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 May)? Click ahead for Refinery29's favorite apps.
Food & Drink
The popular dining app just got a welcome iOS redesign. There's now a Discover tab with new restaurant categories such as "New & Hot," "Most Popular," "My Favorites," "Editorial Picks," "Near Me Now," (places that are close and have open tables), and "Occasions" (think romantic spots or great places to take your parents). Finding a great restaurant just got way easier.
Photo: Courtesy OpenTable.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Uber.
For a 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.
Photo: Courtesy Hooch.
Shopping
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.
Photo: Courtesy Rent The Runway.
Entertainment
Don't want to invest in expensive headphones? You can still get great sound quality on your phone thanks to Boom. The app provides 3-D surround sound for a single song or an entire playlist of your choosing. Getting high-quality beats has never been easier.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Looking for a new show or movie to watch? MightyTV makes that search simpler. You check off your subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or similar), and the app pulls up shows or movies that are available. Then, just like on Tinder, you swipe left or right depending on whether or not you like the movie (or swipe upwards if you don't know it). The app then offers personalized recommendations based on your preferences.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Dating
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.
Photo: Courtesy Clover.
Productivity
We compartmentalize our lives in so many different ways — our work lives, social lives, and dating lives — and yet, most of us only have one phone number and email address to dole out to contacts. With Sudo, you can create separate virtual identities to keep your privacy intact, and help keep your various social circles organized. Don't want to give your personal email when you subscribe to a retailer's newsletter? Just use a new Sudo identity.
Photo: Courtesy Sudo.
Have you ever had an idea for a new app or business, but you just weren't sure if it was any good? GoDaddy's new app, Flare, can help with that. It's a social network designed for entrepreneurs. You can share your ideas, get or give feedback on others' ideas, and connect with potential investors or customers.
Photo: Courtesy GoDaddy.
Loverly's Perfect Wedding Planner app is a must-have for any busy, on-the-go bride. You can easily plan your entire wedding through the app's extensive database — everything from picking a flower vendor to stationery — and you can even consult with a Loverly wedding concierge for help at any stage along the way. Who said planning a wedding had to be stressful?
Photo: Courtesy Loverly.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Pocket.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Refinery29.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Flexibits.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Slack.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Sunshine.
Health & Fitness
The new period-tracking app from Planned Parenthood offers a more accurate and informed way to track your period. You can easily record your mood, activities, and how you feel physically throughout your cycle while also keeping track of your birth control. Plus, there's lots of useful information from the organization under the Resources tab.
Photo: Courtesy Planned Parenthood.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Gaiam.
Social
Jelly is a crowdsourced search engine that's similar to the popular traffic app Waze. Ask any question anonymously, and the app users will offer their input. You can get restaurant recommendations in a new city or find out how people are streaming a show for free.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Sure, you can posts things you like to a friend's Facebook wall, but the new app Rex makes it easier to keep everything in one place. You add your favorites (movies, books, TV, and more) to different categories within your "Vault" and can explore nearby favorites from other users as well as your friends. It's a great way to stay on top of what's new, trending, and worthwhile.
Photo: Courtesy Rex.
Remember Sean Parker (the guy behind file-sharing service Napster)? He's back with an addictive new app. Airtime lets you connect via group video with up to six friends at once. When connected, you can listen to music together, watch videos, share emojis, and more as you catch up. It's a fun way to stay in touch with your old college roommates.
Photo: Courtesy Airtime.
Creative
Google's new keyboard works in any app where you type and combines its search bar with access to emojis and GIFs. Now you won't need to switch from one app to another if you want to look up some information. So if you're texting about dinner plans, you can easily send a friend restaurant info (and the obligatory plate emoji).
Photo: Courtesy Google.
This video editor by GoPro is free and doesn't require a GoPro camera to make magic. Using just the photos on your phone (or Facebook), you can make cool slideshows set to music, edited with special transitions from one image to the next. The same applies for video. It's incredibly easy to put together something that looks professional and is great for sharing.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
GIPHY has the biggest library of GIFs out there, and now you can text them straight from your keyboard. Download the app to get access to the keyboard through your Settings. From there, you can search for GIFs and animate words you send without ever leaving your text message.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
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.
Photo: Courtesy Autodesk.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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