What are some of your app-solute must-haves? Most of us would agree that it’s hard to do without direct messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram nowadays as they help us stay in touch with our friends and loved ones. Of course, we have our go-to social media tools too, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok that keep us up to date on the buzziest topics and trends.
Beyond these key platforms, there’s still a plethora of mobile applications out there that we can easily gain access to at a touch of our fingertips that are designed to suit every want and need. From user-friendly organisational tools that will help to boost your productivity or informational resource tools that can educate you on living more sustainably, read on as we highlight seven women-founded mobile applications that are deserving of a spot on your home screen.
Tired of endless scrolling? These women-created apps help you swap stress for self-care and self-improvement.
1. Organise your life with 24me
Available on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) and Google Play Store.
Scheduling work meetings. Filing taxes and claims. Making time for a long-overdue dinner date with the other half. When life gets incredibly hectic, wouldn’t it be nice to have a “Personal Assistant” by your side to remind you of your upcoming tasks? Meet 24me, a free-to-download productivity app that taps on Machine Learning, Big Data technologies and Artificial Intelligence to provide users with “anticipatory information” when they need it most.
“We took it as our mission and we tried to come up with a time management solution by looking at ourselves, as busy people with families,” shared 24me’s co-founder Liat Mordechay Hertanu, who developed the app with her business and romantic partner Gil Hertanu.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: 24me is a one-stop shop for all your productivity needs. Instead of toggling between different organisational apps such as your calendar, phone and email, 24me allows you to manage your schedule in one place with in-built features. P.S. It also comes with a “Procrastination Fighter” function, which notifies you to work on your overdue tasks whenever you have an open slot in your calendar.
2. Get movin’ with Classpass
Available on the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play store.
Gym memberships and fitness class packages can cost up to thousands of dollars a year. Plus, it can be tough to commit to a single fitness centre if you’d prefer to keep your options open and try out different experiences before deciding on the ones that you’d like the most. On the flip side, having too many options for you to choose from might leave you feeling frustrated too.
To solve this common woe that many fitness enthusiasts face, dancer Payal Kadakia founded ClassPass, an app that connects users to millions of fitness and wellness industries in 30 countries worldwide. “I didn’t want to build a product for a month. I wanted to build a lifestyle. And the biggest thing we’d discovered was people loved variety. The trend we’d hit on was that fitness could be fun and exciting and something new that people want to do,” shared Payal.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: With the app’s monthly subscription service, you’ll be given a number of credits that you can use to redeem for classes or services of your choice. This not only motivates you to prioritise your health but keeps your fitness journey fresh and exciting as well.
3. Design visual content with Canva
Available on the App Store (iPhone & iPad) and Google Play Store.
Are you the “the artistic one” in your family who’s always tasked to prepare emotional, photomontages for your parents’ birthdays and wedding anniversaries? Or are you an emerging content creator who’s new to creating fun and engaging layouts for your own website? Graphic design platform Canva might just be what you need to take your creative works to the next level, especially if professional software such as Adobe Photoshop seems to be too daunting at the moment for you.
Co-founded by Filipino-Australian Melanie Perkins in 2012, the platform features an extremely user-friendly interface that provides users with a huge variety of design templates that they can easily modify according to their needs — whether it’s an event poster for school or an Instagram video post for your profile.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: Canva gives you access to all the key functions and features that you’d need from a professional photo editing software, sans the hefty subscription price tag and complicated-looking features.
4. Shop sustainably with Good On You
Available on the App Store (iPhone, iPad) and Google Play Store.
Fashion and sustainability are inextricably linked in today’s day and age, as we battle against climate change and limited resources and fight for ethical production, equal wage and opportunities. With more brands hopping onto the “clean and green” bandwagon, it can be tough to discern which organisations actually walk the talk in terms of sustainable fashion.
Fortunately, there’s the Good On You app, which has assessed over 3,000 clothing companies and their impact on people, animals and the planet so that users can make more informed purchases online and in-store. Co-founded by Sandra Capponi, who was the former Corporate and Social Responsibility adviser for the National Australia Bank, the app counts actress Emma Watson among its faithful supporters.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: It takes away all the confusing, web engine search work that you need to undergo in order to learn more about a clothing brand’s stance on sustainability. Furthermore, with the app’s newly introduced “Location” feature that allows you to find sustainable brands near you, you can be even more empowered to enjoy fashion more consciously.
5. Track your cycle with Clue
Available on the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play Store.
Let’s talk about periods. There are days when you forget your period is coming or your PMS symptoms are all over the place. This is where Clue comes in. Clue is a period tracker that predicts your next cycle by analysing data and providing insights into your health, helping you understand patterns unique to your body.
Co-founded by Ida Tin, a Danish tech entrepreneur who also coined the word ‘FemTech,’ created Clue to empower women when it comes to their bodies. The app does more than just predict your next period. It helps women tune into their cycle and understand what each phase signifies. "I think having data that shows what's actually going on is really helpful, it enables us to go and advocate for ourselves when we go to the doctor's office," Ida shared in an interview with the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: Everyone’s cycle is different, and an unpredictable period is more common than you might think. By understanding different phases, like the follicular and luteal phases, you can start to anticipate and respond to your body’s needs.
6. Start meal prepping with Kitchen Stories
Available on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV) and Google Play Store.
Cooking isn’t always easy, and recipes can sometimes be hard to follow. But Kitchen Stories can help make you feel like you could impress Gordon Ramsay with a home-cooked meal. Verena Hubertz and Mengting Bönsch co-founded the app to simplify the cooking process for those who aren’t chefs but just want a good meal.
Both co-founders shared in an interview with VentureBeat back in 2014 that most recipe apps at the time weren’t user-friendly. Mengting found cooking videos inspiring but lacking in details, while Verena often struggled with the technical terms in recipes. Kitchen Stories was meant to address those issues. The app has over a thousand recipes to help people cook confidently with a personalised and guided cooking experience.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: If you’re in your healthy-eating era and keen on meal prepping, but cooking feels stressful, Kitchen Stories has you covered. With easy-to-follow recipes, instructional videos, and step-by-step photos, you can whip up whatever you’re craving or prepare meals in advance with ease.
7. Embrace solo travelling with NomadHer
Available on the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play Store.
If you love travelling, especially solo, NomadHer is the travel app for you. Founded by Hyojeong Kim, this app connects women with potential travel buddies worldwide. Cool, right?
A lot of us are busy, and adulting can get in the way of planning that next girls' trip, making solo travel a good option. But travelling alone can sometimes feel isolating, which is why Hyojeong created NomadHer — to ease those concerns and help women see solo travel as a way to connect with others and with themselves.“Because I travelled alone, I really had time to think about who I am. Every new solo journey makes me feel confident and brave,” she shared on the NomadHer website.
Why it’s home screen-worthy: Building an itinerary is easy when there’s a community sharing past and upcoming travels to destinations you want to go to. Whether you’re looking for underrated gems or need advice, the NomadHer community has answers and can even arrange meet-ups so you can explore the place together.
Which of these apps are you most intrigued by?
(Cover photos from: Pexels and @24meapp)
First published on: 13 April 2021. Last updated: 7 November 2024.
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