We’ve been asking readers to tell us their favorite apps of all time, and what makes them so special – taking a look at the apps that really make a difference for regular people every single day, not just the reviewer favorites.
We kicked off this segment with a detailed look at Weather Mate last time, an incredible weather app that one reader told us is a real essential for those living in places with extreme weather conditions.
This time, instead of one long-form recommendation, we’ll highlight a few quickfire favorites submitted via this form. We’ve had a bunch of suggestions from you guys and we noticed a trend: a lot of you class productivity apps as your favorites. Plenty of competing to-do lists and note-takers here, and it’s really interesting to see the reasoning behind the picks.
Below are your direct quotes on eight great apps for iPhone and iPad. If you have an app you’d like to tell us about, please tell us about it!
Procreate
It single handed lay got me into making art in a way I don’t think I would ever have managed with conventional tools. And it’s only £10, no subscriptions!
Thomas
Read more: 4 tips to improve your Procreate illustrations
Keeper Password Manager
Keeper keeps track of all my apps and their associated user names and 20-character passwords. Its Breachwatch alerts me if a password was weak and needed changing.
Anonymous
Read more: why you need a password manager
Drafts
Lightweight, speedy and powerful. I frequently write things down to keep track. Trusting my memory gets me in trouble. Drafts 5 opens quickly and it’s always ready for a quick note. It also helps me keep a journal. No menus or extra taps, open it up and you have a clean screen ready to go. It’s my repository for text notes. Tag organization, lightning-fast search, markdown formatting and great export capability.
Anonymous
Read more: getting started with writing on iOS
Calendars 5
This app was the best investment on my iPhone that I have ever made! First thing each day, I check my calendar to see what’s planned. It keeps me organized with daily events, reoccurring meetings, and reminders. It also provides the ability to search for events months or years ago. Plus my calendar is always with me on my iPhone or iPad. I could not live without this app!
Vickie
TNNS
It shows ALL the tennis tournaments around the world at ATP, WTA, and Challenger levels. It has up-to-date results and scheduled matches, profiles, the chance to be notified of results as they happen, set by set, etc. It is brilliant for anyone interested in tennis.
Cecilie
Things 3
Things 3 is the best to-do organizer I’ve found. I’ve been using organizers since the early days of Palm Pilot. Things 3 is simple to use. It has projects. It works with my calendar to show what’s scheduled. My favorite characteristic is the ability to move items on the list up and down with my finger — to arrange my tasks in the order I want to do them. It’s the first app I open each day. I prioritize each morning and follow my plan throughout the day.
Jerrie
Read more: is Things the best to-do manager on iPhone?
Agenda.
The platform gives me the ability to arrange and organize files and information better than any other project managing app. It is so elegant and simple to understand that it is just mind-blowing. I really love it.
Netanel
Read more: our review of Agenda.
CodyCross
Cody Cross is a unique crossword-style puzzle that I have enjoyed playing for a long time. The clues are much more interesting than standard crossword puzzles.
Anonymous
Thanks again to everyone who sent in their app opinions. We love reading them! Stay tuned for the next Reader Reviews segment, and press here if you’d like to tell us about your own favorite app!