3 Apps To Install On Your iPhone Right Now

Apple preloads your iPhone with just about everything you need (and some stuff you don't). You have the basics, like messaging and FaceTime, as well as leisure apps like Music and Books. Most other apps are either alternatives to the native Apple app or do something that's not really essential.

However, that's not always the case. Sometimes, an app can change the way you use your phone altogether. They either make life easier, more secure, or simply give you something you never knew you needed.

Install these 3 apps on your iPhone right now, if you don't already have them.

ExpressVPN (or an alternative)

Apple devices are generally pretty resilient in the face of external threats. You're unlikely to ever get a virus, unless you jailbreak your phone, and you don't need to download any external antivirus either. Your phone's security is one of Apple's priorities.

However, what Apple simply cannot do is secure the internet itself. Just by using the internet everyday, you are putting yourself at risk of identity theft. We open ourselves up when we visit even secured websites, with our IP addresses already containing enough information to make us feel vulnerable.

A virtual private network (VPN) takes care of this threat by routing your connection through an external server and encrypting your data. There is some discussion over what the best VPN for iOS is. Personally, I'm partial to ExpressVPN. It's easy to use, reliable, works with Netflix, and is affordable.

Google Photos

The native iOS Photos app has undoubtedly evolved vastly over the years. A searchable, well-organized, database of all the pictures you've ever taken, it meets the basic requirements. However, it is nothing on the Google Photos app.

The free Google Photos app will automatically add your photos to its library, organize them into albums, and give you a range of options to play around with. You can make your own albums, collages, and animations. But the really cool part of Google Photos is the "Assistant."

In the Assistant tab, Google will give you its own ideas of what to do with your pics. This includes stitching disparate photos together to give you a panorama without you having to go to the effort. It suggests effects and more.

Finally, Google Lens allows you to search a photo for matches online, and can lift text from an object. This feature has recently been added to the Google Search app, but it's still helpful to have to use with the photos you've already taken.

Google Search

Which leads us neatly to the Google Search app itself. If you haven't used the Google Search app, you might not realize you need it. After all, can't you just search in Safari?

Google's Search app is so much more than a search engine. It creates a feed for you, based on your interests (which you can feed it) as well as on your search history. It reminds you when your favorite bands release new albums or when a TV show returns from hiatus. It keeps you updated on flights you've booked for.

It also comes with the Gboard app. Gboard is a keyboard that hands down beats any other. It has swipe capabilities and excellent recommendations. You can search and send while in a chat on iMessage or Whatsapp. And you can switch easily between emojis and GIFs. Download it now, and you won't go back.