There are (too) many apps from which someone could choose. And as you might imagine, which ones you favor depends on several different factors, such as age, gender, lifestyle, location, profession, or any number of variables. So it’s difficult to create a definitive list of the #fivebestapps since it’s quite subjective.
But I’ll share what I believe to be the Top 5 Apps. First, here's a little on my thought process: this list covers a variety of my interests — hobby to meditation … shopping to travel. If those topics align with your own passions, you'll lean toward appreciating this blog a bit more than those of you who prefer other fascinations. So without further ado, let’s see if you agree with the round-up. At the very least, you may just learn of a new app you can download and enjoy.
Amazon / Amazon Prime Video
Is it cheating to lump two apps into one? Maybe! But not really when you consider your Prime membership gets you access to both Amazon prime shopping AND Amazon prime video.
In that respect, it’s perfectly appropriate to discuss everything you get for a single payment. In fact, that's the genius of #Amazon as they look to compete with Netflix, Max, Hulu, Disney+, Apple+, and others.
Let’s start with the O.G. app; the one most folks use … that would be the shopping version: Amazon has helped to make us a much more impatient society thanks to the “free” two-day prime shipping. While restlessness isn’t exactly ideal, we have to admit it’s pretty cool and convenient to have our items shipped to us directly, especially in the chaotic holiday season. And with Prime Wardrobe, you can try before you buy to see which clothing items look & fit as they should, and before you commit financially — a feature that rivals services like Stitch Fix or Trunk Club. What’s even more impressive about Amazon is the creation of their two-day Amazon Prime Day summer event. I mean, just imagine the kind of sway an organization needs to have to herd the sheep [myself included] into submitting to a made-up holiday. But there we are (many of us) every July, checking out the deals and buying things we don’t always need. Goes to show that not only has Amazon perfected e-commerce, they’ve also mastered the human mindset.
As for Amazon Prime Video … it’s home to some of entertainment’s best content, whether it be shows or movies — including award-winning content like Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And though these next few didn’t win awards, they’re my personal faves at Amazon Prime: shows such as Reacher, Jack Ryan, The Boys, The Terminal List, and the Emily Blunt-led mini-series The English. There’s also the movies Manchester By the Sea, One Night In Miami, You Were Never Really Here, Being the Ricardos, and The Tomorrow War. Amazon Prime has definitely closed the gap on Netflix and the other top streamers with some solid content. While, overall, there are too many streaming services, since Amazon Prime Video is included in your Prime membership, it's definitely one to keep.
Calm
If you’re into meditation, this app is for you. If you’re not into meditation, this app is still for you. #Calm, to me, is the definitive meditation app. Current meditators will find this app to be an enhancement to their routine. And those who aren’t currently engaged in practice will now become inspired to meditate thanks to the ease, relaxation, content options, and incredibly wonderful Calm user experience.
When I first began meditating years ago, I was using Headspace. Make no mistake, Headspace is a really nice app. If you’re using it and love it, it’s hard for me to tell you to quit. Personally, I think Calm is just a little bit better. Aside from the usual meditation offerings, Calm also provides sleep content: from your typical bedtime stories, to nighttime-specific meditation sessions, to music intentionally designed to help you wind down (for folks having trouble sleeping, these options are like melatonin for the mind, body, and soul.
But there’s also calming music for when you’re awake, as well as content to help get the body moving, wellness tools for your workday, breathing exercises, and even features for the kiddos (blogger note: I have yet to let my own kids try Calm, but if you’re so inclined, it’s probably never too early to set healthy, positive habits for our children). Bottom line: when it comes to mindfulness, Calm is everything you want and need in this stressful world we call home.
Canva
Are you graphic designer? Well, with #Canva you don’t need to be. Or maybe the better way to state it is we all can be. As the tagline suggests, Canva is “empowering the world to design".
Need to throw together a flier for your kid’s birthday party? How about creating your wedding invitation? Maybe you’re a small business owner who prefers to do your own advertising. Or perhaps you’re like me and you have to design a banner for your blog. There’s so many possibilities. It’s great to have a single platform that lets any one us to customize and build the graphic we need. Quick. Easy. Inexpensive.
Pull in your own images and videos. Or use one from Canva’s massive mix of elements. Even create your personal logo. As a marketer myself, I know the value of having Canva at my fingertips. Trust me when I say it’s one of the best app investments you will ever make.
TripAdvisor
If you’re a traveler, few apps are as addictive as TripAdvisor. Whether it’s because you look to plan a vacation or simply fantasizing about being on one. In either case, #TripAdvisor shows you all the possibilities that exist. Food to foreign lands, and landmarks to lodging. It’s all right there for you.
The crazy thing is it’s really an online booking tool. But what TripAdvisor has smartly done is they’ve recognized content is king. So if you want to book your next trip exclusively through TripAdvisor, feel free. But you can also research that same trip within the app, down to the smallest detail. With sections like “Things to do” and the “Forum”, you can learn all about the do’s & don’ts for your next vacay. Be sure to also check out the write-ups from their editorial team, where you can find perspectives on just about any locale. A couple of examples are its “Cruisin' through the East Coast” and “How to do London with kids” articles. It’s definitely content you can count on.
And for the Disney fanatics, TripAdvisor has even partnered with the mouse house to now make Disney World tickets available directly through the app, park hopper passes and all — with tips from avid park insiders at no extra charge.
But likely my favorite aspect of TripAdvisor, however, is the rankings feature. For instance, let’s say you're looking up Napa Valley and you want to know what are the best things to do. One suggestion that pops up is Napa Valley’s famous hot air balloons. But the more important thing to know is TripAdvisor lists that particular to-do as the #4 of 42 outdoor activities in Napa. Safe to assume we’d all rather do the fourth best thing anywhere we're at versus the 42nd best. Rankings like these can be the key difference between merely liking your trip and absolutely loving it.
Letterboxd
Just like Canva can help us be graphic designers, #Letterboxd allows each of us to be a film critic in our own right. Log movies you’ve seen, rate them on a 5-star scale, read helpful reviews from the Letterboxd community, create lists such as “Best Flicks of the 1990s” or “Top 10 Action Blockbusters of All-Time” and more. With Letterboxd you can turn your moviegoing into a cinematic diary.
Plus, with Letterboxd’s Journal section, you can stay up to date on the latest & greatest in the industry. Not to mention a cool new engagement segment called Showdown, where the Letterboxd staff offers up a topic and challenges its users to create a list of the films that most resonates with each member based on the given topic. Previous categories have highlighted ideas such as “best dolls come to life films, “best films based on a game”, “best films set in the snow”, and the like.
Want even more content? Here’s yet another of my cheat codes (like I did with Amazon and Prime Video): with the Letterboxd podcast, you can enjoy additional Hollywood entertainment & insights, including one of my fave pod episodes, the ‘Indiana Jones’ Spectacular, and one of my favorite audio series, Weekend Watchlist. If you love movies, you’ll love Letterboxd.
Google Maps — Honorable Mention
Depending on where and how much you drive, you may or may not appreciate this app to the same degree as some others, which is why I only list it as an “honorable mention” — #GoogleMaps is not as valuable if you live in a major metropolitan area and spend a good portion of your time using PT (public transportation), a life I once knew quite intimately growing up and living in New York City.
Now residing in the Midwest, and no longer riding PT, I spend a lot of my professional time driving around backroads in rural America or traversing cities unknown. Therefore, Google Maps has become my best friend. Hell, it’s even gotten to the point where I use it in the same city I live, simply to leverage the “speed trap” feature so I can do my customary 10 miles over the limit and worry less about cops … don’t judge me.
What’s better, Google Maps - unlike Apple Maps - gets you to exactly where you need to go, with very few errors. Contrast that with Apple, which routinely gets me lost and messes up where I’ve asked it to take me nearly every single time. There is something to be said about consistency and trust in knowing the tool will work like it’s supposed to. Google Maps offers that. Apple Maps doesn't. It’s as simple as that.
Which of these apps do you most use?
Amazon
Amazon Prime
Calm
Canva
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