Timon Harz
November 26, 2024
These are the 9 best iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps of 2024, according to Apple
Apple reveals its App Store Awards finalists
It’s that time of year again—no, we’re not talking about Black Friday madness, but the highly anticipated end-of-year lists celebrating the best in tech and entertainment. From Spotify Wrapped to Google TV’s top picks, these annual round-ups are a highlight. This time, it’s Apple’s turn, as they reveal the finalists for their prestigious App Store Awards.
If you’re on the hunt for a fresh app for your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, the App Store Awards shortlist is a must-read. This year, Apple is shining a light on the standout apps of 2024, including, for the first time, the Apple Vision Pro apps. Whether you’ve missed a few gems or are simply looking for inspiration, this list has you covered.
In this roundup, we’ve spotlighted the non-gaming nominees across all Apple platforms and pulled out the apps vying for the elusive 'Cultural Impact' award. While this category is a bit more unconventional, it highlights some truly unique apps that push the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital world. Stay tuned for a closer look at the top contenders shaping Apple’s ecosystem this year.
Kino
The team behind the Halide camera app is a mainstay of the App Store Awards, having won the iPhone App of the Year in 2019 with Spectre – and now it's been nominated again for the video app Kino.
Kino landed earlier this year with support for the iPhone 15 Pro's Apple Log video format, which gives you much more flexibility when color-grading videos. But it's not just for pros either, with handy features that help you pick the best settings to achieve a cinematic motion blur and more.
Apple praised the app for "turning everyday moments into cinematic masterpieces", which is potentially going overboard. But Kino certainly has a strong shout for being one of the best video editing apps around for iPhone.
Runna
We're happy to see Runna in Apple's App Store Award finalists, because it's a fine new option for planning and executing your running goals. Our Runna review praises its detailed stat breakdowns and also the audio prompts to help you understand your pacing.
The app first launched back in 2021, but the motivational tool has developed into a popular option for those who need a motivational coach for anything from a 5km to a marathon. Its layout is pretty, but that's something beginners will appreciate – particularly when hitting 'the wall' after 200m.
Tripsy
Tripsy is another app that's been around for a while (first launching in 2019), but it's aging like a fine wine – particularly now that travel's been back on the agenda for a couple of years.
The app is designed to lower your stress levels while traveling by rounding up your itinerary (including hotels, must-see spots, and more), giving you flight alerts, and storing your documents in one place.
More recently, Tripsy's added support for weather conditions and a customizable dashboard – so if 2025 is going to be a big travel year for you, it's worth checking out.
Bluey: Let's Play
Not content with making our guide to the best Disney Plus shows, the Australian animated TV series Bluey is also in Apple's App Store Awards finalists for its iPad app.
Bluey is about a family of Blue Heeler dogs who are exploring the realities of everyday day life and is naturally aimed at young kids (even pre-school or toddler age). The app lets you explore the family home, make up stories, and rebuild the house as you see fit.
Apple praised the app for "delivering lovable characters and family-friendly fun" and it certainly seems to deliver on that.
Moises
We expected to see a lot of AI-powered tools in this year's App Store Awards – and this music app fits that bill. The idea is pretty simple: Moises lets you separate a song into its various elements (or 'stems') and remove those parts so you can practice along.
For example, you can split a song into vocals, drums, bass, guitar, and more, and also adjust their speed or pitch to suit. Naturally, you need to pay for its more powerful features (subscriptions start at $5.99 / £4.99 / AU$9.99 a month), but there's a free starter plan to give you a taste of its handy talents.
Procreate Dreams
Procreate has long been one of our favorite drawing apps, so we were very excited to try out its animation-themed Dreams sibling earlier this year – and it's impressed Apple enough to make its shortlist for iPad app of the year.
We certainly fell for some of its charms, particularly the fact that it's completely subscription-free and supports older iPads (running iPadOS 16.3 or later). We found it to be very intuitive for first-time animators too, particularly the Performance Mode which lets you animate your assets and effects in real-time.
That said, there were a few niggles and missing features when we first tried Procreate Dreams, so we're looking forward to giving it another spin following its App Store Awards nomination.
LookUp
Not to be confused with the Visual Look Up feature on iPhones, which works a bit like Google Lens, this handy Apple Watch app is instead designed to improve your English vocabulary.
Powered by the Oxford English Dictionary, it includes 'Word of the Day' cards complete with illustrations. You can also tap cards to confirm pronunciations, etymology, and synonyms – which sounds ideal whether you're an English learner or an improver.
Lumy
Lumy has been around for over a decade now, but it remains one of the best ways to track the location of the sun and moon on any date – making it ideal for planning a 'golden hour' photo shoot.
It isn't just for photographers, with the seven-day weather info making it a useful ally for hikers and walkers. And Lumy's clean design and Apple Watch complications make it particularly good on a smartwatch. If Photopills is a bit too much for you, Lumy looks like a fine alternative, particularly for Apple Watch fans.
Watch to 5K
This app has been a mainstay on our guide to the best Apple Watch apps, so we're glad to see it given a nod in the App Store Awards 2024 – even if it's far from new.
The appeal of Watch to 5K remains its simplicity – if you're not quite ready to tackle an ultra-marathon, it'll guide you through making a training plan that'll push you towards finishing a 5km run in under 30 minutes.
You get all the usual metrics like pacing, calories burnt, and heart rate – and it integrates nicely with Apple Fitness, too.
Oneboard
Oneboard is the ultimate note-taking app for students, designed to streamline your study process and keep your ideas organized. With a user-friendly interface and powerful features, it’s ideal for capturing handwritten notes, creating dynamic PDFs, and organizing your study materials all in one place. Whether you’re writing essays, drawing diagrams, or simply jotting down quick thoughts, Oneboard offers the flexibility of both digital and handwritten input, giving you the freedom to work the way you want. Plus, with seamless syncing across devices, your notes are always at your fingertips, no matter where you are. Experience a smarter, more efficient way to take notes and elevate your productivity with Oneboard.
A standout feature of this year's App Store Awards is the inclusion of the Apple Vision Pro, marking a new frontier for mixed-reality experiences. Although many of us may not yet have the opportunity to try out these apps, it’s fascinating to see Apple highlight what it considers the gold standard for its premium headset.
Among the top picks is the NBA app, praised for "redefining the future of how users watch the sports they love." While the idea of a fully mainstream mixed-reality future is still a ways off, the app’s courtside seat experience offers a glimpse into what might be possible in the near future. Another notable Vision Pro app is *What If…? An Immersive Story*, which Apple celebrates for offering a "new kind of Marvel experience." We’ve personally found it to be one of the most enjoyable apps on the Vision Pro, blending film and gaming in a truly unique way.
Apple also recognized JigSpace, a niche app that allows users to view 3D and augmented reality models, which certainly holds appeal for those in fields like education or design. While it might not have widespread appeal, it’s clear that Apple sees potential in this type of experience.
In the Cultural Impact category, Apple has spotlighted several apps that focus on well-being and creativity. The Bear received praise for turning bedtime into a "calming, interactive experience," while BetterSleep was acknowledged for its contributions to improving sleep and overall well-being. Additionally, DailyArt inspires curiosity about artistic masterpieces, while Pinterest continues to be a go-to source for "inspiring new ideas and endless possibilities."
There are also some standout apps that go beyond typical categories. Do You Really Want to Know 2 tackles misconceptions about HIV through an interactive story, Oko aims to make street-crossing safer and more accessible, and EF Hello leverages AI to empower language learners. These apps show the diversity and impact that technology can have on our daily lives and communities.
Overall, while many of these apps have been around for a while, this year’s App Store Awards lineup showcases a strong mix of innovation, creativity, and cultural relevance. We’ll soon know which apps take home the prize, but in the meantime, these finalists offer a glimpse into the cutting edge of app development in 2024.
iPhone App of the Year
iPhone Game of the Year
iPad App of the Year
iPad Game of the Year
Apple Arcade Game of the Year
Mac App of the Year
Mac Game of the Year
Apple Watch App of the Year
Apple Vision Pro App of the Year
Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year
Apple TV App of the Year
Cultural Impact Finalists
Press contact
Timon Harz
oneboardhq@outlook.com
Other posts
Company
About
Blog
Careers
Press
Legal
Privacy
Terms
Security