1. Notion
Category: Productivity
Overview: Notion is an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, tasks, databases, and wikis. Its flexibility allows users to create customized workflows, making it ideal for both personal and professional use.
Key Features:
- Customizable Templates: Users can create and share templates for various purposes, from project management to personal journals.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, enhancing team productivity.
- Seamless Syncing Across Devices: Changes made on one device are instantly reflected across all connected devices.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Notion’s versatility and user-friendly interface make it a standout productivity app, catering to a wide range of organizational needs.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Notion
2. Apple Music
Category: Music & Entertainment
Overview: Apple Music offers a vast library of over 90 million songs, curated playlists, and exclusive content. It integrates seamlessly with Siri and the broader Apple ecosystem, providing a cohesive music experience.
Key Features:
- High-Fidelity Audio and Lossless Streaming: Enjoy music in high-quality audio formats, including lossless and spatial audio.
- Curated Playlists and Recommendations: Personalized playlists and daily mixes based on listening habits.
- Cross-Device Syncing: Access your music library across all Apple devices, ensuring a consistent experience.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Apple Music’s extensive library and seamless integration with Apple devices make it a premier choice for music enthusiasts.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Apple Music
3. GoodNotes 5
Category: Note-Taking & Education
Overview: GoodNotes 5 is a powerful note-taking app that offers a realistic writing experience, making it a favorite among iPad users. It supports Apple Pencil, allowing for precise and natural handwriting.
Key Features:
- Handwriting Recognition and Search: Convert handwritten notes into text and search through them effortlessly.
- Customizable Notebooks and Templates: Create notebooks with various templates, including planners, journals, and more.
- Seamless Apple Pencil Support: Experience smooth and responsive writing with Apple Pencil integration.
Why It’s a Top Choice: GoodNotes 5 combines the tactile feel of paper with the convenience of digital organization, making it an essential tool for students and professionals alike.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: GoodNotes 5
4. TikTok
Category: Social Media & Entertainment
Overview: TikTok is a leading social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos set to music. Its algorithm delivers personalized content, keeping users engaged for hours.
Key Features:
- User-Generated Video Content: Create and share videos with a wide range of effects and filters.
- Personalized Recommendations: The “For You” page curates content based on user interactions and preferences.
- Live Streaming and Interactive Features: Engage with audiences in real-time through live streams and interactive features like polls and Q&A.
Why It’s a Top Choice: TikTok’s engaging content and user-friendly interface have made it a global phenomenon, offering entertainment and creative expression.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: TikTok
5. Google Maps
Category: Navigation
Overview: Google Maps is a comprehensive navigation app that provides real-time traffic updates, turn-by-turn directions, and local business information.
Key Features:
- Real-Time Traffic and Transit Updates: Receive live traffic conditions and public transit schedules.
- Offline Maps for Specific Areas: Download maps for offline use, ensuring navigation even without an internet connection.
- Discover Restaurants, Attractions, and Services: Explore local businesses with user reviews and ratings.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Google Maps’ accuracy and extensive features make it an indispensable tool for navigation and local exploration.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Google Maps
6. Libby
Category: Books & Education
Overview: Libby is an app that allows users to borrow e-books and audiobooks from their local library for free. It’s a fantastic resource for avid readers looking to access a wide range of titles without cost.
Key Features:
- Access to Thousands of E-books and Audiobooks: Borrow a vast selection of titles across various genres.
- Syncs Across Devices: Start reading on one device and pick up where you left off on another.
- Download for Offline Reading and Listening: Enjoy your borrowed books without an internet connection.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Libby’s integration with local libraries provides free access to a wealth of reading material, making it a must-have for book lovers.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Libby
7. Calm
Category: Health & Wellness
Overview: Calm is a popular meditation and sleep app designed to help users manage stress, improve sleep quality, and practice mindfulness. The app offers a variety of meditation sessions, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and soothing music.
Key Features:
- Guided Meditations: Calm offers hundreds of guided meditation sessions for all experience levels, covering topics like relaxation, focus, and anxiety reduction.
- Sleep Stories: For users struggling with sleep, Calm provides sleep stories narrated by soothing voices, helping to induce a peaceful slumber.
- Breathing Exercises: The app includes breathing techniques that promote relaxation and help reduce stress.
- Nature Sounds and Music: Calm features a variety of relaxing sounds like rain, ocean waves, and forest ambiance to help users unwind.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Calm’s comprehensive approach to wellness—through meditation, sleep assistance, and stress management—makes it a top app for anyone looking to improve their mental and physical well-being.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Calm
8. Microsoft Office
Category: Productivity
Overview: Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity tools that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. These apps have been optimized for iOS, providing seamless integration with the cloud, ensuring that documents and data are always up to date.
Key Features:
- Cloud Syncing with OneDrive: All documents and files are automatically synced with OneDrive, making them accessible from any device.
- Editing and Collaboration: Microsoft Office apps allow users to edit and collaborate on documents in real time with colleagues or friends.
- Intuitive Touch Interface: The iOS versions of Office apps are designed for touch navigation, making them easy to use on tablets and phones.
- Powerful Templates: Each app offers a wide range of templates for users to start with, from resumes in Word to financial spreadsheets in Excel.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Microsoft Office remains the industry standard for productivity and collaboration, and the iOS apps are no exception. Their efficiency, cloud integration, and robust editing tools make them indispensable for users on the go.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Microsoft Office
9. Pocket
Category: Reading & News
Overview: Pocket is a read-it-later app that allows users to save articles, videos, and other web content to read offline. It is perfect for curating personalized reading lists and accessing saved content across different devices.
Key Features:
- Save Articles and Videos for Offline Reading: Pocket enables users to save content from the web with a simple click and access it offline.
- Tagging and Organization: Organize saved items with custom tags for easy searchability later.
- Recommended Content: Pocket curates recommended articles based on your reading habits and interests, offering new content daily.
- Read Aloud Feature: Pocket also includes a text-to-speech option for listening to saved articles when you don’t have time to read them.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Pocket is a valuable tool for those who like to read on the go. Its ease of use, offline capabilities, and content curation make it a must-have for iOS users who want to stay informed and entertained.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Pocket
10. Snapchat
Category: Social Media
Overview: Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app known for its short-lived photos and videos, which disappear after being viewed. It’s a fast-paced platform that allows users to share moments with friends and discover a variety of content.
Key Features:
- Snapchat Stories: Users can post photos and videos to their Story, which their friends can view for 24 hours.
- Filters and Lenses: Snapchat is renowned for its creative filters and augmented reality lenses that allow users to transform their faces, add effects, or even create fun virtual environments.
- Private Chats and Groups: Users can send messages directly to friends or create group chats for shared conversations.
- Discover: A feature that lets users find curated content, including news, celebrity updates, and user-generated stories.
Why It’s a Top Choice: Snapchat’s unique features like disappearing messages, fun filters, and innovative lenses keep it at the forefront of social media apps. Its interactive nature makes it a fun platform for both casual users and creators alike.
Available on: iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Link: Snapchat
Conclusion:
As we transition into 2025, these top 10 iOS apps are the most functional, innovative, and popular available for iPhone and iPad users. These are the applications that can help a user boost their productivity with some self-care or enjoy content as they would want through entertainment.
The more relaxing and immersive features of Calm to productivity powerhouses such as Microsoft Office and Notion-there is an app for each of our needs. Their seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem just makes these applications that much more enticing.
These apps are the cutting edge of the iOS experience as technology continues to evolve, and users will be sure to get the best tools and services in the ever-growing app market. For anyone looking to improve their iOS device experience in 2025, these are the must-have apps to download and enjoy.
