I’m a strong believer that the best Apple Watch apps will help you get the most out of your smartwatch. I’m always surprised to hear that people who own an Apple Watch, whether it’s the latest Apple Watch Series 9 or an older model, aren’t keen on downloading third-party apps.
When you set up your Apple Watch, you’ll be prompted to sync downloaded iPhone apps to your smartwatch. This means that downloaded iPhone apps with compatible watchOS versions will be added to your watch during initial setup. Optionally, you can automatically sync future apps you download to your iPhone with your Apple Watch.
I’m in the habit of installing and testing new Apple Watch apps to get the best Apple Watch experience. Not all Apple Watch apps are essential, but there are a few that you use often enough to make a difference in your daily life. Those apps are listed below in no particular order.
hit the island
While you might not think of your Apple Watch as a gaming device, there are actually some fun games you can play from your wrist. My favorite is Hit The Island. This is a mobile version of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island Ping Pong ball app. For me, it’s a way to kill time when I’m commuting to work, in the waiting room, or when I’m a little bored but don’t want (or can’t) take out my phone. I also enjoy the nostalgia. It reminds me of Brick Breaker from the Blackberry era.
Download Hit The Island for Apple Watch
Pedometer++
The reason you’ve never seen a step-counting complication when changing the watch face on your Apple Watch is because it doesn’t exist. You can track your steps in your fitness app, but if you want to see your progress at a glance on your watch face, you’ll need a third-party app like Pedometer++. This will help you reach the recommended 10,000 steps per day. There are several pedometer apps available, but we recommend using Pedometer++, which is free and ready to use.
Download Pedometer++ for Apple Watch
spotify
I’m one of those people who refuses to jump off Spotify. The native Apple Music app works seamlessly on the Apple Watch, but Spotify users can enjoy playlists on their Watch as well. Plus, when you open Spotify on your iPhone, the app automatically opens on your Apple Watch for quick access to playback controls.
Download Spotify for Apple Watch
Govy Home
Many smart home brands offer compatible Apple Watch apps so you can control your smart home devices from your wrist. For example, you can lock and unlock your Schlage Encode smart lock through your Apple Watch. But the smart home app I use most often on my Apple Watch is Govee Home. I have nearly a dozen Govee smart lights in my apartment, and the most convenient way to control them all is through the Apple Watch version of the app.
Download Govee Home for Apple Watch
Like flying
While most airlines (including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways) have their own Apple Watch apps, the Flighty app is your unified destination for managing all your air travel. We post the latest delay information, gate information, etc. It also provides specific information about your flight and saves your travel history. It’s nice to be able to see the whole picture of this trip from my wrist. The best Flighty experience requires a paid subscription, but as a frequent traveler, I think it’s well worth it.
Download Flighty for Apple Watch
strava
Runners and cyclists who use Strava will love the Apple Watch version of the app. Thanks to Apple Watch’s built-in GPS, you don’t need to carry your phone around to log your miles. With the cellular version of Apple Watch, you can stream music and take calls while on the trail. I use this app to track my progress on walks and awards, and to keep in touch with friends through activities.
Download Strava for Apple Watch
swing vision
If you want to take your tennis game to the next level, we recommend SwingVision. One of the best Apple Watch apps for sports, SwingVision leverages AI and Apple device technology to create comprehensive reports on how you’re playing. I’ve been using SwingVision for Apple Watch for a while to track my heart rate, calories, distance traveled, number of shots, and type of shots. I can’t say I’m aiming to train at a competitive level, but the more often I play tennis, the more I can use it to monitor my progress.
Download SwingVision for Apple Watch
water rama
Did you know you can track your water intake with your Apple Watch? There may be plenty of water tracking apps on the App Store, but perhaps none make hydration as fun as Waterllama. You can earn characters by taking on and completing challenges in Waterllama. Some challenges encourage you to limit your intake of caffeine and lactose, while others simply encourage you to stay hydrated. To do this, you will be reminded to track your water intake throughout the day. This has completely improved my ability to stay hydrated.
Download Waterllama for Apple Watch
headspace
The meditation app Headspace lets you do guided breathing and meditation sessions on your wrist. We especially welcome those who have no experience with meditation. The Apple Watch app lets you save your meditations and easily access them. There are also hand-picked meditations for walking, which can be tracked as part of your Apple Watch activities. Although there are free relaxation apps available, Headspace requires a membership ($69.99 per year) to use all of its features. Luckily, there’s a trial period to see if you like it first.
Download Headspace for Apple Watch