Apps are the cornerstone of the iPhone – which really sets it apart from Android. The best iPhone apps are usually the best in their class. However, finding the best apps among the millions available isn’t easy, and that’s why we’ve done the hard work for you.
Our lists make up the best of what the iPhone has to offer, whether it’s using your iPhone for photos, videos, drawing, music, office tasks, reading, maps, weather, or keeping the kids entertained. From high-quality creative tools and video editors to the best productivity suite and social media clients, this roundup gathers our favorites.
In addition to our ongoing list of the very best, every other week we add our picks for the latest and greatest new or updated apps, so check back often.
Even if you don’t have an iPhone right now, it’s worth reading up on what’s available if you’re considering investing in an iPhone 11 Pro, or even one of the older models (check out our list of the best iPhones if you need more info) – but be aware that Some of these games will only work with iPhone 5S and later models.
Read below to find out about our free apps from the last two weeks and then move on to the following pages to find the best iPhone apps in different categories.
Need to update? See our guide to the best iPhone deals.
Linea Sketch
Linea Sketch is a sketch app that gives you an almost perfect balance of power and control so you can capture ideas quickly. Whether scribbling with a finger or a stylus, the app is fast, responsive and a pleasure to use.
In terms of tools, this iPhone app is sufficient and doesn’t overwhelm you: a few brushes; layers with import capabilities; smart design compact color palette Blank canvas is the default starting point, but there are templates and grids if you need them. There is also the excellent ZipLine which, when you pause after drawing a line or shape, will automatically capture wobbly lines into normal ones.
For free, you get the opportunity to try out the main features indefinitely – even share your masterpieces in the form of slow-motion video. Grab the IAP and you can remove the watermarks on your exported artwork.
Best iPhone Photo Editing and Camera Apps
These are our favorite iPhone apps for editing pictures, capturing photos and videos, and applying filters that really make things look good.
Inkwork
Inkwork is an application designed to instantly transform a photo into a work of art based on a sketch. And, yes, we’ve seen it all before – but few filter apps grab attention like Inkwork.
The interface is sleek and polished. You can quickly switch background and ink colors and stroke sizes to make your virtual sketch more detailed or abstract, but it’s really the filters themselves that you’ll be spending the most time with.
There are a lot of them, maybe too many because the choice can be a little overwhelming initially, but for those who love black-and-white art, everything from fuzzy shading to stylized comics is here. The selection is instant and without the need for an internet connection, which secures the app’s place on our list.
RETRO
RETRO is a vintage camera app from Pro Camera. But while this app is a major challenge in trying to turn your iPhone into a DSLR, RTRO is more playful.
This doesn’t mean the app isn’t stylish; RTRO has a minimalistic retro vibe that goes great with the various vintage looks you bring to your films. They range from problematic VHS fluff to subtle color shifts and film grain. Each filter has notes from its creator that indicate what they were aiming for.
Shooting is easy, and you can capture up to 60 seconds of video over multiple shots before sharing your miniature masterpiece with your chosen social network. Neat, although there is a subscription fee, you can choose to buy a couple of dollars apiece once.
Apollo
Apollo lets you apply new light sources to portrait-mode photos. This kind of photo records depth information and can be taken with any relatively new iPhone (iPhone 7 Plus / 8 Plus / any iPhone X). In Apple’s photography app, you can add studio-style lighting, but Apollo goes further.
The interface is easy to use and offers room for creativity. Just add a few light sources and then for each one define distance, color, brightness, spread, and mask effects to simulate effects such as shadows cast by light passing through blinds.
Apollo may not be an iPhone app if you want an instant fix. This requires you to delve into the details and adjust your settings. Furthermore, it does not always produce a realistic result. But when it works, it’s a little piece of magic allowing you to apply complex lighting to a photo after the actual one.
TouchRetouch
TouchRetouch can remove unwanted elements from photos. Tools like this are common – even in free apps like Snapseed – but TouchRetouch, designed for the task, keeps it focused; more importantly, the tools you get are really good.
Stains on faces can be removed with a faucet. Large objects can be filled in, after which the application fills in the gaps. Also, you can clone from one part of an image to another. There’s also a line remover that quickly cuts out power lines and the like that otherwise make their way through your photo.
Obviously, this kind of automation has some downsides – TouchRetouch can’t match desktop applications where you engage in painstaking, time-consuming, professional-level retouching. But for the average iPhone owner looking to remove annoying things from a picture, it’s worth the small expense. Go to the best computer store and set up an iPhone app.
