Ever wonder how smart is your smartphone? Or how you can make it smarter?
Sure it has built-in functions, some are even unused and forever forgotten. With thousands of smartphones, each one can be made unique by its user. You can even extend its capability to make your life easier with various apps.
Track your expenses, navigate around unfamiliar places, shop to your heart’s content, get emergency help when needed, and pay your bills securely with free apps at Apple and Google’s app stores.
According to the survey conducted by the known market research firm Nielsen, an average person uses around 27 apps a month. This does not seem too much considering the millions of downloadable apps for iPhones and Androids. However, finding the right apps to fit your needs and wants will take too much time. So we have created a list of the best free apps to make your smartphone work harder for you.
Travel Buddy
Unless you are a type of person who loves to travel around Metro Manila and practice your patience while being stuck in EDSA, you will need apps such as these three:
- Waze
Waze is a large community-based traffic and navigation app which can help you avoid heavy built-up traffic in the metro. Drivers and other individuals can share real time update to help you know which route to take to save time and get to work to work on time (perhaps earlier than your boss).
Waze is quite popular among Filipinos who drive their private vehicles, taxi drivers and Uber/Grab drivers. Voice guide and incident alerts are a plus.
Download: Android, iPhone
- Sakay.PH
Want to find an alternative route home to avoid heavy traffic? Or perhaps you always end up lost every time you try to venture alone in the city? Sakay.PH is a dream come true to most Filipinos who usually commute around Metro Manila. This app is your personal guide which will save you when you don’t know which way to go.
Sakay.PH gives a couple of route suggestions plus the price of the fare! This saves you from advantageous drivers who ask for higher fare from lost passengers. You can also discover new routes which may save you time (and perhaps money). Aside from these, the app can also give you real-time updates about traffic situations in both major and minor streets.
Download: Android, iPhone
- Metro Traffic Live
This app will give you real-time traffic updates for the major streets in Metro Manila: EDSA, Commonwealth, Quezon Ave., Espana, C5, Ortigas, Marcos Highway, Roxas Blvd. and South Luzon Express Way. If you are a frequent traveler along these major roads, you will be thankful to have a heads-up on the brewing traffic.
Download: Android, iPhone
Productivity Booster
Having a work-life balance is not easy with family, relationships, workloads and social media. Your 24 hours do not seem to be enough, and then you get overwhelmed by everything. Thankfully you can have apps to help you out.
- IFTTT
Among millions of apps, which one can boost your smartphone capabilities to its highest potential? It would be the IFTTT (If This Then That)! With this app, you can make and schedule tasks called “Applets” for your smartphone.
Your smartphone can automatically go on mute upon arriving at work, if can give you weather updates every 8am, share your Instagram photos across your other social media, automatically sound an alert when you are near your favorite fast food restaurant, and much more. Create tasks, save it and you are good to go.
Download: Android, iPhone
- Layout
This app is designed by Instagram to help you more with your photo editing. You can easily combine up to nine photos into one image. It is simple, creative and your photo collage will surely be “Instagramable.”
Drop, drag, flip, and rotate photos. Automatically see previews of custom layouts as you choose your photos. The best part is that there is no need to create any accounts or login details, unlike other photo editing apps.
Download: Android, iPhone
Finance Assistant
Your smartphone is not only for communication or entertainment, it can also be your personal financial assistant to help you pay your bills, keep track of your budget and buy online whether you are at home or traveling.
- Coins.PH
Ran out of load when you need to make an important call? Perhaps you need to pay your Meralco bill, but you can’t even go to any payment center as of the moment. Want to buy a gift card for your family and friends? You can do all these with Coins.PH.
Turn your smartphone into a wallet and access money whenever you need it. You don’t even need a credit card nor a bank account. Simply, Coins.PH gives you the ability to send money, receive cash, pay bills, and buy gift cards.
Download: Android, iPhone
- PayMaya
PayMaya is like your reloadable credit card which you can use anywhere anytime. Depending on the mobile network you are using, you can shop online via virtual prepaid Visa or Mastercard. Enjoy exclusive promos on dining, shopping and traveling too! You can also get a PayMaya physical card and a PayMaya Beep Card which you can use in your every MRT/LRT ride.
Download: Android, iPhone
- Monefy
Having a hard time saving up? Use your smartphone to track your expenses. This finance management tool is a nifty app which helps you get an insight on your spending pattern. Simply add all your expenses on the specific category. The colors are playful and the settings are easy to change depending on your preferences.
Download: Android
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Activator
In times of emergency, you need to act quickly as every second count. Save lives with your smartphone (no pun intended).
- FirstAid PH
Access Philippine Red Cross emergency medical information and safety tips through FirstAid PH. Aside from getting a step-by-step guide to perform first aid, you can also call EMS anytime through this app.
Download: Android, iPhone
- Pure Force Citizens App
Pure Force Citizens App is a single tool to reach help during various emergency situations. Call 911 with this app and expect help from the authority. Some users even said that they even get follow-up calls. We may never know when a disaster or incident will happen, it is best to be ready with this app right at your fingertips.
Download: Android, iPhone
Your smartphone is a powerful tool which must be used wisely to make your everyday life productive and less stressful. The possibility is endless with a smartphone. Do not miss out on its potential to make your life more convenient even in little ways.
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