10 Free iPhone Apps You’ll Use Every Day

Everyone knows the iPhone isn’t just for making and taking calls — it’s a slim supercomputer at your fingertips, with the potential to improve your daily efficiency. But it can be a difficult task to sort through all of the available apps and find which ones can help, especially those that are free.

Have no fear: We’ve compiled a list of free iPhone apps that will help get you through each day, whether it’s waking up in the morning, keeping up with the news or managing your to-do list. Download these apps and you’ll be more organized and productive in no time.

1. Alarm Clock HD

Start the morning off right with this app that wakes you up to your favorite music, has built-in weather information and can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter updates.

2. iMapMyRUN

This app is simple to use for your daily run. It maps your route, offers nutrition information, tracks your time, distance and speed, and even lets you post your stats to social media accounts.

3. HopStop

Public transportation can be fickle, so this app comes in handy when you need to check service changes or find quicker routes to get to work on time. HopStop has travel information available for 62 cities and counting.

4. Flipboard

Named Apple's iPad App of the Year in 2010 and one of TIME's Top 50 Innovations, Flipboard is "your (pocket-sized) social magazine." The app creates a magazine out of everything being shared with you — Facebook updates, tweets, Instagram photos, etc. — within categories you choose (News, Politics, Design, etc.). Literally flip through this app with your finger and you'll always be in the loop.

5. Google Currents

Similar to Flipboard, this app also turns your iPhone into an innovative magazine, but it focuses on bringing you updates from top publications, blogs and trends. GoogleCurrents will keep you informed with the latest news when you're on the go.

6. Pandora Radio / Spotify

Good music can definitely add a little something to your day, so use these apps when your train is running late or when your colleague has a particularly annoying cough. Pandora Radio gives you a personalized music experience with new music discovery you'll love, while Spotify gives you instant access to 15 million tracks.

Note: While the Spotify app is free, access to music requires a monthly fee.

 

7. Evernote

This app keeps you organized across all of the devices you use. You can take notes during meetings, make to-do lists, take photos of whiteboard ideas, record voice reminders and share everything with your colleagues, classmates or friends. The search function is especially useful to keep track of your tasks.

 

8. Dropbox

Dropbox gives you access to your documents, photos and videos wherever you are. You can add files to "Favorites" for offline viewing and download email attachments directly to the app.

 

9. Urbanspoon

Whether you're looking for a good restaurant to conduct a lunch meeting or for some stellar takeout to bring back to your desk, this app makes meal times easy. Urbanspoon lets you search for eateries based on location or cuisine, and the "shake" feature randomly finds you a new place to eat. You can even make reservations from the palm of your hand.

 

10. Crackle

Wind down with your favorite TV shows and films on Crackle, the top-rated app in the App Store Rewind 2011 iPhone entertainment category. Crackle hosts hundreds of shows and movies available for streaming on demand, all for free.

BONUS: Relax Melodies

If that jackhammer starts a little too early in the morning, or if there's a bit too much snoring in your vicinity, this may be the app for you. Relax Melodies delivers on its name, creating white noise to help you rest up for another day.