What I Look for in an App I’ll Actually Keep Using

There seems to be an app for everything these days, and almost all of them promise to save us time, save us money or make life easier. I have been guilty of downloading apps because they were on someone’s list of “Top 5 Useful Apps for Women Over 50,” only to never open them again.

But there are a handful of apps I use regularly because they actually do remove friction, solve a problem or make life easier in some way.

That got me thinking: What makes an app useful enough to earn a permanent spot on my phone? Rather than simply recommending apps, I thought I’d share how I decide whether an app is actually useful to me.

Does It Solve a Real Problem?

The first thing I look for is whether an app solves an actual problem I have. It can be a small one, like using the app for a grocery store I occasionally run into to pick something up. I can look up the item, find exactly what aisle it’s in and save myself a few minutes of wandering around the store. That might seem like a problem too small to matter, but when I’m in a rush, it’s a real time saver.

Or it might be a larger problem, like safely storing my passwords. I use NordPass on my phone and laptop so I don’t have to remember dozens of passwords or keep track of them in a spreadsheet or sticky note system. I can also generate a strong password in one click when I need one.

Does It Eliminate Steps?

A good app does more than solve a problem; it eliminates steps. I do not need another thing to manage, so anything that adds a layer of complexity is out.

A good example is the Walmart app. I use it to order groceries, and instead of keeping a running grocery list, I keep an active grocery cart. When I’m running low on something, I whip out my phone and put it in the cart. I’ve even trained my husband to do this. This eliminates the grocery list, a separate list app, transferring things from my list to my cart, and my hubby telling me he just ran out of something right after the groceries get delivered.

The Sam’s Club app takes this idea even further. When I shop in the store, I use the Scan & Go function to scan things as I put them in my cart. I pay in the app and skip the checkout line. I also use pickup when I need large or heavy items, like cases of water or one of those giant packs of toilet paper. Since I have no desire to wrestle them into a shopping cart, out of the cart and into my car by myself, I place the order in the app and designate my husband as the pickup person. Delegation is the way to go!

Can It Replace an Old System?

Sometimes an app earns its keep by replacing a system I’ve been using for years. The Plan to Eat app changed how I save recipes and plan our meals.

I used to have a habit of printing every recipe I came across that sounded interesting. It got so bad that I had to set up three-ring binders by category to keep track of all of them. Now my recipes live on my phone, are searchable, and can be added to a calendar so I know what I want to make for the week. My husband says the Plan to Eat app has saved a small forest.

Does It Give Me Information When I Need It?

Another thing I value in an app is being able to get information when it’s useful to me instead of waiting until later.

Thanks to my credit card apps, I can do a weekly review of charges rather than wait for a statement and try to figure out what some random charge was from. This is especially helpful when we’re traveling and I’m using my card at unfamiliar shops or restaurants.

I use the Lose It app for much the same reason. Lose It is a food-tracking app that is useful not only for weight loss but also for logging what I’m eating and making sure I’m generally on track with my health goals. Food tracking can become complicated quickly, but Lose It keeps it simple. I can take a picture of my plate or quickly add foods I eat regularly to build out a meal.

Does It Fit into My Life?

For me, the best apps become almost invisible. I’m not thinking about using technology. It simply becomes the way I shop, manage passwords, save recipes, check purchases and more.

Of course, I still have plenty of apps on my phone. Some I use only when I travel, and others I might open just a few times a year. I keep those around because when I do need them, I’m glad they’re there. I’d rather not download an app and figure out my login all over again every time I need it. An app doesn’t have to be part of my daily routine to earn its spot on my phone.

Instead of asking, “Which apps should I download to streamline my life?” ask yourself this: What little frustrations or unnecessary steps would I like to remove from my day?

Starting with that question can save you from downloading apps simply because someone recommends them. Figure out where the friction is first, then look for technology that can help. If an app makes something I already do a little easier, it has probably earned its spot on my phone.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Which app would you really miss if it disappeared from your phone tomorrow? What makes it so useful to you?