My Favorite Apps of 2024
I’m always on the hunt for the best apps to make life easier, so this year I tested a ton of new ones and even made a few home screen swaps. Along the way, I noticed some interesting trends.
First off, AI is everywhere—get ready, because it’s finding its way into almost everything!
While there are plenty of shiny new apps promising to revolutionize your life, I’ve found that sometimes sticking to the basics works best. You’ll notice that many of my favorites are still Google apps—they just get the job done.
Since I’m always switching between iPhone and Android, I really value apps that work seamlessly across both platforms. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Some of the best apps are iOS-only, and developers have told me it’s because iPhone apps are easier to build, plus iPhone users are more willing to spend money on apps and subscriptions.
At the end of the day, I love apps that make me more productive and help simplify my routine.
So, without further ado, here’s my list of favorites for 2024! Got an app you love? Let me know!
Rich’s Favorite Apps 2024
Obsidian – My go-to note-taking app for organizing thoughts and projects.
Speak – A fresh way to learn a language with the help of AI.
Rosebud – Simplifies journaling with AI-powered prompts.
Google Photos – AI photo search makes finding old memories effortless.
Microsoft To Do – I’m still struggling to fully adopt this for task management, but I like how you can attach files to entries.
Google Calendar – My daily essential, though I’m trying a paper calendar for next year to mix things up.
ChatGPT – Switched from Claude; a versatile tool, though Claude is better at language tasks.
Google Gemini – Great for quick, focused insights on topics.
Email Me on iOS / Email Me on Android – Same idea, different developers, both handy.
Instagram and X – Also Bluesky, but X still feels more active.
Mozi – Testing this social app to share travel plans with friends.
Whisper Memos – Record voice notes straight from your Apple Watch; they’re magically transcribed and sent to your email inbox.
Popl – A smart, sleek way to share digital business cards.
Raindrop.io – An excellent app for organizing and saving bookmarks.
Cash App – Primarily use it for buying Bitcoin.
FlyFin – Tracks tax-deductible expenses using AI.
Rocket Money – A quick snapshot of recurring bills and spending habits.
Monarch Money – Fantastic for tracking net worth but has annual fee.
Radiant Photo – One-tap to make photos look their best.
Canva – The modern Print Shop; perfect for my Instagram posts.
Award Wallet – Love how it puts all my reservations into one giant timeline.
Upside – Saves money with cashback on gas and groceries.
LAIT911 – Like Citizen, but just for Los Angeles.
Watch Duty – Stay updated on wildfire activity in your area.
Flavorish and Umami – Still deciding between these for recipe keeping.
Libby – Borrow free books to load on my Kindle.
Flighty – Keeps all my flight details organized in one place.
CapCut – Video editing made simple for on-the-go creators. (Owned by TikTok)
Caffeine – An Android-only app to keep your screen awake.
Zero Cam – A straightforward camera app with no AI interference. iOS and Android
Waze – Love the "time to leave" feature to plan my drives.