iPhone widgets have been with us since the release of iOS 14, allowing us to view useful information at a glance and, starting with iOS 17, perform various actions right from the lock or home screen. But are you really taking full advantage of them? This list introduces the top 10 best iPhone widgets that will help you manage your day more efficiently. With them, you can unlock a world of convenience and customization.
- 1. Best Widget Creator: Widgy Widgets
- 2. Best Photo Display Widget: Photo Widget by Impala Studios
- 3. Best Launcher Widget: Launcher by Cromulent Labs
- 4. Best Music Control Widget: WidgetPod
- 5. Best YouTube Widget: YouWidget
- 6. Best Clock Widget: World Clock Time Zone Widgets
- 7. Best Notes Widget: Cheatsheet
- Bonus: Best Game Widget: Pixel Pals
1. Best Widget Creator: Widgy Widgets
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Tired of the same old, uninspiring home screen? Widgy Widgets is an innovative widget creator that allows you to design custom widgets that reflect your unique style and needs. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily craft widgets that display everything from your daily schedule to the latest weather updates, all tailored to your preferences.
The app boasts a straightforward editor divided into two main parts: the preview and the layer list. This intuitive design allows you to see live updates of your widget as you add elements, tweak appearances, and select data sources without any coding skills required. Then share your widgets with other users on r/Widgy and elsewhere.
2. Best Photo Display Widget: Photo Widget by Impala Studios
Price: Free
Transform your iPhone’s home screen into a personal gallery, with the Photo Widget. This delightful widget lets you showcase your favorite memories in a dynamic and interactive way. Whether it’s cherished family photos, snapshots of your latest adventures, or your favorite artwork, Photo Widget breathes life into your home screen by turning it into a canvas of your best moments.
What sets Photo Widget apart is its flexibility and ease of customization. Offering various widget sizes, it helps you keep your home screen layout uncluttered, while still showcasing your photos beautifully. The widget also allows you to adjust the refresh interval so that you can relive different memories throughout the day. Additionally, it can display today’s date alongside your photos.
3. Best Launcher Widget: Launcher by Cromulent Labs
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Meet Launcher by Cromulent Labs, the original – and arguably best – app-launching widget for the iPhone. With Launcher, you can call, message, email, and even FaceTime contacts swiftly, find directions, access favorite websites, and perform actions within apps – all from a single tap on a widget.
Launcher is free to download, but there’s a premium version that allows for automatic icon changes based on time or location, creating context-specific widgets for different parts of your day. Fortunately, the free version packs a punch, too, offering customizable icons, backgrounds, and more.
4. Best Music Control Widget: WidgetPod
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Enhance your music experience with the WidgetPod, a fully customizable music control widget that works both with Apple Music and Spotify. It’s an ideal solution for music enthusiasts who want something different than what stock music control widgets provide.
Setting up WidgetPod is straightforward. After linking your Apple Music or Spotify account, you can choose from small, medium, or large widgets and customize each element to fit your style. Adjust everything from album art and text display to the color of the playback controls. The app provides a live preview as you tweak the settings.
5. Best YouTube Widget: YouWidget
Price: Free with in-app purchases
For YouTube enthusiasts, YouWidget brings your YouTube video feed directly to your iPhone’s home screen, allowing you to stay updated with the latest videos from your favorite channels or trends without opening the YouTube app. The widget offers three different sizes, each providing specific video/channel data, and you can choose from light, dark, or red themes to match your home screen’s aesthetic.
While the free version auto-refreshes every two hours, the premium version updates every 15 minutes, keeping your feed as current as possible. Just know that some users have reported issues with the widget not working with certain channels, so we recommend you test the free version first.
6. Best Clock Widget: World Clock Time Zone Widgets
Price: Free with in-app purchases
World Clock Time Zone Widgets is a must-have widget for anyone who interacts with people in different time zones. What sets this widget apart is its high degree of customization. Not only can you choose the clock’s layout and color, but you can also rename cities for personal reference – think “Mom’s Place” instead of New York.
Additionally, the widget provides visual indicators of daylight hours based on actual sunrise and sunset times, adding another layer of useful information. Download it for free, with a one-time purchase option to remove ads.
7. Best Notes Widget: Cheatsheet
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Never forget those small but crucial details again with Cheatsheet, your go-to widget for all the little things that slip your mind. From your gym locker combination to your Wi-Fi password, Cheatsheet lets you jot down these bits of info, then access them effortlessly on your iPhone’s lock screen, keyboard, or even your Apple Watch.
The app offers a straightforward interface for adding and managing your notes, accompanied by over 200 icons, to help you quickly find what you need. You can customize widgets in multiple sizes, styles, and colors, and even organize your notes with folders in the Pro version. And for those who prioritize security, there’s a Passcode Lock feature, which can prevent others from reading your cheatsheets.
Bonus: Best Game Widget: Pixel Pals
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Brighten up your iPhone’s interface with Pixel Pals, a charming and playful widget app developed by Christian Selig, known for the Apollo Reddit client. Each animal, from the playful hedgehog Chortley to the majestic tiger Herbert, is beautifully designed to bring a touch of joy to your home screen and lock screen.
The free version includes the dog and cat, while Pixel Pals Premium unlocks a wider array of pals, such as a fox named Finnegan and an otter named Nugget, and even allows you to pin two animals at once on supported devices. For those who love to personalize their devices and enjoy a bit of whimsy, Pixel Pals is a delightful addition to the best iPhone widgets lineup.
The world of iPhone widgets is vast and varied, offering an array of tools to enhance both your productivity and personal enjoyment. The best iPhone widgets recommended above can truly transform how you interact with your device. Of course, sometimes a simple widget isn’t enough to get the job done, such as when writing emails on the go. Fortunately for you, our list of the best email apps for iPhone can help with that.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots and alterations by David Morelo.
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