You may own the latest and greatest Samsung Galaxy or iPhone on the market. But, are you utilizing your Apple or Android device to its full potential? There are millions of applications available to help you get the most out of your daily routine.
The only problem with these applications (apps) is that not everyone knows about them. Well, luckily for you, we're about to change that. Here is a shortlist of a few of the best apps for 2019.
Read more to learn about how you can enjoy the wealth of your mobile device through the use of these useful, fun, and innovative Apple and Android apps.
Communication
Gmail
Google’s email app, Gmail, is a great communication tool that enables you to read mail accounts from Yahoo, Hotmail, and other accounts through IMAP. It makes your entire email database much easier to use than the regular preinstalled Apple Mail app.
Facebook Messenger
What’s great about the Facebook messenger is that you don’t need a phone number to communicate with others. You can send text messages, have a voice call, or do a video chat using Facebook messenger.
It’s 100% free to use, and it works with your contacts as well so that you can stay connected to whomever you like, whenever you’d like.
Snapchat
Most people use Snapchat for its funky filters and naughty selfies. However, Snapchat’s private and secure messaging app makes it perfect for those that require more discretion in their conversations.
Messages that are sent through Snapchat disappear from the receiver’s phone after a short period, and this amount of time can be altered based on the user’s preference.
Education
ASL App
The ASL App is a free app specifically made to learn the basics of American Sign Language. It uses videos to teach you the alphabet, common words and phrases, and sign gestures. Advanced learning materials require in-app purchases from the app store, though the free version of the ASL app covers the basics.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a beautiful free language learning app that teaches you how to speak almost any language. With the use of pictures, text, and audio tools, you can learn to speak Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, and more in a fraction of the time than you would with taking regular classes.
Elevate
The Elevate app offers training in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and mathematics. You can set goals for yourself and review your performance in each category after completing some engagement categories. You can use all of the features for free during the first 30 days and then unlock all content at $39.99 per year.
Wikipedia
Get the answers to all of your questions using the Wikipedia app. It’s the go-to source for fact-checking and information in the mobile age, and it runs faster than any other mobile search engine.
Entertainment
Netflix
Like so many of the other apps included here, Netflix is a cultural phenomenon. Just about everyone and their mother has a Netflix account, and Netflix enables account holders to share their accounts with others for a couple of extra bucks a month.
Netflix provides a video streaming service that enables users to watch TV shows, movies, documentaries, and more on-the-go. Netflix offers the ultimate cinematic experience for people of all ages.
YouTube
You really can’t go wrong with YouTube. You’ll find just about anything that you can imagine from funny cat videos and pranks to independent projects and news highlights. YouTube possibilities are endless. It’s free to use for everyone on a limited scale.
If you want to unlock all of the features that YouTube has to offer, subscribe to YouTube Premium for $15.99/month for ad-free videos, music, background play, and downloads.
Spotify
Music lovers rejoice with the Spotify app. Spotify is the scene for all music-on-demand and offers a massive catalog of every music genre. It also lets you customize your playlist based on your listening history. Use it for streaming music or and even listen to podcasts from wherever, whenever. Listen for free with ads or pay $9.99/month for ad-free listening.
Finance
Coinbase
This full-featured and well-designed finance app lets you get in on the cryptocurrency craze. Use your Touch ID or Face ID to secure viewing of your online account or set price trigger alerts. Review current rates and set up a digital currency wallet for Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Etherum. All of your cryptocurrency banking can be done right here on the Coinbase app.
Mint.com
Mint.com helps you monitor and manage your finances by connecting all of your bank accounts into one integrated system. Keep track of your spending and saving on-the-go. Mint.com is one of the best finance apps on the market. You can set budgets, list goals, and assign certain stores to your shopping list that will help you save the most money.
LevelUp
Save money the second that you use the LevelUp app. This app provides a distinct budgeting service that allows users to set personal spending goals and tracking the money that they spend. Also, you won’t be billed until the beginning of the month! So you can keep track of your spending on your own time.
Food & Travel
Grubhub
When traveling to a foreign land, you may not be familiar with your surroundings. Well, just because you’re not in Kansas anymore, doesn’t mean that Dorothy doesn’t get hungry.
Choose from over 45,000 takeout restaurants within a short distance of your location so that you can satisfy your hunger and enjoy your stay wherever the world takes you. You can also have tasty local foods delivered directly to your door with the Grubhub app.
Kayak
Kayak is an excellent multipurpose traveling app. You can find hotels, car rentals, flights, and more using Kayak. Always get the best prices on your travel necessities and never get lost at an airport terminal again using Kayak’s detailed airport terminal maps.
OpenTable
Reservation for two, please! With just the touch of a button, you can reserve a table at any number of the restaurants in OpenTable’s network. Choose from thousands of restaurants of all types and enjoy a delicious meal without waiting on the phone to make a reservation.
You can also use OpenTable to pay for your meal afterward using Apple Pay! Waiting for a table is overrated, and so is waiting for the check. Never wait again using OpenTable.
Airbnb
Airbnb has quickly become the most popular source for vacation rentals. Explore fantasy accommodations, get directions, and chat directly with the host right from the app. Travelers can book their stay easily, and vacation spot hosts can promote their properties, vet potential borders, and manage their calendars!
The Weather Channel App
Will it storm? Is it a good beach day? Will we be snowed in? Answer all of these questions with the Weather Channel App. We rely on weather apps like this one to keep us alerted to weather changes that occur presently or in the future.
Get the weather forecast for the whole week ahead to plan an upcoming trip or ensure your safety on the roads. It even works with Apple Watch so that you can stay alerted without looking at your phone.
Yelp
Yelp is the most comprehensive business-reviewing app in the world. It’s an invaluable tool to have for finding restaurants, stores, and services that are up to your standards. Read customer reviews and business descriptions so that you can get a clear understanding as to how your experience will be based on the past experiences of others.
Social Networking
When you wake up in the morning, what is one of the first things that you do? You brush your teeth, make your morning coffee, enjoy an excellent breakfast, and check your Facebook feed. Social media has become a part of our culture. With so many added features, Facebook has become a social network for not just keeping tabs on our friends, but our work associates as well.
You can use it as a marketing platform for your business, play games, post videos, and provide links to your website. Facebook's all-in-one social networking tool makes it easy for everyone to stay connected from anywhere at any time.
Are you on Insta? Well, if you aren’t, then maybe it’s time that you should be. Instagram is the number one photo-sharing service on the Internet. It’s addictive to use and offers photo editing features that enable users to set cool filters to any picture or video.
With Boomerang by Instagram, you can also set videos on an endless loop so that your videos keep playing even after you've watched from beginning to end. You can use direct messaging to send texts to your friends through the Instagram app, staying connected both visually and textually.
LinkedIn provides an easy and effective way of networking with anyone from long-lost colleagues and work associates to new prospective customers and business partners.
Upload your resume and cover letter so that employers can review your experience and even apply for jobs. With the LinkedIn app, anyone in the job market can stay on top of local job listings and prospective clients.
Get Downloading
The apps listed in this article are only scratching the surface. Stay connected to your WiFi on your iPhone or Android phone. Get the most out of your device by downloading any number of the apps mentioned above. You can save money, chat with friends, take a photo and video, and stream your favorite music all at once.
The sky's the limit to what you can achieve by using these apps. You can play video games in the car ride over to your school, or apply for a job at your nearest coffee shop. All you need is a mobile device, Internet access, and at least one working hand.
So don't stare blankly at your home screen. Download one or more of these apps today! Get started on embarking on a journey to the digital world and beyond.