The Best iOS 12 Apps of 2019

You've upgraded to iOS 12; now get the apps that truly make it fly.

Man looking at his iPhone while sitting at a bar

Tom Werner/Getty Images 

by Brenna Miles
Brenna Miles is a freelance technology writer with a B.A. in Business Management and HR Management. She's been writing about technology for 6+ years.
Updated July 16, 2019

Apple's iOS 12 has given iOS users the new functionality we crave. From Siri's ability to handle voice commands from third-party apps to giving older devices a performance boost, iOS 12 is making waves, changing the way our apps communicate for the better. To make the most of iOS 12, we've compiled a list a dozen iOS 12 apps you shouldn't go without.

01
of 12

Overcast: Best iOS App for Listening to Podcasts on the Go

Screenshot of Overcast app on iPhone

What We Like

  • The app's ability to sync to the Apple Watch automatically makes this the perfect travel companion.


What We Don't Like

  • Downloading each of your podcasts to your Apple Watch requires significant battery life for effectiveness.


Overcast has taken the iOS 12 update to the next level. A popular app for those who love listening to podcasts, Overcast is innovative and simple to use. Now, you can connect the app to your Apple Watch, playing your favorite podcasts wherever you are, even without your phone.

The Overcast app is free to download for iOS devices.

02
of 12

Dashlane: Best iOS 12 App for Password Autofill

Screenshot of Dashlane on iPhone

What We Like

  • Dashlane keeps your passwords secure yet available for quick access on your mobile device.


What We Don't Like

  • Initial set-up is required; those who haven't used a password manager before might find it tedious. 


Have you ever used a service such as LastPass on your desktop to store your passwords? You can now do that on your mobile device thanks to iOS 12, which allows password autofill by third-party apps. Dashlane is a great tool, complete with a password vault, contacts for easy password sharing, and more.

Dashlane is free for iOS devices with in-app purchases.

03
of 12

TripIt: Perfect iOS App for Travelers

Screenshots of TripIt on iPhone

What We Like

  • TripIt holds all of your travel information in one place.


  • Siri commands make it easy to find your travel details quickly.


What We Don't Like

  • You must allow TripIt to upload your travel information automatically. Otherwise, you can enter them manually or forward your travel confirmation emails straight to TripIt.


Are you an avid traveler with a device running iOS 12? If so, you need this app. TripIt offers new updates such as integrations with Siri that include commands like "show my flight details". This app is easy to use and perfect for grabbing your flight quickly in a busy airport.

TripIt is free to download with in-app purchases for iOS devices.

04
of 12

Bear: Best App for Quick and Creative Note Taking

Screenshot of Bear on iPhone

What We Like

  • Bear's integration with Siri is seamless and makes it easy to make notes on the fly without opening Bear manually.


What We Don't Like

  • Bear has a small history of halting the sync between more than one device.


Want to take creative notes on the fly? Now, with Siri Shortcuts and search, Bear is the perfect app for taking notes in style. The best alternative to Apple Notes, Bear won an Apple Design Award in 2017 for its functionality. For iOS 12, you can create new notes with Siri and your voice, or search using a Siri command.

Bear free for iOS devices with in-app purchases.

05
of 12

Day One: The Best App for Quick Journaling

Screenshot of Day One on iPhone

What We Like

  • Day One has a beautiful interface and is simple to learn and use.


What We Don't Like

  • To take advantage of unlimited photo storage, cloud sync to all other Day One devices, and more, you're required to have the Day One Premium subscription, which costs $2.99 per month.


There's nothing quite like a journaling app that lets you take down thoughts almost immediately. Day One integrates with Siri to help you take notes, create lists, and more through simple voice commands.

Day One is free to download but offers in-app purchases for iOS devices.

06
of 12

Streaks: Best Habit Tracking App

Screenshot of Streaks on App Store for iPhone

Apple 

What We Like

  • Want to quit a bad habit? Streaks can help you do that by tracking your progress.


What We Don't Like

  • This app comes with a slight learning curve, especially for those who haven't used a habit tracker before.


Want to track up to twelve important tasks each day and view your progress? There's an app for that. Streaks is the to-do list app that tracks your performance based on preset tasks. Better yet, it connects to your Health app to automatically update as you complete your tasks. Streaks allows you to customize task completion phrases to sync with Siri, helping you complete tasks easily.

Streaks can be purchased for $4.99 in the App Store for iOS devices.

07
of 12

Google News: Best App for Quick Searching the News

Screenshot of Google News on iPhone

What We Like

  • It's one of the largest collections of news available on your mobile devices.


What We Don't Like

  • Google News can sometimes lag, which might hinder quick news catch-ups.


Google News is known for being the hub for all things noteworthy across the globe. Add iOS 12 functionality such as Siri commands to search for your favorite stories and you have a winning news app.

Google News is free to download and use on iOS devices.

08
of 12

Ulysses: Best App for Focused Writing Time

Screenshot of Ulysses on iPhone

What We Like

  • Ulysses gives you space to focus on just your document, free from distractions that get in the way.


What We Don't Like

  • Editing a document fully on your mobile phone using any tool seems a bit tedious, regardless of iOS 12 functionality.


Focused writing time is important when critical documents are due and that idea hits at the right time. Ulysses is a focused writing tool used to create eBooks, PDFs, DOCX, and more. What makes it so special on iOS 12? Ulysses offers Siri commands to open sheets, create new sheets, and more.

Ulysses is free for 14 days after download. After the trial, Ulysses costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.

09
of 12

WaterMinder: Best App for Perfecting Your Water Intake

Screenshot of WaterMinder on iPhone

Apple 

What We Like

  • You earn achievements for meeting your water intake goals, making drinking water much more entertaining.


What We Don't Like

  • For individuals who haven't used a hydration or habit tracker before, this one has a lot going on all at once.


Want to ensure you drink enough water in a day? WaterMinder helps you track your water intake with a single click. Also integrating with Siri Shortcuts, you can log ounces simply and quickly. WaterMinder makes staying hydrated a breeze.

WaterMinder can be purchased from the App Store for $4.99 with in-app purchases.

10
of 12

Momento: Best Photo GIF Creator

Screenshot of Momento on iPhone

What We Like

  • Smart detection automatically turns your memories into GIFs.


What We Don't Like

  • Only the most basic of features are included for free. To take advantage of editing, you'll need the pricey Premium subscription.


What if you could create custom GIFs using only your voice? You totally can thanks to Momento and new Siri integrations with iOS 12. Momento is a unique GIF creation app that uses your photos and smart detection to create unique GIFs. Simply sync the app to Siri to start making GIFs with a simple command.

Momento is free to download for basic features. To unlock everything, you can purchase Premium for $9.99 per month or $47.99 per year.

11
of 12

Headspace: Meditation: The Best App for Relaxing Your Brain

Screenshot of Headspace on iPhone

What We Like

  • Headspace is a great way to relax in hundreds of different ways, with meditations used to reduce stress, solve conflict, and more.


What We Don't Like

  • You can try Headspace with a few free basic sessions, but it isn't enough to get the full effect without purchasing a subscription.


A little bit of meditation after a long day can help you unwind, especially with the Headspace app. Choose from guided and focused meditations to help you sleep or relieve stress. To make it even easier, the app syncs with Siri so you can ask for a quick meditation session on the go with a simple command.

Headspace: Meditation is free to download, but requires a Headspace subscription. You can purchase a subscription for $12.99 per month, $94.99 per year, or for a one-time payment of $399.99.

12
of 12

MyTherapy: Medication Reminder: The Best App for Taking Care of Yourself

Screenshot of MyTherapy on iPhone

What We Like

  • You can track your medication, weight, blood pressure, and more, all in one place.


What We Don't Like

  • The interface is simple, but there isn't much instruction on how to use the app properly.


With MyTherapy, it's easy to ask Siri if you remembered to take your critical medication. Plus, you can easily refill your prescriptions on time and keep track of your medication inventory so you never run out again. MyTherapy integrates seamlessly with Siri, making it easy to open the app with simple voice commands.

MyTherapy is free to download and use for iOS devices.