Everything You Need to Download on Your Phone This Year

Our phones do much more than just make calls or send texts. They help us plan, spend, travel, stay fit, switch off, and even learn something new. With apps constantly evolving, it’s easy to miss the ones that can make your life a bit easier. The good news is you don’t need to download hundreds. Just a few carefully chosen apps can bring more order, insight, and enjoyment to your day.

Task & Planner Apps

If your day feels like it slips away before you’ve even had a chance to start, a solid task or planner app can help you take back control. Apps like TickTick and Todoist let you break tasks into manageable steps, set reminders and track progress across multiple devices. They work better than a handwritten list because they follow you around and nudge you when you need it most. If you often forget what’s next or struggle to prioritise, these tools help you see what needs doing and when.

Budgeting & Banking Apps

Money management doesn’t have to be a guessing game.  Many apps give you real-time insights into your spending habits, categorise purchases, and flag subscriptions you may have forgotten about.

Instead of waiting for a surprise at the end of the month, you can check where your money is going in a few taps. It’s not just about saving but rather spending more intentionally.

Health & Fitness

You don’t need a gym membership to start feeling better. Apps like Nike Training Club, Strava, or MyFitnessPal give you guided workouts, food tracking, and community support from your pocket. For example, if you walk or cycle regularly, Strava turns that into visible progress, which can be incredibly motivating. These apps help you stick to realistic goals without feeling pressured to hit perfection.

Travel & Transport

Whether you’re commuting or planning a weekend break, travel apps can make things smoother. Citymapper helps you navigate cities without the stress of switching between maps and train times. Meanwhile, Trainline and Skyscanner make booking tickets and flights straightforward. These aren’t just time-savers; they will give you more confidence when travelling somewhere new.

Entertainment On-the-Go

Streaming platforms keep your downtime flexible. When you’re stuck in traffic or on a long train ride, having something to watch or listen to makes it feel like time well spent. You can even download content in advance, so you’re not caught out by a poor signal or when your mobile data is running low.

Mobile Games

Sometimes you just want a quick mental break. Mobile games offer that in spades, and they’ve moved far beyond mindless tapping. Puzzles or social games can help you unwind while keeping your brain engaged. If you enjoy something more traditional, the classic feel of bingo 90 adds a dose of nostalgia without the usual distractions of modern games.

Learn Something New

Apps like Duolingo, Brilliant, or Coursera give you bite-sized ways to pick up new skills. You could learn Spanish on your lunch break or brush up on algebra while you’re waiting in a queue at the supermarket.

It doesn’t need to feel like a chore because many of these apps have gamified aspects that keep it fun and make you keep coming back.

Privacy & Security

Apps like Bitwarden for password management and Proton VPN for secure browsing help you avoid common digital risks. Instead of reusing the same password or logging into public Wi-Fi unprotected, these tools put you in control of your data.