34 apps I used a lot in 2025

I wasn’t planning to track the apps I use, but after seeeing a few posts on IndieWebClub Bangalore, I thought it would be a good idea.

After all, I do end up more than half of my waking hours in front of one screen or another (and sadly, I do not see that changing in the forseeable future). So there definitely is some value in tracking what I’m using (if not also how much).

Some of these apps I have been using for a while, and some are new and have changed my habits and expectations in ways I cannot think of going back from to a time without them. (The ones marked with a star below are the ones I cannot do without.)

So, here’s what I’ve been using a lot in 2025:

Browsing & other generic internet things

Zen Browser - Best browser UX by a wide margin, cannot think of going back to any other browser and not feel frustrated.

Firefox Lockwise - For password management. I really should switch to something else soon though, considering it was deprecated a long long time ago.

Namecheap - For domain registration. I have 3 domains registered with them.

Umami - For analytics. Started using it just a few days ago. Has less features, but better UX than Google Analytics, and also is open source.

Media consumption

Spotify - For music. I’ve been using it a lot more towards the end of this year than I did in previous years.

Audible - For audiobooks. Listened to 36 this year.

Letterboxd - For tracking films. Have been using it more or less every day since 2012.

Google Sheets, Storygraph, and Goodreads - For tracking what I read. I primarily use Google Sheets, but I also log on Storygraph for the stats, and use Goodreads for the reviews and to see what friends are reading.

VLC Media Player - Best thing ever made for watching videos (films especially) on a PC.

Writing & thinking tools

Obsidian - For writing long-term notes (zettelkasten), and also as my default markdown editor sometimes.

Samsung Notes - Easiest and most uncomplicated way to take short-term notes on my phone.

Astro - Not technically an app, but the framework on which this blog and the Cinema Next Door sites are built.

Substack - For sending out my blog posts as a newletter to a few friends who subscribe.

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity - For writing feedback, generating YouTube video summaries, and web search summaries respectively.

Code, design & photography

Figma - For work, for making posters, and other random design tasks. Has more or less replaced the entire Adobe suite for me (I miss using InDesign though).

Excalidraw - For messy visual thinking, mind maps, flow charts, and explaining things to others over video calls.

Antigravity - For writing code.

Adobe Lightroom Classic - For photo editing.I use the desktop only classic version, and not the new cloud-based version.

Communication & navigation

WhatsApp and Instagram DMs - For instant messaging and staying in touch with friends.

Google Meet - For video calls both at and outside work.

Google Maps - For navigating around Bangalore (and other cities); finding bus routes; and finding shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Uber - For booking cabs and autos.

Yulu - For short rides around town on the Yulu Miracle moped.

Fitness & wellbeing

Google Fit - General health tracking, which includes tracking steps, pulse rates, weight, blood pressure, etc.

Hevy - For logging my weight training sessions at the gym.

Bend - For stretching and yoga.

Misc.

Instamart - For buying groceries and other things online.

Artos and Google Sheets - For tracking my stock market investments.

SMS Organizer by Microsoft - Auto organizes SMSes based on content. Tracks spending, account balances, and card limits all just from SMS data. Love the UX, has been my default SMS app for years. (Has stopped working now for the last couple of weeks though for unknown reasons.)