Watch apps
Get free applications for your smart watch.
Most Apple Watch applications are bundled with iPhone apps. For example, if you have the Roku app on your phone, you can control it with an Apple Watch app, and you can tick off to-dos using the Things watch component. And there are some completely free apps that are solely Watch-specific. Let’s take a look at some of the best for all platforms.
Map My Run
FROM mapmyrun.com
FOR Apple Watch, iPhone, Android
Map My Run offers tracking and training tools to help with your fitness efforts. You get real-time visual, haptic, and audio updates on your watch, and you can log over 600 different activities. It syncs with other devices to keep your data in one place too. A great free app with IAP, and the subscription brings even more features.
Pedometer++
FROM pedometer.app
FOR Apple Watch, iPhone, iMessage
This ad-supported freebie is an iPhone app with a very worthy Watch component. With Pedometer++, you can keep track of your daily and weekly step counts, see how far you’ve walked and as it integrates with the Health app, it can help keep an eye on your overall fitness regime.
Shazam
FROM shazam.com
FOR Apple Watch, iPhone, Android, online
Isn’t it frustrating, when you hear a song on the radio or TV and you want to know what it is? With Shazam, you can. Open the app on your Watch or iPhone, and tap the Shazam icon. The app listens in, and names the song and shows you the album artwork. In the iPhone app, you can open the song directly from Apple Music.
Parrity
FROM App Store
FOR iPhone
To date, Apple has yet to release a version of Safari for Apple Watch, but this doesn’t mean you can’t browse the web from your wrist. Harnessing the power of your iPhone, Parrity brings rich web content to your watch, with an interface designed specially for the smaller screen. A watchOS complication gives quick access too.
WatchChat 2
FROM watchchat.info
FOR Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad
Do you want WhatsApp on your watch? There’s no official app, but WatchChat 2 enables you to follow your WhatsApp chats and group chats directly from your wrist. You can send and receive voice messages, reply to your chats using your Apple Watch and even watch videos. It’s easy to set up, and it’s completely free to use.
Ping Pong
FROM App Store
FOR iPhone
Remember the old arcade game Air Hockey, where you had to defend your goal using a circular paddle and bat the puck into your opponent’s net? This Apple Watch version of the coin-op classic is free, with more games available via in-app purchases. Controlled with the Digital Crown, it’s a perfect gaming title for your Apple smart watch.
Snappy Word
FROM App Store
FOR Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iMessage
If you like word puzzles, you’ll love Snappy Word. Boasting 400 challenging levels, your task is to swipe the on-screen letters to make words. Find all the possible words to complete a level. It’s great for filling a spare few minutes while waiting in a queue, and you’ve always got it handy, as long as you’re wearing your watch.