Like peeking into a purse, glimpsing at someone's smartphone homescreen shows what they care about, how up-to-date they are on the latest trends, and how organized they are. But it's not static — you can always change it up. We think it's a good idea to refresh that homescreen every once in a while to reflect the evolution in your app-using habits. So each month, we're presenting you with what our homescreen looks like. These are the apps that we are using, loving...and maybe a little obsessed with. Some may be old staples, such as Netflix or Twitter, while others are apps that just launched in the App Store this week.
And while the screenshots are of the iOS version, most of these apps are available on Android and Windows Phone, too.
Ready to give your home screen a facelift (or just check out what will be rocking our world in April)? Click ahead for Refinery29's favorite apps.
Food & Drink
UberEats
Just launched in New York City, UberEats gets you meals from top restaurants in your city, fast. Also available in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, and Toronto, UberEats delivers from 8 a.m. to midnight each day.
Hooch
For a monthly subscription of $10 per month, Hooch nets you one drink a day at awesome new bars in your city. If you find a place you love, you can go back the next day for another "free" drink there, or you can be adventurous and try a new locale. It's a great way to explore your city's nightlife without spending a fortune on bespoke cocktails. The app is currently available in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, and Dallas, and will soon be available in Chicago, Hong Kong, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Shopping
Rent The Runway
Rent The Runway makes it easier to figure out what you want in your closet for work and going out — without having to actually buy anything new. The app is a great, curated way to see all the new designers RTR carries. And we're loving the company's new unlimited option, which lets you keep three items for as long as you want.
Entertainment
Kendall and Kylie
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a Kardashian, rising through the ranks to become Santa Monica, CA starlets, this is your app. Kendall and Kylie is surprisingly addictive, even though the app itself isn’t very original. The aim of the game is to become social media famous, which you establish by tapping around the app, doing favors for more established personalities, and eventually gaining followers. And of course, you get to customize your own avatar, too.
Color Switch
Color Switch is a tantalizing tap-based game of patience. The goal is to tap the screen to bounce a colored ball upward and collect stars. But, to get to each star, you have to time your bounce perfectly. It might sound simple, but once you get the hang of it, it's incredibly fun.
Spotify
With Rdio gone, Spotify is the king of streaming music. We listen to it all the time — on the commute, during work, and when we're relaxing around the house. Offline syncing makes it a great option on travel days, while the variety of playlists (self-built or offered by the app itself) serve up the perfect tunes for whatever mood you're in.
Netflix
While we'd rather get our Netflix fix on the big screen, when we've got time to kill, catching up on some Parks and Rec or revisiting OITNB is always a great idea.
Dating
Clover
We don't normally get too excited over dating apps, but Clover actually made us look forward to the prospect of making new matches and managing our upcoming dates.
Productivity
Pocket
Browsing Twitter and Instagram can yield so many good reads...that you just don't have time to read. You can save them for later with Pocket. Once saved, you can read them on your phone, tablet, or laptop, with or without an internet connection.
Refinery29 This AM
When I wake up in the morning, I want a quick way to catch up on everything important happening in the world. In this regard, R29's This AM app is an excellent way to start the day. It delivers eight curated stories that you swipe through. Each is presented as only a sentence (so you get the news fast), but you can tap to get more information. It’s fast, fun, and informative, and has made its way into my list of app staples.
Fantastical 2
At $5, you may balk at using an app like Fantastical over the free calendar app already on your phone. But let me tell you, Fantastical is leagues better than most any other calendar and to-do list app out there. This app aggregates all your calendar items in one place, including pulling in items and invitations from your email accounts. There’s a ton of customization in the settings, from the coloring, to what sort of alerts you want, to what app you want locations to open up in. You can swipe across the top of the screen to scroll through your upcoming appointments and to-dos, and get an at-a-glance look at what each day holds.
Slack
If your company doesn't use Slack for its online communications, you're missing out. The app offers a convenient way to chat with individuals or groups, share files, share links, and (most importantly) share GIFs. It's got desktop and mobile versions, so you can stay connected to what's happening in the office whether you're there, or jetting to a meeting across town.
Sunshine
What your weatherman says on the TV and what the weather actually is outside can be two totally different things. Like what Waze did for traffic, Sunshine is doing for weather: It’s using users’ phones and their input to verify what the weather really is. The app’s design is also fun — you can check throughout the day to see the evolving weather conditions ahead, and watch clouds and darkness animate across the screen.
Square Cash
We’ve been Venmo diehards for a long time, but the app does have some negatives. For one, its privacy policy is suspect, and it also acts as a middleman, holding onto your cash (and making money off of it) until you withdraw funds, which can take several days. Square Cash is a delightfully simple alternative. You can send cash to anyone, whether they have the app or not, using a debit card or credit card. Funds get transferred directly, unless you choose to hold them in the app Venmo-style.
Health & Fitness
Glow
Tracking your period doesn't have to be a chore. Glow makes it easy, intuitive, and helps us know which days we should avoid social contact of any kind (and which days you're ovulating and most likely to get pregnant).
Meditation Studio
If you're looking to get your zen on, Gaiam's recently updated Meditation Studio app is a simple, beautiful way to get some guidance. It offers 160 different guided meditations in a variety of styles, all aimed at helping you relax, get happier, and/or change your personal habits. It costs $3 in the App Store.
Social
Twitter
There's no better way to stay up-to-date on what's happening in the world than with the (for now) 140-character social network, Twitter. Where else can you see Kanye blow up at the world in real-time?
Bitmoji
Create your own custom avatar, and then use it on your emoji keyboard. It's fun and hilarious, and since you can continually update your avatar with new looks and outfits, she never feels stale.
Instagram
It wouldn't be inappropriate to say we have an Instagram problem.
Snapchat
It's silly, it's timely, and we love it. (And Refinery29's Discover channel is pretty great, if we do say so ourselves.)
Creative
GIPHY
GIPHY has the biggest library of GIFs out there. The app makes it super easy to find and share them with friends and coworkers.
MSQRD
MSQRD, pronounced Masquerade, lets you record and save videos with animations laid over your face. It also lets you face-swap if someone else is in the shot with you. Be warned, though: While some face-swapping results are giggle-inducing, others are utterly terrifying.
SketchBook
Whether sketching is part of your job or a personal passion, SketchBook is one of the best, most comprehensive digital platforms out there. It provides a wealth of drawing tools you can use on a new iPad Pro or another tablet. Note that it works especially well if you're using a stylus such as the Apple Pencil.
Travel
Lyft
Uber gets most of the headlines (good and bad), but lately, we've been loving Lyft. It's casual, it's everywhere, and it's so, so cheap.
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