellent user experience can be challenging due to many competitors.
TV Forecast stands out as a lightweight app that runs smoothly on nearly all iPhones released since 2017. It includes dark mode support and utilizes Apple Sign In. You can also link your account to Trakt, a popular service for tracking entertainment consumption.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $0.99 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (256 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Any Distance
Many enjoy sharing their running distances visually, but traditional apps often come with high subscription fees and privacy issues.
Any Distance, developed by Luke Beard, offers fantastic features such as: - Apple Health and Strava support - Beautiful templates - Home screen widget for progress tracking - Gamification elements for motivation
If you want to share stunning visuals of your runs on social media, consider trying Any Distance.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Visually appealing
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Vera
As a plant owner, I’ve named my two plants Stefanos and Jon Snow. Jon Snow, a Sansevieria gifted to me, has persevered through harsh winters, earning its name.
Stefanos is a Pachypodium Lamerei, a resilient cactus.
To manage their care, I initially used apps like Notion, but they lacked notifications and customization.
Vera is a free app that allows you to add plants by searching a vast database, track the last time you watered or fertilized them, and set notifications for care reminders.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (430 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Ripple for Trakt
For Trakt users, Ripple offers a clean user interface that provides access to your movie and TV show library.
You can view your watchlist and receive notifications for new episodes of your favorite shows. Subscribing grants access to enhanced search features and personalized recommendations.
Ripple delivers a refined user experience for Trakt users, akin to Apollo for Reddit.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription $0.49 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Compress Photo & Pictures
As a blogger, I must ensure the images I upload are relevant and optimized for size. Balancing quality and size is crucial.
While several online services offer image compression, many lack robust privacy policies. Compress stands out as a reliable app that effectively reduces image file sizes.
With two sliders for photo quality and resolution, it performs well despite the presence of ads.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $3.99 per year
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (10.8K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Website: Not Found
- Craft
Apple users often say, “It just works,” and Craft exemplifies this sentiment. I appreciate it so much that I dedicated an article to reviewing the app.
Craft is a sophisticated note editor that helps you organize and format text, supporting mathematical formulas and programming code.
I believe it could replace Notion by providing an elegant design, quick performance, and dedicated support for Apple Silicon.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $4.99 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.9 out of 5 (1585 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- An Otter RSS Reader
Otter is a straightforward RSS reader. Simply add the URL of a website, and it will find the corresponding RSS feed.
A standout feature is the feed grouping. The app displays content directly, loading the website as it appears in Safari, simplifying the experience.
You can use Otter’s widgets to show the latest feeds on your home screen.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Fasta: Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can be challenging due to its various methods. Fasta helps manage fasting periods and track progress.
Offering over 15 intermittent plans, Fasta prioritizes privacy and includes Apple Watch support as well as Apple Health integration.
Widgets for your home screen and dark mode support are additional features.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Subscription $1.99 per month
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (182 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Directive
As we mature, responsibilities increase. Some buy cars, others homes, and we often believe everything is under control, but managing finances can be overwhelming.
Directive is an app designed to help you remember important dates for payments and events, along with direct purchasing from Amazon for convenience.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $3.99 per year
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- FlyScreen
Every time technology functions well, it brings a sense of joy, and FlyScreen is an app that enhances efficiency. Its primary goal is to create shortcuts for users to optimize their time usage.
I found it particularly useful for connecting with people on Clubhouse, where links cannot be copied from profiles.
FlyScreen’s link detection enables quick navigation, and it also categorizes screenshots effectively, even removing duplicates.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Ambients
Achieving a state of flow is essential for productivity. I often find motivation through my Apple Music library, especially during remote work.
Ambients aims to create an atmosphere that helps you disconnect from daily distractions, assisting focus during work or study.
It features calming tracks, such as "Beach," or helps you visualize yourself in a serene environment.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Multiple In-App Purchases
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (207 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- WiFiman
Managing network equipment requires reliable tools to identify potential issues. In my case, I needed to check which router ports were exposed to the internet to enhance security.
WiFiman not only aids in security checks but also monitors connected devices and performs speed tests to evaluate internet performance.
It’s an excellent tool for testing connections with servers abroad and provides accurate ping times for popular websites.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (5228 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Sleep Tracker & Affirmation
Poor sleep quality negatively impacts health. Sleep Tracker & Affirmation aims to enhance sleep quality and includes additional features like meditation and optimal wake-up time alarms.
Tracking my sleep has revealed patterns, helping me identify when I snore and the duration of deep sleep.
This app provides valuable data to discuss with healthcare professionals. However, the user interface could be improved for a more modern feel.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $9.99 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (108 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Mini Converter
A reliable unit conversion app is essential. While Siri offers basic conversions, Mini Converter provides advanced options.
Notable features include: - No data collection - Dark mode support - Slide Over and Split View compatibility - No ads - VoiceOver support
Mini Converter handles various unit conversions and offers daily updated currency conversions for a fee.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription $0.49 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Plantie
The Pomodoro technique is popular for maintaining focus. Plantie gamifies this method, providing a timer and a virtual tree that bears fruit as you complete tasks.
Though I generally avoid gamified apps, Plantie effectively enhances productivity.
The app requires continuous operation, and if you switch to another app, it prompts you to decide whether to continue or stop the task.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (1.1K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- EXpenso
Managing finances can be tedious without a proper system. While some rely on spreadsheets, EXpenso offers a straightforward way to log expenses, using emojis for categorization.
This fun yet practical app simplifies finance management.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Plant Jammer
Plant Jammer suggests recipes based on available ingredients, saving time searching for suitable meals.
Beyond offering recipes, it allows you to: - Create personal folders for your dishes - Access cooking tutorials - Utilize AI for diet-specific recipes - Plan weekly meals - Compile shopping lists
The user interface is acceptable but relies heavily on internet connectivity.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $3.49 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (284 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Dinero
Tracking subscriptions is vital for effective financial management. Dinero simplifies this process, allowing you to quickly log subscription details.
Adding a subscription is straightforward, and you can view total expenses and active subscriptions on the home screen.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription $1.49 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Website: Not Found
- Inspire
Daily motivation fuels productivity. Inspire provides a collection of motivational quotes to help you start the day positively.
Staying optimistic is crucial for mental health, and this app contributes to that mindset.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: Not available
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Klima
Climate change impacts our daily lives. Reducing carbon footprints is essential, and Klima helps track your lifestyle's carbon impact.
The app offers an enjoyable user experience with a beautiful interface and illustrative graphics. Complete simple steps for an estimate and select a plan to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription with various plans
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Visually appealing
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (104 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Amicu
Humans are social beings, and maintaining connections is vital. Amicu allows you to manage key contacts, set reminders, and organize important information simply.
The app is straightforward and designed to keep you connected with those who matter most.
Privacy: No personal data collection
Price: Subscription with various plans
Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Attractive
Rating: Insufficient data
Download: AppStore
Research: Website
- Recurrence
Habits often fall by the wayside due to life’s distractions. Recurrence helps you create and track repetitive tasks to ensure you stick to your goals.
This universal app works seamlessly on most Apple devices and has an easy navigation system.
For me, it serves as a reminder for haircuts, meditation, and bill payments.
- Privacy: Some personal data collection
- Price: Subscription with various plans
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Spaces
Efficient note-taking is essential for staying organized. Spaces offers a visually appealing design with categorization options for different notes.
Having explored numerous note-taking apps, I often encountered issues with subscriptions, bugs, cluttered designs, and lack of support for RTL languages.
Spaces, developed by Marvey Tech, solves many of these problems. Its stunning design and excellent performance make it a worthy choice.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription with various plans
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Winno
What do we seek in a news app? For me, it’s the ability to catch up on essential news quickly. Winno is an app that delivers just that, focusing on technology, health, and other interests.
It’s designed to present news concisely and without distractions. Winno is also one of the few apps that doesn’t collect personal data, making it a free option worth trying.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Unattractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (1592 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Cheatsheet Notes
We’ve all had moments when we forget critical information. Cheatsheet Notes helps store essential details in one secure location.
You can create folders, access information quickly, and even integrate with Siri for convenience.
Though the app lacks robust security, it’s a useful tool for managing important information.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Single In-App Purchase of $4.99
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (1.1K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- (Not Boring) Weather
Many weather apps look and feel the same, but this one stands out with its stunning visuals and engaging sound design.
The app performs quickly and efficiently, providing a pleasant experience on older devices.
If you’re looking for a visually captivating weather app, (Not Boring) Weather is worth trying.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Multiple In-App Purchases
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (196 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Sofa
Creating and managing lists of desired items should be straightforward. Sofa by Astrio allows you to organize lists of books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and more.
This app's minimalist design enhances usability, making it a great option for tracking potential purchases.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Multiple In-App Purchases
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (1K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Pocket Casts
Listening to podcasts is a daily habit for many. Pocket Casts provides a feature-rich environment for enjoying podcasts across Apple devices.
Some features I appreciate include: - Intuitive design for easy podcast discovery - Customizable user interface with various themes - Support for Slide Over, Split View, and PiP on iPadOS - Silence trimming for efficient listening - Volume boosting for better audio clarity - CarPlay support for seamless commuting
If you’re looking to enhance your podcast experience, Pocket Casts is an excellent choice.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Subscription $1.49 per month
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (2.3K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Foci
Sometimes, all you need is a simple timer to stay focused. Foci is a minimalist app designed to help you concentrate by keeping your phone away.
This tool encourages you to stop using your phone, aiding in overcoming distractions.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Mactracker
As a fan of Apple products, you’ll find Mactracker invaluable. This app serves as a comprehensive database for nearly every Apple device, providing specifications and helpful links.
If you want to learn more about your own or other Apple products, Mactracker is easy to navigate and lightweight.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (664 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- MindNode
During a stressful time preparing for the IELTS, Mind Mapping proved to be a game-changer. MindNode helps create and organize thoughts into visual diagrams, facilitating better decision-making.
If you’re seeking an effective way to capture and structure ideas, give MindNode a try.
- Privacy: Some personal data collection
- Price: Subscription $2.49 per month
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (1176 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Trakt
Fascination with Hollywood began for me at age 15. Trakt helps keep track of what I’ve watched and which episodes I need to catch up on.
The official iOS app synchronizes your viewing history for movies and TV shows, making it easy to keep up with new episodes.
Trakt offers personal stats and a watchlist feature, enhancing the viewing experience.
- Privacy: Some personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (113 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Xlaunch
SpaceX is making waves with each new launch. Xlaunch keeps you updated on their latest missions and features an intuitive iOS design with widget support.
The app also includes dark mode and high-resolution images for each launch.
If you’re a space enthusiast eager to follow SpaceX’s journey, Xlaunch is a must-have.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (110 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- DontText
In my country, spam messages are a daily nuisance. DontText helps eliminate these unwanted texts by integrating with system settings.
By inputting specific keywords found in spam messages, you can significantly reduce the clutter in your inbox.
If you’re fed up with spam texts, give DontText a shot.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Subscription $3.99 per year
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (200 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Headlines
Headlines offers a minimalist RSS reader experience, allowing you to check feeds based on popularity.
Unique features include tagging for better organization and filtering options to exclude specific keywords, such as "leak."
The app also supports home screen widgets, making it a great choice for iPhone and iPad users seeking simplicity.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Multiple In-App Purchases
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- NetNewsWire
Searching for a reliable RSS reader can be challenging, especially when most are costly. NetNewsWire stands out as a free, open-source option.
It automatically detects RSS feeds from added websites and syncs with iCloud for multi-device accessibility.
Clipboard detection allows for easy additions of websites, making it user-friendly.
If you want a no-cost app that respects your privacy, give NetNewsWire a try.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Free!
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (435 ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- AirMatters
Living in an industrial area often means dealing with poor air quality. AirMatters, paired with its Apple Watch companion app, provides real-time data on local air pollution.
The app not only measures air quality but also connects with select third-party accessories like air purifiers.
- Privacy: No personal data collection
- Price: Subscription $0.99 per year
- Compatibility: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (2.2K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Calendar Buddy
When overwhelmed, planning can become difficult. Calendar Buddy simplifies this process by allowing users to plan days, complete tasks, and set goals.
More than just a calendar, it logs moods and suggests activities, aiding in daily planning.
This app is especially beneficial for students on a budget, providing a comprehensive tool for managing their schedules.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription with various plans
- Compatibility: iPhone
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Portal
Portal redefines app experiences with nature sounds that transport you to serene environments. The 3D sound quality enhances relaxation, especially on iPads.
The app supports HomeKit, allowing you to create a calming atmosphere using lighting synced to your chosen sound.
Portal also features a Pomodoro-like timer for productivity.
If you seek a distraction-free environment enhanced by nature sounds, give Portal a try.
- Privacy: No data collection
- Price: Subscription $39.99 per year
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.3K ratings)
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website
- Authenticator
Securing online accounts often involves complex passwords and two-step verification. While many use Google or Microsoft apps for this purpose, they may lack key features.
This Authenticator app stands out by offering: - Backup for two-step verifications, ensuring access if you lose your device. - Compatibility with most Apple platforms for seamless usage.
- Privacy: Collects personal data
- Price: Subscription $1.49 per month
- Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Design: Attractive
- Rating: Insufficient data
- Download: AppStore
- Research: Website