From photo-sharing programs to great games, these Good Housekeeping staff-favorite apps definitely deserve a spot on your smartphone.
Waze1. Waze
Waze is a mobile navigation app that offers live maps, real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn directions.
"One of my favorite apps is Waze (for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry), a free social traffic and navigation app for drivers that uses real-time traffic updates from a network of drivers nearby who are also using the app. Drivers report traffic jams, accidents, and more - it's better than GPS because it updates traffic patterns and routes at every turn. I'll even use it in a cab to guarantee that the driver is taking the fastest possible route. One more cool feature: Waze has it's own audio technology (very similar to Siri) so that you don't have to type to report an accident/traffic jam. A driver can just wave their hand in front of the phone, and then speak the travel information they want to report." -Rachel Bowie, Associate Editor, Digital Editions
Instagram 2. Instagram
Instagram lets you apply fun effects and filters to photos you take on your phone and share them with friends and via your social networks.
"My favorite app is Instagram (for iPhone and Android). It's a great way to capture photos of your daily activities, and follow friends who are also using the app. You can also save the photos you edit to your phone and share the images with people who aren't using Instagram via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail." -Lawrence J. Whritenour JR, Associate Photo Editor
Related: Free Shopping and Deal Apps
Sky Map3. Sky Map
Sky Map helps you identify objects that appear in the night sky and lets you search for specific stars and planets as well.
"Just as impressive as the extensive Google Maps is the Sky Map (for Android). Hold your phone up to the heavens, and it superimposes a map of the galaxy, so you can identify constellations without a telescope and chart. This is a quality-of-life-enhancing app: It's romantic to take a few minutes and gaze at the stars with my husband on a clear summer night - and actually know what we're looking at!" -Brooke Kosofsky Glassberg, Merchandising Editor
Kindle4. Kindle
The Kindle app give you access to Amazon's extensive library of ebooks and sync your reading material across devices.
"I like that, with the Kindle app (for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone), I can use my iPhone or iPad to read a book and pick up where I left off on my Kindle and vice versa. And I like that, because I'm forever running out of room on my iPad, I can easily use the app to remove books from the device, store them in the cloud, and download them from the cloud anytime to another device." -Jennifer Fields, Senior Web Editor
Seafood Watch5. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app provides free, up-to-date recommendations for the most ocean-friendly, sustainable seafood, customized by region.
"I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app (for iPhone and Android). It's so easy to find out which fish to order when at a restaurant or to buy at the fish counter!" -Jessica Fox, Editorial Assistant
Related: Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
Weather Channel6. The Weather Channel
Get personalized weather forecasts, severe weather alerts, weather news, and more with The Weather Channel's mobile app.
"I own a BlackBerry and my favorite app is The Weather Channel app (for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone). I no longer have to ask anyone else what the temperature is and it takes seconds to look up weather information before I go on vacation. Also, it makes planning out my outfits for the week a breeze!" -Meg Lappe, Editorial Intern
Photoshop Express7. Adobe Photoshop Express
Get basic capabilities from Adobe's robust photo-editing software on your phone with the mobile version of Photoshop Express.
"I love the convenience of the camera on my phone, but it's still not quite up to par with the nicer cameras I own. I can get my photos one step closer to perfect with help from Adobe Photoshop Express (for iPhone and Android). This free app allows me to crop and edit photos, and give them a boost with a handful of Photoshop's advanced tools that let me adjust the exposure, contrast, color saturation, and more." -Nicole Price Fasig, GHRI Web Editor
Shazam 8. Shazam
Shazam helps your phone identify the title and artist of any music that's playing and serves up lyrics that keep time with the song.
"Shazam (free, for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone) because I use it to find song titles and artist info at least once a day. It comes in handy all the time." -Kate Westervelt, Editorial Assistant
Related: Cell Phone Buying Guide
Draw Something9. Draw Something
Draw Something is a play on Pictionary, letting you guess words that your friends draw on their phone and vice versa.
"Draw Something (for iPhone and Android)! It's a fun, creative way to share with friends that always makes me laugh." -Catherine Lo, Associate Food Editor
UrbanSpoon 10. UrbanSpoon
Shake your phone to get the UrbanSpoon slot machine rolling if you want to leave your dinner destination up to chance, or browse the app's comprehensive restaurant listings.
"UrbanSpoon (for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry) is convenient and easy to use especially when you are in a new place. Having the ability to search by price, cuisine, and location options makes it personal." -Nicole Fisher, Web Intern
For more fantastic apps, be sure to check out the rest of our top picks for free apps on GoodHousekeeping.com.
What are some of your favorite free smartphone apps? Let me know in the comments!
More from Good Housekeeping:
