At Lifehacker, we strive, year after year, to do everything better. It’s kind of our thing, you know? And we find, year after year, that sometimes our smartphones and their many apps help us be more productive—and sometimes they do nothing but distract us. As we reflect on 2021, though, we have to admit that our favorite apps did a little bit of both. They helped us get organized and healthier, but also offered some distraction when we needed.
I’m tempted to name something like Duolingo here, and maybe if I could actually write this out in Portuguese I would, but since my language skills are about as broken as they were at the start of 2021, I have to go with TikTok. And how could you not? TikTok is the app; in many ways, it’s replaced my habit for watching TV every night. Instead of catching up on the latest shows and movies, I’m much more likely to be scrolling endlessly through a curated feed of comedy sketches, recipes, and geeky stuff that I love. And these creators are talented. Some are hilarious, some can cook...whatever you’re watching, it’s done so well. It’s an addiction, I’m hopelessly trapped, and I love it.—Jake Peterson, senior tech editor
Somewhat contrary to the Lifehacker ethos, I’m not all that into productivity apps, or even cooking apps. I am, however, very into Strong, a simple weight-lifting app that helps me track the mass and frequency I can lift. It has a wide range of exercises to choose from, some of which come with simple how-to videos to help with your form. It also keeps track of your PRs, which is nice, because PR-ing has become a bit of an obsession.—Claire Lower, senior food editor
I have a deep love for my robot vacuum cleaner, and the EufyHome app allows me to feel even closer to her. I can schedule her work in advance, or send her out to vacuum at my whim. I can check her battery life, and even control her movements directly from my phone. I especially like sending her home to her under-the-couch charging station when the workday is over. Sweet dreams, robot vacuum cleaner, sweet dreams.—Stephen Johnson, staff writer
Well, TikTok was taken, and if I honestly say “2048" then I wouldn’t be able to face the man in the mirror. Compared to previous video diaries, this year’s “1 Second Everyday” video has a clear story arc, what with a slow start in quarantine, the vaccination plot points, and much better pacing as life slowly but surely picked back up again.—Meredith Dietz, staff writer
One of the ways I have most wasted time this year has been by burying my face in the game Wordscapes. Whenever I need a five or 10-minute break from work, I plop down on the couch in my office, open up Wordscapes, and mindlessly unscramble words. How is it relaxing to take a break from writing and editing words all day by making more words? I’m not entirely sure, except that it feels like a balance between being challenging enough to keep me interested but also winnable every time. I’m on level 800 as of this writing, which is either impressive or a strong indication that it’s time to move on to something else in 2022.—Meghan Walbert, managing editor
This one is a simple workhorse that deserves a little spotlight. Intervals Pro has guided me through many a timed workout. I can customize it to ring a bell when it’s time for me to do my next set of kettlebell swings, and it will even speak the words “five seconds” to tell me to get ready. It can do complicated sets of rest and work intervals, or it can do just the basics if that’s all you need. (And while it has “pro” in the name, you can save three custom timers without needing to buy the upgrade—which is only a one-time fee of $8, so I went for it anyway.) Best bonus feature: If you have a heart rate monitor or a GPS-enabled watch, it will automatically save that data in your workout without you having to get another app involved.—Beth Skwarecki, senior health editor
For more than a decade, I’ve been tracking every book I read on Goodreads, and I have no idea why it took me so long to start doing the same for movies. Maybe I just needed an app that’s as streamlined, fun to use, and feature-packed as Letterboxd. Available on the web or iOS/Android, it allows you to log, rate, and review every movie you watch, figure out where something is streaming, keep a watchlist, and more. Plus, you can follow other reviewers and get updates when they watch or review something new, which is a great way to discover new stuff (an increasingly pressing concern two years into a pandemic that’s still keeping me mostly at home). It’s free to use, but I’m thinking of upgrading to a Pro account ($19/year), which will remove ads and give me access to a few more features—and make me feel good for supporting an app I love.—Joel Cunningham, deputy editor
In a moment of hope, after vaccines became readily available and New York started to reopen, I unfroze my AMC A-List subscription that had sat frozen for over a year. The result was a flood of joy—albeit temporary, given Omicron and the bad winter ahead—that reminded me just how good an app AMC made. Not only could I choose my movie and seats in advance, I could also reserve tickets for my “entourage” of other AMC A-List members so that we don’t have to choose our seats separately. Not to mention that it tracks my rewards points that I can spend on concessions with a waive of my phone, and lets me buy food and drinks in advance and have them waiting for me when I arrive at the theater. The app is virtually perfect, if only These Times would allow for it. I’ll be back again, though, AMC Theatres. Hopefully one day.—Jordan Calhoun, editor-in-chief
I like MacroFactor so much I wrote a whole post all about it, so I can’t let this roundup pass without pointing to it again. I love that its calculations are accurate whether you stick to your diet or not, and it somehow manages a judgment-free interface even though nearly every other app in this space is constantly trying to nudge or incentivize you to chase your goals harder. Food is just food, and calories are just calories, and I appreciate you, MacroFactor, for not making it any more complicated than that.—Beth