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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Productivity

70 Apps Every Professional Should Know About and Use

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December is a great time to reflect on how your previous year went and what you can improve upon in the future. And as we near the beginning of 2015, you might be wondering what you can do to make your professional life a lot easier.

One thing that can help? Apps. But the hardest thing about finding applications you actually want to use is that there are thousands of them to choose from. How do you know you’re getting the best stuff out there?

Good news! We’ve been searching the web far and wide to bring you 70 stellar apps that can make your work life totally swell. From organization tools to job search apps to fun little games when you need a break, we’ve got you covered.


Organization


1. Hshtags

If you work in a field that requires you to keep up to date on social trends, organization is key to keeping you from having 18 different tabs open at once. That’s where Hshtags—an app that lets you follow conversations or hashtags, discover trending topics, and easily engage with people online—comes in.


2. Wunderlist

Wunderlist is part organization tool, part productivity app, combining the classic to-do list with a collaborative interface that lets you work with others to get tasks done.


3. Phlo

If you’re searching for something on the web, your browser can feel incredibly cluttered really quickly (you have tabs open for Google, Bing, Amazon, the works). Phlo aggregates all of these search engines into one beautiful interface.


4. TeuxDeux

Looking for a simple, aesthetically pleasing to-do list app? TeuxDeux is your answer.


5. Things

If you’re looking to take task managing to a whole new level, Things is the way to do it. The app combines your inbox, to-do list, and task management system, making it easier than ever to organize and complete projects.


6. Mindnode

Need a better way to illustrate your thought process and understand how you got certain ideas? Mindnode is a stellar tool to use.


7. Any.do

Many professionals swear by the simple task managing and to-do list system of Any.do, and it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re looking for something quick and easy to use on your phone.


8. EasilyDo

Ever wanted a personal assistant? EasilyDo now gives you the option in app form: With it, you can book flights, make reservations, organize your calendar, confirm appointments, create bill payment reminders, and do so much more.


Email


9. Inbox by Gmail

It’s the latest and greatest thing hitting the world of email productivity, so you’d better request an invite stat! Want to know why it’s so cool? Writer Aja Frost gives you the lowdown here.


10. Simplist

Email listservs can be terrible, especially if you know that no one is reading them. How can you make sure that you’re sending emails to people who will actually open them? Simplist is your answer.


11. Boomerang

A personal favorite, Boomerang lets you schedule when you send and receive emails for when it’s more convenient.


12. The Email Game

It’s easy to get lost in a sea of emails. Luckily, the Email Game gamifies the process so that you race to reply to, delete, and forward emails in a shorter period of time.


13. Unroll.me

December is the perfect time to unsubscribe from all of those pesky newsletters, and Unroll.me lets you do it easily, all at the same time.


14. Sidekick

One of the worst parts of sending an email is not knowing if your recipients received it, opened it, and clicked on whatever they were supposed to. With Sidekick, though, now you can.


15. Mailbox

No list about great email apps is complete without Mailbox, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, you definitely should. The app makes it easy to quickly swipe through your inbox in a matter of minutes, allowing you to delete, archive, and reply to emails with just a few finger touches.


16. Hop

Hop makes your inbox more like an instant messaging service, allowing you to email at the speed of light.


Job Search


17. Vizualize.me

If you’re looking to turn your resume into a drop-dead gorgeous visual, this app will help you do it.


18. Poacht

Think of Poacht as dating app Tinder, but for casual job searching on the go.


19. Creddle

If you’d like an easier way to create a rockstar resume without all of the sloppy formatting problems that come with using Microsoft Word, Creddle can help.


20. Resunate

Don’t have someone to look over your resume? Resunate not only helps you build your resume, but it also shows you ways to improve upon what you’ve created.


21. Jibber Jobber

Jibber Jobber is a stellar app that helps you keep track of every part of your job application process, from storing which specific jobs you applied for to telling you the status of your application once it’s sent.


22. Job Interview Question-Answer

If you don’t have anyone to rehearse job interview questions with, this app can totally save you.


23. Pocket Resume

Trying to put together a resume on the go? Pocket Resume can help you create a resume and send it off, all from your phone.


24. JobCompass

Looking for jobs in the surrounding area? JobCompass shows you thousands of positions near you on an interactive map.


25. JobAware

JobAware takes Job Compass one step further, allowing you to find jobs in your area while also helping you track your application process along the way.


Networking


26. Bond

Remembering to keep in touch with people can be tricky, but Bond helps you search through your contacts to see who you haven’t talked to in a while.


27. LunchMeet

It’s always awkward to ask interesting people to coffee, only to find out that they’re not in your area. LunchMeet fixes that!


28. Happening

Is building your network a big goal for 2015? (Hint: It should be.) Luckily, Happening helps you find networking events in your area.


29. Hashable

Who needs paper business cards when you can have digital ones that won’t end up at the bottom of someone’s purse?


30. Networkr

Meet Networkr: It’s Tinder for LinkedIn. Swipe through different professionals in your area (based on common interests and industries). If you and another careerist tell the app that you’d like to meet, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with one another privately.


31. Contacts Journal

Sure, you vaguely remember meeting someone at a networking event, but you can’t remember the context or details of your conversation. Contacts Journal acts as a relationship management system to keep track of everyone you meet.


32. Insightly

Insightly is a free CRM system that helps you manage your key contacts and relationships. Definitely a must-have for the job search!


33. Contactually

One of the hardest parts of the networking process is remembering to check in with your contacts on a regular basis. Luckily, Contactually sends you reminders (so you don’t have to keep track of everything on your own).


Productivity


34. RescueTime

RescueTime shows you where you’re wasting all of your time so that you can improve in the future.


35. Coffitivity

Science shows that ambient noise can boost productivity, so why not listen to the muffled but welcoming sounds of a bustling coffee shop?


36. focus booster

This app works as a “digital Pomodoro timer” to help you focus for specific amounts of time.


37. Lift.do

Is there a goal you really want to reach? Lift.do provides a great interface for creating goals and tracking your progress over time, all while sending you great content to support your mission.


38. Checkmark 2

This app creates stylish reminders for every part of your life in one easily accessed place.


39. Bullet Journal

Who needs a separate planner, calendar, notebook, and to-do list when you can create a Bullet Journal for a whole lot less?


40. Flow

If you’re looking for a simple task manager you can use easily on your phone, Flow is for you.


41. Timeful

Timeful is a smart calendar app that learns your habits and suggests better ways of getting tasks done based on your preferences.


42. GoodReader

Never waste time trying to read files on your phone again.


43. SignNow

Need to sign something on the go? SignNow is your answer.


Relaxation


44. Headspace

Learn how to meditate in just 10 minutes per day.


45. Buddhify

Whether you’re walking or eating, this app provides meditation tracks to 14 different common activities.


46. GPS for the Soul

This app helps you get a sense of your stress level and then gives you different activities to help you calm yourself down.


47. Happier

Think of this as your personal gratitude journal.


48. Stop, Breathe & Think

This app gauges how stressed you are and recommends meditation techniques accordingly.


49. Squeeze and Shake Stress Release

Because sometimes what you really need is just to shake a fake digital rubber duck.


50. Sleep Cycle

This app measures your brain waves and wakes you based on when you’re in between sleep cycles, allowing you to feel more awake and rested.


51. Sheep Counter

It might seem ridiculous, but it also strangely works if you need a good night’s sleep.


Just for Fun


52. Infogr.am

Need an infographic to spice up a presentation or social media post? This app helps you create your own!


53. Workflow

Create your own apps for your iPhone (for example, building your own tip calculator if you eat out a lot), and completely change the workflow of your phone.


54. Hope.ly

If you spend a great deal of time shortening links (to put on Twitter, for example), Hope.ly is a great way to do it while making a difference (every link shortened supports the American Red Cross).


55. ProductHunt

If you’re one of those people who just has to know about the coolest new products on a daily (and even hourly) basis, product finding app ProductHunt needs to be your homepage.


56. iSwap Faces

If you’re looking for a little fun at your next office get-together, definitely download iSwap Faces and switch the faces of all of your co-workers in pictures.


57. Songza

Most frustrating thing ever: Wanting to listen to music but not being able to find the right song for the moment. Lucky for you, Songza makes it easier to find what you’re truly looking for.


58. Happify

Can happiness really be boiled down to science? Happify thinks so; the app uses groundbreaking techniques to “train your brain” to be happy.


59. Duolingo

Want to learn a new language in a way that’s free and actually really fun? If you answered yes, this app is your answer.


60. My Virtual Boyfriend

If you’re working so hard at your job that you don’t have time for a serious relationship, this app could definitely be for you.


61. Trivia Crack

For all the fun fact fanatics and aspiring Jeopardy players out there, you need to try Trivia Crack.


Miscellaneous


62. Writefull

Ever had that moment where you couldn’t remember if the phrase was “up to stuff” or “up to snuff?” Writefull acts a crowdsourced reference, so you never have to Google grammar rules again.


63. Gibbon

If you’ve caught the online classes bug but are having trouble finding tons of information on a particular topic, Gibbon is the way to go. It creates “playlists” of materials on one vertical all in one place.


64. Pocket

Pocket allows you to save articles for later from your computer or any device if you’re too busy to read them right at that moment.


65. Audible

Over 150,000 free audiobooks that you can download to your computer, tablet, or phone? Sounds awesome.


66. Wi-Fi Finder

You’ll no longer have to yell out, “Does anyone know the Wi-Fi password?” in public spaces.


67. Around Me

Any professional who’s done any traveling can tell you that it can be extremely overwhelming and confusing to try to find basic services like ATMs or coffee shops in a new location. Luckily, Around Me makes the process a lot easier.


68. 1Password

Want to make sure all of your accounts are protected (without having to remember 97 logins)? Check out 1Password!


69. Dlvr.it

If you’re a social media junkie who likes to share the same thing on all of your accounts, why can’t it be done in one click?


70. Archetypes

With so much content out there, it’s hard to find things that you’re specifically interested in without spending hours digging around. Enter Archetypes, which essentially gives you a personality test and then shows you content based on your top three “archetypes.”