1. Songza
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A music app designed to coordinate playlists based on whatever mood you’re in.
Why you need it: Gives a whole new meaning to ~mood music~.
–Olivia Lyons, Facebook
2. GasBuddy
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: An app that tells you the cheapest and nearest gas station, wherever you are.
Why you need it: Panic no more when the little gas meter gets close to the big E!
–sophiep43b
3. Pacifica
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A stress-relief app with calming sounds, a thought journal, mental exercises, and tools to track mental and physical well-being.
Why you need it: Because everyone needs a moment to regroup and relax.
–natalataliee
4. Duolingo
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A language learning app that is centered around lessons and games — hundreds of them.
Why you need it: This is way more fun than your high school textbook.
–sophiam4b4
5. Waze
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A traffic app with user-submitted updates to make your commute that much easier.
Why you need it: Trafficcan be stressful enough — and Waze will help you reject the road rage.
–true2truex8
6. Clue
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: Clue is a period-tracker app that predicts dates for your next period and PMS, and the days you’re most likely to get pregnant.
Why you need it: Enough said.
–weid197
7. Star Chart
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: An app that can locate the current position of every star, planet, moon, and all that other space stuff, just by pointing your phone up at the day or night sky.
Why you need it: Because who doesn’t love looking up at the stars and all of the great kings of the past?
–Jessica Koplin, Facebook
8. Goodreads
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A reading app that makes it easy to find new books, keep track of your reading list, and check in on what your friends are reading too.
Why you need it: An essential for any reading lover, really.
–iridescentred
9. OurGroceries
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: Think of this as a communal grocery list. You can update what food is running low — and anyone in the house can check to see what’s left on the list to pick up.
Why you need it: You never have to run out of milk, eggs, or tortilla chips ever again.
–tawnym2
10. 2048
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A simple, but stupidly addictive game where you join numbers together in order to get to the 2048 tile.
Why you need it: Great for a morning commute or a fun distraction in case you have an hour or two, or six, to kill.
–vikky
11. VSCOcam
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A photography app that provides beautiful filters and editing tools, and is especially good for giving them that professional and vintage feel.
Why you need it: Because Instagram can only do so much.
–parksandwrecked
12. Bandsintown
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: An app that lets you know where and when your favorite artists and bands are on tour — and it notifies you when those tours are announced and when tickets go on sale.
Why you need it: If you’ve missed one of your favorite artists when they were in town, it’s a must-have.
–christinegb
13. Lumosity
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: An app designed with fun little exercises to train memory, attention, problem-solving, and more.
Why you need it: Because you may as well have fun adding some brawn to your brain.
–evanrentfrows
14. Colorfy
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: This is your childhood coloring book, but modernized. It provides beautiful outlined drawings with tons of color options so you can color to your heart’s content!
Why you need it: Because who said coloring books were just for kids anyway?
–sydneyjr
15. Plant Nanny
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: It helps you track how much water you drink and gives you a little plant pal to visualize your progress for the day.
Why you need it: Just think of this as a modern Tamagotchi — except, you know, for your health.
–erinontheinternet
16. Wattpad
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A reading and writing community where users can share and discover stories they love, as well as their own.
Why you need it: Social media meets books? Two of the best worlds colliding.
–mariah42b
17. MyFitnessPal
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A fitness and health app that gives you tons of tools and techniques to measure your goals — no matter what they are.
Why you need it: Because I guess health and wellness is sort of important.
–Tammy Akelia Taitt, Facebook
18. Magic Conch
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: Inspired by SpongeBob, the Magic Conch app helps you answer yes–no questions so that you don’t have to.
Why you need it: Making decisions is hard. Why not lessen the load and let the conch decide?
–emilym43c
19. Stop, Breathe & Think
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A guided meditation app with exercises and activities to ease stress and anxiety.
Why you need it: Because sometimes the best way to calm yourself down is with a deep breath.
–kelseym4c9
20. QuizUp
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A quiz app that allows you to challenge your friends, or randos, in topics ranging from history to Harry Potter to space.
Why you need it: Because you know your shit — what better way to humblebrag about it?
–genej2
21. Snapseed
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A photo app to make your phone photos look polished and professional with advanced photo-editing tools.
Why you need it: Snapseed could be the way to take your intermediate Instas to the next level.
–vanillasocks15
22. RunPee
Free — iOS and Android
What is it: An app that lets you know the best time to pee during movies so you don’t miss any good scenes.
Why you need it: You’ll never have to miss an important moment or an after-the-credits Easter egg ever again.
–Katie Draper, Facebook
23. Think Dirty
Free — iOS
What it is: An app that lets you scan the ingredients of your favorite beauty products to see what harmful chemicals they might contain.
Why you need it: Who knows what could be in those powders and lotions — gotta keep that flawless face protected!
–Giordano-Rdz Isa, Facebook
24. WorkFlowy
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A productivity app for taking notes, making lists, and overall keeping your life together.
Why you need it: Although you totally have it together, why not take your organizational skills up a notch?
–Mike Cherepko, Facebook
25. Spending Tracker
Free — iOS and Android
What it is: A finance app that helps you keep track of your expenses, save, budget, and all that other adult money stuff.
Why you need it: Until you get to that phase where you’re throwing your cash off of your yacht, you should probably keep your finances in check.
–Yena Kim, Facebook
26. And SleepBot
Free — iOS and Android
What is it: A smart alarm and sleep tracker that tracks your sleep patterns through the night and wakes you up in your lightest phase of sleep.
Why you need it: Sleep is amazing. Why would you not want your night’s rest to be as best as could be?
–annakopsky
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