The 10 Best Tizen-Compatible Apps For Samsung Smartwatches

Get the most out of your Samsung watch with these top-notch apps

by
Molly McLaughlin.
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Content Strategist
Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology writer since 2004. Her work has appeared on many tech sites across the web including PCMag, Dealnews, Wirecutter and many others.
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Molly McLaughlin
Updated on December 16, 2020
reviewed by
Christine Baker
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member
Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
our review board
Article reviewed on Oct 11, 2020
Christine Baker

Samsung smartwatches run on the Tizen OS, not Wear OS (formerly Android Wear), so the selection of apps is different from Android watches. However, Samsung owners have access to the Tizen Store and the Galaxy Apps Store, plus they can download compatible apps from Google Play. Here are some of the best apps for Samsung smartwatches.

01
of 10

Best Navigation App for Samsung Wearables: HERE WeGo – Offline Maps & GPS

HERE WeGo map view of driving directions in New York City.
What We Like

  • Detailed traffic data.

  • Transit information for over 1000 cities.

  • Frequent updates.

What We Don't Like

  • Voice-guided navigation is not available in all areas.

  • Some users find keyboard inconvenient.

  • Can hang.

HERE WeGo is a free navigation app with various features, including offline maps and driving directions with traffic information. It also offers transit times and pricing, carsharing options and cost estimates, and biking and pedestrian directions. The app can even tell you critical information about your route, such as how hilly your cycling route is.

02
of 10

Best Music App: Spotify – Music & Podcasts

Pixies artist page in Spotify app.
What We Like

  • Can download songs to your phone and smartwatch.


  • Great interface on watch screen. 


What We Don't Like

  • Non-premium users get limited song skips and intermittent ads.

Spotify is a popular music streaming platform. The company collaborated with Samsung to make a Galaxy app, so it works perfectly with your devices; it's available for download via Galaxy Apps on your phone. Premium users ($9.99 per month) get offline listening, plus you can offload downloaded songs to your SD card to save up space on the phone's storage.

03
of 10

Best Fitness App for Galaxy Phones: Run with Map My Run

MapMyRun app on Android
What We Like

  • Access to crowd-sourced running routes.


  • Compatible with MyFitnessPal for nutrition-tracking.


  • Easy to use.

What We Don't Like

  • GPS tracking not always accurate.

  • Can be buggy.

  • Limited support.

Run with Map My Run by MapMyFitness tracks hundreds of activities. You can even track gear, such as running shoes, so you know when it’s time for a new pair. The best feature is that you can map out your runs and share them in the app so others can see where it’s pedestrian-friendly. You can also see routes uploaded by others and verify that they’re up to date, including bike lanes, street closures, and construction. If you’re not into running, try out MapMyWalk.

04
of 10

Best Fitness App for Samsung Wearables: Pear Personal Coach for Samsung

Pear app for Android
What We Like

  • Download workouts to your smartwatch.

  • Excellent support.

  • Choice of coaches.

What We Don't Like

  • No dark mode.

  • Primarily focused on running.

  • Cancelling subscription can be challenging.

Pear puts interactive workouts on your wrist. You can use it to track activities or exercise with Pear coaches. The app can even measure your heart rate and encourage you to keep going or slow down. Conveniently, you can sign up using your Samsung account, so you don't have to create yet another login. A Pear+ membership ($39.99 per year) gives you access to all of Pear's workouts and training plans. The free version includes three workouts.

 

05
of 10

Best Smart Home App: SmartThings

SmartThings app on Android
What We Like

  • Compatible with a range of devices.

  • Set up automated actions.

  • Frequently updated.

What We Don't Like

  • Primarily for Samsung devices.

  • Syncing can lag.

  • Not available for all watch models.

If you have smart home devices, such as kitchen appliances, thermostats, light bulbs, or garage door openers, the SmartThings app is a must-have. Compatible with tons of devices, the app lets you do things like turn on lights before you get home or open the garage when you pull into the driveway. Controlling your home from your watch is super convenient, especially if you’re driving.

06
of 10

Best News App: Briefing for Samsung

Flipboard app on Android
What We Like

  • Excellent news curation.

  • Broad range of topics.

  • Personalized summaries.

What We Don't Like

  • Newsfeed can be overwhelming.

  • Briefs infrequently updated.

  • Limited news sources.

Flipboard gives you news based on topics that interest you, from technology to humor to parenting to cute animals. To get started, you must choose at least half a dozen topics, but you can add or remove topics anytime. You also need to set up an account, either through email, Google, or Facebook.

07
of 10

Best Watch Face App: Facer Companion for Samsung Watches

Facer app on Android
What We Like

  • Hundreds of watch faces.

  • Easily swap faces.

  • Intuitive.

What We Don't Like

  • Interface is a little busy.

  • May hang.

  • Limited support.

When you have a smartwatch, you can change and customize its face as often as you want. While Samsung watches come with some options, the Facer app has many more. Options range from simple (just the time) to dashboard-style (time, temperature, steps, stopwatch, and more), plus there are plenty of fun ones, with pop art designs and holiday themes. You can also design and publish a watch face.

08
of 10

Best Timer and Alarm Clock App: Timer

Timer screen in Samsung’s Clock app.
What We Like

  • Excellent timer.

  • Handy stopwatch.

  • Live weather updates.

What We Don't Like

  • Snooze button difficult.

  • Not customizable.

  • No alarm sound options.

While your smartphone and smartwatch can give you the current time, Samsung’s clock app includes an alarm clock, timer, stopwatch, and world clock. Set the alarm to vibrate for a gentle wake-up if you wear your watch at night or use the timer or stopwatch while working out. Finally, get the local time and weather for your favorite cities worldwide, so you know what to pack on your next trip.

09
of 10

Best App for Quick Math: Calculator

Main screen of Samsung’s calculator app.
What We Like

  • Convenient

  • Unit conversion tool.

  • Easy to use.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited functionality.

  • Not customizable.

  • Not a scientific calculator.

Samsung’s calculator app is perfect for your wrist, whether you’re calculating the tip after a meal or need to add some figures on the go. You can also use it for unit conversion (tap the ruler icon) and see your history.

 

10
of 10

Best Messaging App: WhatsMedia Audio and Voice Notes from WhatsApp

WhatsMedia Audio and Voice Notes from WhatsApp
What We Like

  • Full Audio control.

  • Up to 15 media files stored locally to listen.

  • Contact name and Icon from WhatsApp.

What We Don't Like

  • Not associated with official Whatsapp application.

  • Limited updates.

  • Not compatible with all watch models.

WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is a free messaging app for mobile and desktop that has many convenient features. WhatsMedia Audio and Voice Notes from WhatsApp allows you to receive WhatsApp Audio and Voice Notes media directly to your Samsung watch.

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