iOS 8 introduced widgets to iOS users for the first time. While these widgets are nothing like the ones you see on Android, they are a great way to check up on popular app updates, such as the weather, stocks, or sports scores without having to open up a different app each time you want to know what’s going on. In this article, we’ve pooled together the best iOS widgets you can have on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 8.
23 of the Best iOS Widgets for Your iPhone
Business & Productivity Apps with iOS Widget Support
Its always a smart idea to have productivity apps handy on your Home screen as you tend to use them more often than not. There are plenty of great productivity apps with widget support such as Evernote, Wunderlist – To do lists and tasks, Clear – Tasks, Reminders & to do Lists, and Study Cal – Student Planner and Organizer, but our favorites are listed below.
Timely – Scheduling and Time Tracking, Simultaneously
Timely is a beautiful timer tracker and scheduler that lets you add hours to the future, connect your iOS calendars and estimates the hours you’re likely to spend on future events and meetings. Price: Free
Fantastical 2 for iPhone – Calendar and Reminders
This award winning calendar app has been redesigned to make the best use of iOS 8 features. It automatically schedules events or alerts you when you type out an entry and has plenty of great features that you’ll enjoy using. Price: $2.99
One of the best new notes apps of 2014, Notepad Upword has unique swipe-gestures that will make managing your notes, lists, and life a breeze. Price: Free.
Post-it Plus is a fantastic new app that takes the post-its from your office board onto the iPhone. Just snap an image of the post-its and organize them on your iPhone to share it with your team. An app with great potential, this one’s available for free as well.
iTranslate – translator & dictionary
Translate words, phrases, and text in over 80 languages with this smart productivity app handily placed on your Home screen.
Sports and News Apps with iOS Widget Support
Of course you want to know the breaking stories happening around the world at any given point. That’s why you’ll want to have one of the following news apps on your Notification screen. Other notable mentions include News 360, Buzz Feed, Yahoo News Digest, and NYT Now.
Forza Football – Soccer Livescore
If you are a fan of football, check out the matches of your favorite teams when they are playing in the Notification Center.
This ever popular sports app is rocking a cool widget where you can check out scores from your favorite teams or play live radio even from the lock screen.
Nuzzle: News from Your Friends
Instantly check out all the top news stories your friends are sharing on twitter and Facebook with Nuzzle. Price: Free.
Instapaper is a must have app for your Home Center if you can’t do without all the stories you stored offline for reading later. Price: Free
News Republic: Breaking National & World News
If you want breaking news and updates in your local area and from around the world instantly showing up in the Notification area of your iPhone, News Republic is an app that’s just got to make it to the list. Price: Free.
Travel and Weather Apps with iOS Widget Support
It won’t hurt to get weather updates at the swipe of a button, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. So if you don’t already have Yahoo! Weather, Weather Underground, Accuweather Platinum, or the Weather channel, here are some equally good alternatives to consider. As far as travel apps go, you can pick up the ever popular WorldMate Travel Plans & Flight Tracker and Travel apart from the one’s I’ve listed below.
NOAA Radar Pro – Severe Weather Alerts
You can quickly access the current temperature, the day’s minimum and maximum temperatures, weather forecast for the coming hours, as well as severe weather warnings & alerts right in the Notification Center of your iPhone with NOAA Radar Pro.
Raincast – Percent Chance of Rain and Snow
If you are in the U.S, pick up one of Apple’s favorite weather apps and see the chances of getting rained or snowed in, right from the Notification center.Price: $1.99.
App in the Air – Flight Tracker and Airport Guide
If you’re always dashing off from one airport to the next, having this smart travel app at your beck and call helps. Price: Free
There’s nothing like a handy hotel to check into when you’re traveling around and Hotel Tonight lets you stay in touch with all the necessary arrangements with their handy widgets. Price: Free
If you’re heading off to places you’ve never been before, having a handy digital travel guide should help especially when you can get recommendations and tips from fellow travelers. Price: Free.
Health and Fitness Apps
No iOS widget list is complete without a health and fitness app. You can pick up Argus Pedometer, Fjuul Activity Tracker, or Strava Running and Cycling or one of the notable apps mentioned below.
Stay focused on your health and fitness goals everyday and engage with the community effortlessly with Lift. Price: Free
Obviously one of the best fitness apps around, you sure can do with some instant Home Screen notifications to know just how well you are doing. Price: Free
Human Activity and Calorie Tracker
There’s nothing more gratifying than knowing that you’ve met your fitness goals for the day and Human’s widget clearly indicates that for a fact in its widgets. Price: Free
If you pick up this top health app of 2013, you’ll be able to take better control of your life by making the right choices with regards to food and exercise and a quick widget notification will keep your motivation levels right where it should be.
This is another handy app to have especially during the holiday season when you’ll want to fit into that beautiful dress and therefore stay watchful of what you’re chowing down. Watch your weight right from the iOS widget and you’ll be in shape to grab those sweet treats on Christmas.
Other Apps with iOS Widget Support
The holiday season gives us a great excuse to spend all our money; all the more reason to have a money spending tracker available at a swipe of the screen to keep us in check. Price: Free.
Another handy app to have around the holidays, Magisto lets you create cool videos and get notifications when they are ready for viewing. Price: Free
Language learning couldn’t be more fun than with Duolingo and if you want to be truly diligent, swipe on the notifications to see your achievements and goals in a flash.
If you installed any of these apps previously or are looking to install some handy ones, I hope this list of what we think are the best iOS widgets will come in handy.
Leave a Reply