Hello everyone! Marta here.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that not all applications are the same. There are apps that are like those friends who are always there when you need them, and others that are like that annoying relative who only comes to eat up your RAM and ask you uncomfortable questions (read: “Can I access your location, contacts, photos, medical history and deepest thoughts?”). That’s why, before installing anything, think about whether you really need it or you’re just downloading digital ballast.
In the communication section, WhatsApp is the undisputed queen in Spain, but it doesn’t hurt to have alternatives like Telegram or Signal if you value your privacy more than your own secrets. Telegram, moreover, has those cool stickers that turn any boring conversation into a meme festival. And for video calls, although WhatsApp does the job, apps like Zoom or Google Meet can save you from more than one work or family tight spot.
Social networks are another essential, although here it depends a lot on your age and how much of your life you want to expose. Instagram to show off your holidays (even if you’ve only been to your town’s beach), Twitter/X to complain about everything, TikTok to lose hours watching cat videos or absurd dances, and LinkedIn to pretend you’re a serious professional even though you’re reading this in your pyjamas. Choose wisely, because your time is finite and the scrolls are infinite.
In terms of productivity, Google Drive or Dropbox are essential for storing important documents and being able to access them from any device. Nothing beats having that plane ticket or hotel reservation at hand when you’re in the middle of nowhere and the wifi is crawling. I also recommend some note-taking app like Evernote or Google Keep, because human memory is treacherous and you’ll always forget to buy toilet paper if you don’t write it down.
To get around the world, Google Maps remains the most complete option, although Waze has that very useful feature of warning you about speed cameras that makes you magically respect the speed limits. And if you use public transport, apps like Moovit or your city’s own apps will save you from waiting forever at a stop. For travel, Booking or Airbnb are almost mandatory, along with some airline app if you’re one of those who flies more than a flight attendant.
Entertainment can’t be missing from any phone worth its salt. Spotify or YouTube Music for music, Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+ for series and films (even though your bank account weeps with so many subscriptions), and some game for those endless waiting moments when you need a distraction. Personally, I prefer games that don’t require a constant connection, because the internet always fails when you need it most; it’s a technological Murphy’s law.
In the health and wellness section, a physical activity tracking app can be your best ally or your worst enemy, depending on how much you like being reminded that you’ve spent three days without moving from the sofa. Apps like Samsung Health or Google Fit come preinstalled on many phones and do the job perfectly. I’d also recommend some meditation app like Calm or Headspace for those moments when technology overwhelms you and you need a digital breather.
Last but not least, don’t forget the security apps. A good password manager like LastPass or Bitwarden will save you headaches and improve your online security. And if you’re one of those scatterbrained people who loses their phone even in their own house, Google’s “Find My Device” or Apple’s “Find My iPhone” should be set up from minute one.
In short, the app ecosystem is as wide as our needs are varied, but the important thing is not to fall into “appdiction” and only install what you’ll actually use. Because having 200 applications is useless if you only use five, and all you achieve is that your phone runs slower than a Windows 95 with a virus. So you know, install with your head and uninstall without mercy everything you don’t use. Your phone (and its battery) will thank you!
