OUR FAVOURITES
21 Apps for a Fresh Start in 2021
The new year is a time for new beginnings. These apps and games can help you ring in 2021 right.
Keep moving with TikTok
We’ve all spent hours watching ridiculous TikTok dance challenges. Why not join in this year? It’s a great way to get moving indoors, and you don’t have to worry about the world judging: To share your silly or spectacular dance with just your inner circle, change the “Who can watch this video” setting to “Friends” before posting.
Throw an Among Us! party
All the rage with the kids, Among Us! is a great way to gather family near and far. Up to 10 can play as spaceship crewmates—except one of you is the nefarious Impostor, who sneaks around offing the others. The fun lies in identifying the culprit—and realizing who in your family is really good at lying.
Find some calm with Harry Styles
With its vast library of guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, Calm is a go-to for relieving stress and centering yourself. And its Sleep Stories have become a story unto themselves, thanks to star narrators including Harry Styles, Matthew McConaughey, Mandy Moore, and Kate Winslet.
Get your to-dos under control
This lightning-fast task manager makes entering a complex to-do incredibly easy. Just type it as you’d say it: “Call Mom next week” or “Yoga class every Wednesday starting in February.” You’ll be amazed how quickly you can get action items out of your head.
Look to the stars
The ubiquitous photo/video/news/social-media app is now offering astrological readings. And if a friend has set up their astrology profile, read up on their birth chart and see how compatible you are. Just tap your profile icon in the upper left corner, then select the astrology icon under your name to explore.
Revamp your Home Screen
With iOS 14 comes the ability to add widgets directly to your Home Screen, and one of the most popular apps for tailoring them to suit your style is Widgetsmith. Use it to create colorful widgets for calendars, reminders, and more—complete with festive fonts, backgrounds, and borders.
Learn French or Spanish (or Klingon)
If you want to speak it, Duolingo probably offers it: The app’s breezy, gamified lessons teach more than 30 languages—including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese—as well as the more esoteric High Valyrian and Klingon.
Go on a virtual date
There’s no better time to give this popular dating app a spin. Check out new features like face-to-face video chat and a Platinum-level subscription that puts your Likes at the front of the line.
Keep learning
Wikipedia’s widgets drop a little wisdom right onto your Home Screen: On This Day recaps important historical moments in history. Picture of the Day bubbles up photos of everything from sea snails to asteroids. And Top Read highlights the day’s most popular entry, so you can see what the whole world is learning about.
Edit photos like a star
Ever see a photo and wonder, “How’d they do that?” PicsArt will show you. With the Replay feature, easily apply the same edits, effects, stickers, and borders you see featured in the app’s eye-popping feed.
Do yoga with Jonathan Van Ness
Take a quick yoga class by Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness—delivered with his signature exuberance—with FitOn Workouts & Fitness Plans. Want something a little livelier? Try his seven-minute “Get Up & Dance” routine. To find these free classes, go to the Workout tab and scroll down to the Celebrity section.
Learn from the masters
The world’s best artists, writers, athletes, and chefs share the secrets of their crafts in MasterClass. Study fiction writing with Neil Gaiman or Judy Blume, filmmaking with Martin Scorsese or Spike Lee, sports with Serena Williams or Steph Curry, cooking with Thomas Keller or Alice Waters. MasterClass courses go deep, but they’re designed for on-the-go learning.
Donate meals in seconds
Created in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, ShareTheMeal is an incredibly simple way to donate meals to the millions around the world who are facing food insecurity. Looking for a gift that keeps on giving? Make a donation on someone’s behalf—and have it sent on a specific date.
Hit the right note
Simply Piano turns your iPhone or iPad into a virtual music teacher. Using your device’s microphone, the app will listen to your performance and let you know what to fix. In addition to classical masterpieces, there are tunes by Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Tom Petty, and many others.
Freshen up your LinkedIn
If 2021 is looking like the year for a job change, there’s only one place to start. Take a moment to revise your résumé, liven up your bio, and update your profile photo. (LinkedIn is one of the only places where it’s OK to constantly post selfies.)
Learn a new word every day
Elevate your linguistic proficiency with LookUp’s widget, which delivers a word of the day accompanied by an adorable illustration to make the definition more memorable.
Take a hike
Download Wikiloc’s super-detailed trail maps for when you don’t have internet access—a common scenario, given that you’re likely hiking to get off the grid.
Catch a live show
Live music is always happening in Qello Concerts by Stingray. Stream full concert videos from Queen, Celine Dion, Miles Davis, Norah Jones, the Vienna Philharmonic, and others. Cranking the volume to 11 is optional.
Draw on a clean slate
This elegant virtual sketchbook offers artful pencils and markers, a rich palette of colors (Interdimensional Blue, Pink Raspberry), and a canvas that goes on and on. Map out your hopes and dreams for 2021—or doodle your way into the new year.
Enlist some star power
Want to start someone’s year off on an inspiring (and surprising) note? Cameo connects you with your favorite celebrities to create personalized video messages for friends and family. Use it to send a birthday message, pep talk, or quick hello.
Work out wherever you are
This everyone-can-do-it fitness app brings simple workouts to wherever you happen to be. Got 30 seconds? Do some curls in your kitchen with two cartons of milk. Want to get your blood flowing? Try some lifts with your new work-from-home chair. Or sneak in some relaxation with one of Wakeout’s 95 foot-massage variations.