The 7 Best Flashlight Apps

Consider a dim parking lot. A streetlight out where stairs must be used. A rocky path in the mountains... the list goes on. In all of these situations, having a powerful, easy-to-use flashlight app on your phone can come in handy and even help keep you safe. Whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, there are plenty of solid options.

We've done the hard work of narrowing the best Android flashlight apps and the best and brightest flashlights for iOS, all of which happen to be free, across both platforms, down for you. Keep in mind that all of these apps rely on your phone's built-in flashlight; they can't miraculously make it brighter, but some do add in additional functionality like the ability to change the light's color, send SOS-mode signals, clap to turn a light on or off and more.

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Super-Bright LED Flashlight

It's hard to beat the Super-Bright LED Flashlight on Android when it comes to simplicity and intuitive interface. The app's setup mimics an actual hardware flashlight, with an on and off switch you can toggle to turn on and off your digital flashlight.

You can also adjust the light's strobe or blinking mode by swiping left or right on the digital flashlight's bezel. If it's a free and simple flashlight app you're after and you use a smartphone running Android, this should be one of the first downloads you check out.

What we like:

Intuitive, easy-to-use interface
Clever design

What we don't like:

A significant amount of in-app ads
No paid version to eliminate ads

Cost:

Free

Platforms:

Android

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Flashlight for iPhone, iPod and iPad

You'll find the basic flashlight functionality with this free download for iOS, but it also offers some more advanced "fun" features. These include a built-in SOS signal, a built-in compass and a built-in "disco mode" that syncs the pulsating of the light to music that you're playing. There's even an altitude tracker, which could come in handy if you're fond of night hikes.

What we like:

Unique modes and features
Altitude tracker

What we don't like:

Not available for Android

Cost:

Free

Platforms:

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Flashlight by Lighthouse

This is another straightforward Android flashlight app, which you can toggle on to help you find things in the dark and more. Apart from that most basic functionality, you can change the color of the flashlight by selecting a hue on-screen. You can even use the Flashlight app to send Morse code. The app is free, though it does include ads.

What we like:

Option to change color on-screen
Morse code feature

What we don't like

Ads
Some features, like the ability to change colors, can be buggy

Cost:

Free (in-app purchases available)

Platforms:

Android

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Flashlight by iHandy

Yes, it's another app simply called "Flashlight," but we didn't say the most creatively named flashlight apps, did we? This iOS download stands out for offering a built-in mini-map and compass for navigating in the dark. You can also adjust the LED brightness by using the app's on-screen click wheel, and there's an SOS signal option along with 10 different strobe frequencies.

What we like:

Simple and straightforward
Unique mini-map features

What we don't like:

Not much — this app gets rave reviews across the board for working well and being easy to use

Cost:

Free

Platforms:

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Tiny Flashlight + LED

According to the app creators, this download for Android devices was designed to preserve your phone's battery while shining light on whatever situation you're in. It includes several extras like warning lights, strobe lights, and colorful lights.

What we like:

Emphasis on preserving battery life
Some fun extras

What we don't like:

Not the most feature-packed app

Cost:

Free

Platforms:

Android

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Best Flash Light

This app justifies its less-than-modest name with some unique features that go beyond the expected flashlight functionality. There's a magnifying tool that lets you enhance the size of things on-screen, a function for clapping to turn your flashlight on and off and an energy-saving light mode. Keep in mind that some of these more advanced features cost $0.99 to unlock in the app, and you can also pay $0.99 to remove adds.

What we like:

Ads on unpaid version
Unique features like magnifying tool

What we don't like:

You have to pay to unlock additional features
You have to pay to remove ads

Cost:

Free (pay to unlock additional features and remove ads in-app)

Platforms:

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Lytish Flashlight

The Lytish flashlight app gets points for a well-designed, minimalist interface, but it also is easy to use. It includes a variety of modes, including torch and strobe, and there's a screen widget (accessible from your Android phone's home screen) for turning the flashlight function on or off without having to open up the full app.

What we like: