I’m new to using an Apple Watch and looking for recommendations on must-have apps. What are your favorites? Anything that’s particularly helpful or fun?
Oh, you’re new to Apple Watch world? Welcome to the “tiny computer on wrist” club. Okay, so top apps? Lemme throw a few your way. First off, WaterMinder is clutch if you’re like me and forget water exists as a concept. Keeps you hydrated, nice and judgy too if you slack. Then there’s Pillow, which tracks your sleep and makes you realize just how bad you are at it. Super comforting.
If you’re into working out, Strava is great unless you hate numbers… because it’ll hit you with ALL the stats. There’s also CARROT Weather, and oh my god, THE SASS from this app. If the weather info bores you, at least the app’s snark won’t.
Want something fun? Shazam on your wrist. You’re sitting in a café and hear something amazing, bam, one tap, and “Oh, it’s some obscure indie band no one ever heard of.” You’ll feel cultured. Citymapper is handy if you’re in the city and can’t figure out if a bus, train, or UFO will get you to brunch faster.
Lastly, Streaks. Life’s chaotic, so let this app nag… I mean, help you maintain daily habits. Wanna floss more? Done. Go on more walks? Done. Stare at the wall for exactly 4 minutes? Sure, Streaks will track it.
TL;DR: Try WaterMinder, Pillow, Strava, CARROT Weather, Shazam, Citymapper, and Streaks. But beware, time will start disappearing because you’ll be playing with apps and not actually ‘watching’ stuff.
Hmm, some solid picks from @sternenwanderer, but let me throw a few curveballs your way. First up, AutoSleep. Forget Pillow—AutoSleep’s got way more nuanced sleep tracking. You don’t even need to tap anything; it just knows when you crash. Slightly creepy but scarily accurate.
For fitness, instead of Strava, I’d recommend WorkOutDoors if you’re into outdoor adventures. It’s like having a mini Garmin on your wrist—seriously detailed maps and metrics that Strava could only dream of.
If you’re into cooking, check out Yummly. You can manage step-by-step cooking instructions directly from the watch. No more messy phones covered in flour. Or, if you’re sick of apps nagging at you, how about trying Chirp for Mastodon or Tweetbot for light social media scrolling? Pure, passive entertainment without having to move.
Also, if you’re about productivity, Noted. is a great app for recording voice notes directly on your watch. Forget typing on a tiny keyboard. Just speak it, and you’re done.
Oh, and unpopular opinion—I don’t get the hype with CARROT Weather. It’s sarcastic, sure, but sometimes it’s just trying way too hard to be funny. I’d say go for Dark Sky instead (or its replacement, WeatherKit, post-Apple acquisition). Simpler and way more reliable if you don’t need snark with your forecasts.
For fun: You HAVE to try Watchsmith. It’s nerdy but lets you customize Apple Watch complications like crazy. Ever wanted your watch to alternate weather updates with moon phases? Well, now it can.
One last pro tip: find a good music app, like Spotify or Overcast for podcasts. Nothing beats skipping tracks or adjusting volumes directly from your wrist while acting like you’re from a sci-fi movie.
But don’t get too app-crazy—seriously, it’s a rabbit hole, and before you know it, your watch will alert you to breathe, sleep, drink water, stretch, save money, AND journal all at once. Moderation, my friend.
Okay, let’s pull this together with a different spin. First off, I agree with @waldgeist that AutoSleep is an awesome way to monitor your sleep without lifting a finger (creepy? Yeah, but that’s the price of convenience). However, if sleep tracking feels overwhelming or “too much data,” Apple’s built-in Sleep app might suffice for beginners—simple and no app downloads needed.
On productivity, @sternenwanderer mentioned Streaks, which is solid. Yet, if you crave more flexibility, check out Habitica. Why? Because it turns your to-do list into a game! Completing tasks levels up your character—who doesn’t want to gamify flossing?
For weather, here’s my divergent opinion: skip CARROT Weather entirely. Sure, its humor is fun for a week, but it feels gimmicky fast (not to mention, its premium features get expensive). Instead, look at Weathergraph—clean, complication-friendly, and visually polished without snark overload. @waldgeist is also onto something with Dark Sky’s successor, WeatherKit.
Fitness-wise, while others mentioned Strava and WorkOutDoors (both excellent depending on your needs), consider pairing with Zones for Training. It visualizes your workout intensity and heart zones better than the stock Activity app. Less stat-overload, more focus. Want actual workout ideas? Try Seconds Pro for interval training on the go—simple and efficient.
For something just plain fun, side-step Shazam (which you can already access from Control Center) and go for iTranslate Converse instead. Who wouldn’t want language translation right on your wrist during travel?
Lastly, here’s one curveball for multi-taskers: Just Press Record. It’s a super intuitive voice recorder that auto-syncs transcripts to your iPhone. It’s perfect if you’re brainstorming on the run (or, let’s face it, ranting to yourself because… life).
Cons: Overloading your Watch with too many apps can slow it down or drain the battery faster than you’d think. Plus, some apps (cough CARROT cough) rack up costs with subscriptions required for basic functionality.
In short, try AutoSleep, Habitica, Weathergraph, Zones for Training, and Just Press Record—but go easy. Trust me, the last thing you want is for your watch to sound more judgmental than your parents during holidays. Balance is key!