It's been a busy 2025 in the tech world, but one of my favorite things to do is stay up to date with the latest and greatest apps. In total, I downloaded and tested over 50 different apps, ranging from productivity to cooking, fitness, and gaming.
I found apps that clean your inbox of junk email, inform you about art from around the world, and relieve you of the stress that builds up so easily. Technology has a unique place in our lives and is capable of doing a lot of good, but there are also many wastes of time that we should avoid.
Home Screen Heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps we couldn't live without. Read them all here.
I reviewed all the apps I looked at in 2025 and picked my five favorites. However, as good as my list is, I'd love to know what your favorite apps are and which ones you think I should write about in 2026. Here goes.
The best to stay in shape
Seven: 7 minute workout
Developing long-lasting fitness habits is very difficult, but the Seven: 7 Minute Workout app simplifies the process by focusing on manageable daily consistency. While seven minutes may seem insignificant, these small bursts of activity can trigger significant long-term transformations. I wrote: “This workout app to go to the gym [that] “I was finally able to exercise daily.”
The biggest strength of the app is its accessibility. Whether it's first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or right before bed, it's easy to create a seven-minute buffer even during the busiest of schedules. By removing the time barrier, the app turns exercise into a simple matter of pressing “start” and getting on with it.
Read my Seven: 7 Minute Workout Home Screen Hero
Download the Seven App: 7 Minute Workout in iOS either Android
Best for automation
If this then that (IFTTT)
I first discovered If This Then That (IFTTT) through a friend who used it to “win” a thermostat dispute with his wife. The app alerted you whenever the temperature rose above your preferred setting. While the ethics of its domestic sabotage are debatable, the technology made me wonder what parts of my life could be automated.
Exploring IFTTT's huge library of pre-made “applets” was like finding a cheat code for productivity. The app can handle everything from cross-posting social media content and syncing Google Calendar events to tracking work hours or even sending UV index alerts to remind you to apply sunscreen. The prospect of eliminating mundane, repetitive tasks while ensuring nothing falls through the cracks was very appealing indeed.
Read my IFTTT Home Screen Hero
Download the IFTTT app on iOS either Android
The best to learn
uptime
Uptime offers 5-minute summaries of books, courses, documentaries, and podcasts. These nuggets are called “hacks” and contain mixed media to help drive engagement. The combination of text, audio, video and images significantly helped me learn more effectively than similar ones. Advance application.
Each hack is created by the creators themselves, helping to ensure a high level of authenticity and consistency. One of the best features of the app is called Spark Cards, which allows users to save information from a trick to a board. This is equivalent to underlining a passage in a book or highlighting some text in an essay. The Uptime app has provided me with invaluable learning experiences and helped me hone my existing knowledge as well as learn new things.
Read my Uptime Home Screen Hero
Download the Uptime app on iOS either Android
The best for games
colon
I loved this game and called it one of “the most addictive puzzle games yet and I can't stop playing.” In terms of addictiveness, it has even surpassed NYT Games, SimCity Build Itand Geometry Dash Lite. The game is about making connections. By connecting colored dots and searching for hidden treasures, players advance in the game. It sounds simple and it is, but that's the real beauty of this app.
After mastering the beginnings of this game, it is possible to discover new worlds through the Scavenger Hunt mode. Rare rewards can be obtained by conquering each level. There are also five main game modes along with limited time events that will keep you wanting to progress through the levels. This is a very difficult game to put down. You have been warned!
Read my Colon Home Screen Hero
Download the Two Dots app on iOS either Android
Best for reducing screen time
one second
I titled this Homescreen Hero with these words: “I was tired of my phone taking up so much of my time, so I did something about it.” Unfortunately, for many of us, our phones control us too much. As much as we don't want to admit it, many of us would benefit from a little help putting down our phones from time to time.
One Sec takes a scientific and psychological approach to kicking the phone and social media habit by breaking the cycle of dopamine release that keeps us scrolling. It does this by making you wait longer for social media apps, or any app you choose, to open. As a result, your brain will lose interest in those short-term dopamine doses. It's a very simple concept, but it's surprising how effective it is.
Read my One Second Home Screen Hero
Download the One Sec app on iOS either Android
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