Must-Have Apps for Moms!

With a million things to do and a million directions to do them in, busy moms can use all the help we can get!  Check out the top apps recommended for moms by readers like you.  For the complete brainstorming session on our HowDoesShe Facebook page, click HERE.

Scheduling & Lists

1.  Cozi (FREE): manages every aspect of family life from each person’s schedule, grocery lists, meals, chores–everything!  All in one place!  This was the #1 recommended app by readers.

 2. Wunderlist (FREE): not only creates a list for every even in life from daily to-do’s to vacations and groceries, but you can also share your lists with family and friends.  Highly recommended by HowDoesShe readers!

3. Evernote (FREE or $5 a month to upgrade):  from short lists to extensive research, Evernote keeps your ideas organized and focused.  You can clip web articles, capture handwritten notes and snap photos for future reference.  Great for working moms, teachers, and business-savvy women.

Menu Planning and Recipes

4. AnyList (FREE): quickly create grocery shopping lists, share them, and sync with family and friends.  You can also store and organize your recipes for quick access while shopping!

5. Food Planner (FREE):  keep meal plans, grocery lists and access over 1 million recipes from any device.

6. Allrecipes Dinner Spinner (FREE): a personal favorite of mine and plenty of other readers, access the ever-popular Allrecipes.com recipes and ratings on your device.  The search options are my fave!

7. Paprika Recipe Manager ($4.99): so many people raved about this, I just may splurge to have it!  When it’s time to get cooking, you’ve got to have your phone or device there in the kitchen with you, right?  Paprika seamlessly syncs your recipes, grocery lists to all of your devices, plus it’s interactive and lets you cross off ingredients after you’ve used them…brilliant!

8. Ziplist (FREE):  Save time and money every time you grocery shop, search over 1,300,000 recipes, and see grocery list items sorted how YOU shop.

*Update: Sadly, Ziplist is no longer available.

 Shopping: Saving Time & Money

9. Shop Savvy for  Apple or Windows (FREE) : Scan barcodes of any product and get all of the best prices at nearby stores and on the Internet.  Great for stores who honor competitor prices!

10. RedLaser (FREE): voted “top 10 must have apps” by The New York Times, RedLaser is a barcode scanner and shopping assistant that lets you compare prices, see reviews, and search for products, stores, and deals.

11. Walmart Savings Catcher (FREE): Every time you shop at Walmart, simply scan your receipt and this app will search for lower prices for every item you bought.  If it finds a lower price, you get the difference in a Walmart gift card.

12. Target Cartwheel (FREE): Get extra savings that aren’t advertised in the store.  Clip offers you’d like to use, then show the barcode to the cashier and save a wad of cash!

Coupons and Savings

13. RetailMeNot (FREE): We all know and love this coupon code site that saves us hundreds–now get the app you can take with you to any retail store!

14. iBotta (FREE): Get actual cash back from thousands of items you buy!  Before your go shopping, find rebates on your favorite brands, then after shopping, tap the “Redeem” button to scan your receipt and start earning.

15. Checkout51 (FREE): earn cash back when you buy your favorite brands.  Readers claim they have saved tons on groceries this way.

16. Key Ring (FREE): Throw all of those bulky plastic loyalty cards to the curb.  Key Ring puts all of your cards on your phone so you can easily scan them at the store instead of searching your entire purse for them!

Fitness and Exercise

17. MapMyFitness (FREE): uses your mobile GPS to track runs and walks.  It records your duration, distance, pace, and calories burned.

18. Nike + (FREE): Track your route, distance, time, calories, and access your music while you run with this great running app.  You can also challenge friends and join in on other challenges.

19. MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker (FREE): Get access to the nutrition and calorie info for over 3 million foods, plus make weight goals and track them.

 Mom Essentials

20. Mom Maps (Free): Helps you find family fun places like parks, playgrounds, kids’ museums, indoor play areas, and more at whatever location you may be.

21. Mama Bear (Free): See where your kids are on a map and get alerts when they arrive or leave.  You can also get alerts when your child is tagged in a photo,  there is bad language or signs of bullying on your child’s Facebook or Instagram accounts.

22. Chore Pad($4.99, iPhone & iPad): An engaging way to teach your child the responsibility of chores.  Organize your family’s duties, sync between all devices, and interact with fun payout rewards.

23. Web MD (FREE): Before you run your child to the doctor, or worry yourself sick, use the symptom checker on the new WebMD app.  You can research conditions, check symptoms, access drug treatment information, and search for hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies on the go.

24. Artikive ($4.99): This super cool app allows you to take, tag, and store images of your child’s art work in seconds.  You can then turn your child’s Artikive into a book for gifts and keepsakes, or share with grandma and grandpa!

Budgeting 

25. Mint (FREE): Handle your finances all in one place.  Mint organizes and categorizes your spending so you can see where every dime goes and make better money decisions.  Our readers raved about this one!

26. YNAB (You Need A Budget) (The app is free, but the $60 desktop software is required.  You can get a free 34-day trial):  Many readers said this budgeting tool is totally worth it.

  What must-have apps could YOU not live without?