With the summer break just around the corner, I decided to share some of my favourite apps for both IOS and Android.

These apps have proven themselves to be very useful at some point in my life and I hope that you will enjoy them too!

You may know many of the apps I have chosen to include in this post, but my personal touch makes this post different from any other posts you may read. I will provide tips and advice on how you can use and get the most out of the apps during the summer break!

So in no particular order, let’s begin!

Relive

Platforms: Android, IOS

If you’re an outdoor person, you’ll love this app! Relive turns your outdoor activities into fun 3D video stories which you can share with your friends and family. I heavily used this app during the Cycle for Dementia where I later shared the overall video on my fundraising page. I currently use the app for longer cycle rides as well as hikes.

✅What I Like

• Free option available
• Cheap membership
• Easy to use
• Really cool output videos
• You can manually add an activity
• Works with several fitness apps

❌ What I dislike

• Editing the video can be time consuming

Klarify

Platforms: Android, IOS

If you are a hay fever sufferer, you will love this app! Klarify allows you to log how your hay fever is affecting you to get a daily allergy alert as well as personalised insights.

As a hayfever sufferer, this app has honestly been a great addition to my phone. An unrelated tip, I highly recommend spreading a bit of Vaseline inside and at the bottom of your nose, it works wonders as it traps the pollen particles!

✅What I Like

• Clean Interface
• Easy to use
• Provides useful information

❌ What I dislike

• No Widget to allow faster logging

Google Maps

Platforms: Android, IOS, Web

Whether you are a tourist or just want to explore your area a bit more, Google Maps provides the perfect solution whether you’re walking, cycling, driving or even using public transport.

Combined with Google, the app allows you to view stores, tourist points as well as a handful of other places as well as information about those places such as opening times, reviews and more. Google Maps is an app I always had installed both on IOS and Android, I have yet to discover a better app.

I find myself constantly using Google Maps, not only am I a local guide, but I also like to share photos to the platform. However, one of the main reasons I use the app is to find directions, whether I’m trying to find a office or even a certain place I always find myself using it. I also like to use it to find public transport times and to find the quickest routes to places I want to go.

✅What I Like

• Nice Interface
• Robust maps
• Street View
• The ability to view information and reviews
• Download maps for offline use
• Local Guides

❌ What I dislike

• Street View images can be very outdated
• Some reviews can be very biased and unfair

Komoot

Platforms: Android, IOS

This is another one for those who love the outdoors. Komoot is effectively an outdoor route planning and navigation app and it allows you to plan routes.

This app is mainly designed for people who participate in activities such as hiking, cycling and running but I don’t see any reason for not using this app for long walks or even drives where possible.

✅What I Like

• It helps you discover some awesome new places
• Offline Maps
• Shows route difficulty
• Offline maps

❌ What I dislike

• You need to have a premium subscription for most features
• Maps can take up a lot of storage space
• Route availability is dependent on your location
• The free version requires you to purchase regional maps separately

Google Photos

Available on: Android, IOS, Web

This is possibly one of my favourite apps for managing my photos. Not only does it allow me to access my photos from anywhere but it also allows me to make albums and it allows me to do some basic editing.

Google photos allow you to create video clips and some pretty awesome animations which you can share with your friends. It also automatically creates these for you meaning there’s less work and you get to enjoy your photos and videos.

The app also features some very smart AI tools which allow you to search for photos based on object and location.

As a whole, Google is also a great place to store and back up your photos. However, at present, the app only offers 15GB of free storage between your entire Google account, which includes your Gmail and Google Drive. But it’s still a lot more compared to the 5GB you get with iCloud. Google photos also allow you to automatically upload your pictures from your phone, which allows you to access your photos from anywhere.

✅What I Like

• Nice and easy-to-use interface
• The ability to print photo books
• Automated photo enhancements
• The ability to create videos, animations and collages from your photos
• Automated upload feature

❌ What I dislike

• They discontinued unlimited photo storage
• No advanced photo editing features
• It uploads both photos and videos with no option to choose one or the other

Summary

I’ve used and tested a handful of apps for the summer and whilst they aren’t the only apps I recommend, they are definitely some of my favourites!

Are there any apps you recommend for the summer? Let us know in the comments!