Apple’s iPhone apps are a waste of time. These 8 alternatives are way better

The last few years have seen Apple open up its ecosystem more than any of us previously thought possible, and part of that means you can now change your iPhone’s default apps with relative ease. For example, instead of being forced into Safari every time you tap a web link, you can have your device open a different browser instead.

This newfound choice has opened the door to a host of excellent third-party apps that are ready to step into the void left by Apple’s default choices, should you wish to change them–and in many cases, you should. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. In some instances, you can change your default app choice to one of these options, in others you can’t, but you can still use our picks to elevate your iPhone regardless. Here’s how you can switch it all up.

Ditch: Reminders. Get: Things

Apple’s Reminders app has never really kept up with third-party alternatives, and even when it was overhauled at WWDC 2024, it still left us wanting more. But you don’t have to settle for Apple’s effort. Install Things instead.

This well-known app is a great example of what a to-do list app can be. It contains all the power-user tools you’d expect, like smart lists, ongoing projects with headings and completable sub-sections, a context-aware plus button for adding and moving tasks, super-smart and speedy search, and more.

Cultured Code

It’s also beautifully designed, so much so that it puts even Apple to shame. With delightful interactions and an interface that just works, Things is enjoyable to use, no matter the complexity of your to-do list. Go get Things in the App Store.

Ditch: Camera. Get: Halide

Apple’s Camera app works well enough, and it gives you a few controls for tweaking things like exposure, depth of field, and tone. But that might not be enough for seasoned photographers who want more options to shoot the way they want.

Halide

Enter Halide. This popular photography app comes with everything camera pros need to take their best shots. It lets you disable autofocus, analyze your images with color zebras and waveforms, disable Apple’s processing and shoot in raw format, and much more. It’s built for people who want to get hands-on with their camera app, without Apple’s interference.

Unfortunately, you can’t change the camera app that’s opened when you press your iPhone’s Camera Control. What you can do, though, is change which camera app launches from your Lock Screen. To do so, tap and hold your Lock Screen, then tap Customize > Lock Screen. Tap the minus symbol next to one of the two icons in the bottom-left or bottom-right corner of your screen, tap the empty circle, then pick Halide from the list of options and select Done in the top-right corner. Go get Halide in the App Store.

Ditch: Calendar. Get: Fantastical

Forget Apple’s Calendar app. You deserve something better for organizing your schedule. That something is Fantastical, and it’s so good that it’s hard to know where to start when detailing its advantages.

But we’ve got to start somewhere, so we’ll begin with its beautiful layout, which is so polished that it’s been bestowed with an Apple Design Award. With powerful views to choose from, you’ll always have the information you need to hand, no matter which device you’re using.

Flexibits

You can create templates from any event or task, and it bakes task management into your calendar so you always stay on top of your to-do list. With support for calls and meetings, files and attachments, accounts from leading calendar providers like iCloud, Google, Exchange and Outlook, plus strong privacy controls, there’s a huge amount to like about it.

It works on almost every Apple device, with versions for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, iMessage and even the Vision Pro. It’s also compatible with Windows, so you won’t miss out if you combine an iPhone with a Windows PC, for example. Go get Fantastical in the App Store.

Ditch: Mail. Get: Spark

For many years, Apple’s Mail app felt stuck in the past as competitors raced ahead. Mail got a spruce up at WWDC 2024 with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, but we wouldn’t say that it’s managed to close the gap entirely.

One of the apps that’s surged past Mail is Spark, and it aims to give you more control over your inbox so that you rule your emails, not the other way around. For example, only senders you’ve approved will get their messages into your inbox. High-priority mail floats to the top while newsletters and notifications sit below, so you can dive straight into your important work without having to fight your way through the everything else.

Readdle

It also leverages AI to help you get things done faster. That means you get an assistant that fixes grammar and spelling mistakes and can help rephrase your emails with a different tone of voice. And there’s much more, from scheduled messages and cloud storage for large files to thread muting and support for encrypted mail.

To change your default email app, open the Settings app and go to Apps > Default Apps > Email, then pick Spark from the list. That’s all there is to it. Go get Spark on the App Store.

Ditch: Safari. Get: Firefox

Sick of Safari? Apple’s web browser isn’t for everyone, and you might find yourself looking outside the company’s walled garden for a fresh browsing experience. Chrome may be the obvious pick, and it’s certainly an excellent browser, but it’s raised concerns over some of its privacy practices. If that’s a worry for you–or you just want to try something different–Firefox is an excellent choice.

As an unashamed Firefox stan, I recommend this browser to anyone within earshot. It comes with privacy built-in, including defenses against trackers and scripts, cryptominers, fingerprinters, and more. It’ll put a stop to cross-site trackers following you across the web, and it halts social media data collection in its tracks.

Mozilla

Unlike Safari, Firefox works across almost every platform, so you can easily share links and web pages with your other devices, whether that’s an Apple product, an Android tablet, a Windows PC, or something else. And it’s lightning fast, neatly organized, and feature rich.

If you want to change your default web browser, open the Settings app on your iPhone and head to Apps > Default Apps > Browser App. You can then choose Firefox from the list. Go get Firefox on the App Store.

Ditch: Messages. Get: WhatsApp

Put an end to the blue bubble/green bubble debate once and for all by dumping Messages and using WhatsApp instead. This cross-platform app doesn’t care whether you’re typing on an iPhone, an Android device, or a potato–no one misses out on its features. It also packs in voice messages, stickers and emojis, GIFs, and more. And it lets you chat directly with businesses and customer support agents, too.

But WhatsApp is much more than just a messaging app. It can also handle calls too, whether you prefer to conduct them over audio or video. That extends to group video calls, too, making it easy to catch up with friends and family no matter where they are.

Mahmoud Itani / Foundry

WhatsApp might be owned by Meta–not exactly known for its privacy chops–but the good news is that every message you send and receive in WhatsApp is protected by end-to-end encryption, so no one can read your texts without your permission (not even WhatsApp itself).

To make it your default, go to Apps > Default Apps in the Settings app. There, you can set WhatsApp as your choice in both the Messaging and Calling sections, if you like. Go get WhatsApp on the App Store.

Ditch: Passwords. Get: 1Password

At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced its own password manager, the (rather plainly) named Passwords. That’s great news if you want a free password manager on your Apple devices, and it’s got plenty to offer. But we’ve found it’s not quite up to scratch compared to other offerings, at least not yet. If you agree, your best bet is to try 1Password instead.

This brilliant password manager is all you need to keep all your important info safe. It can autofill login info on sites you’ve created an account with or suggest rock-solid passwords for those you’re just registering with. If any of your logins have been leaked online, it’ll alert you so you can update your passwords, and it can also analyze your existing logins to find weak and repeated passwords.

1Password

It extends beyond just passwords, though. You can save passport details, credit card info, cryptocurrency wallets, drivers’ licenses, secure notes, and more. It can also be enlisted to enter one-time passcodes, so you don’t need to rely on these codes being sent to your inbox or a different authenticator app.

To make 1Password your default, open the Settings app and navigate to Apps > Default Apps > Passwords & Codes. You’ll also want to go to General > AutoFill & Passwords in the Settings app and enable the toggle next to 1Passsword, then pick 1Password next to Set Up Codes In. Go get 1Password on the App Store.

Ditch: Apple Maps. Get: Google Maps

Apple Maps has come a long way since its troubled launch in 2012, and these days it’s easily one of the best mapping apps you can get. But that doesn’t mean you should use it. If you want to look elsewhere, Google Maps is a great option.

Its simple and clear interface gets out of your way and lets you concentrate on the route, while its accurate directions ensure you’re never lost with it by your side. Real-time traffic alerts can help you steer clear of trouble, and its CarPlay integration works beautifully with your vehicle. It offers different overlays for clearer views, plus there’s Google Street View if you want to view a location from ground level. It can even show augmented reality directions overlaid on your camera with its Lens feature.

Google

And it’s chock-full of listings for local businesses, restaurants, attractions and more, and each of these listings offers reviews posted by real users, helping you pick your next destination and filter out the noise. Go get Google Maps on the App Store.