The summer of 2020 may be shaping up to be a different kind of season than many of us expected or experienced in the past, but one thing will never change…our Summer App Guide! We assembled our top 12 seasonally app-ropriate apps that can keep you cool, help plan outdoor activities, and make sure kids’ brains are engaged and entertained during the summer months.
For Fun
Whether you’re able to travel this summer or need to stay local, Swim Guide will come in handy! Swim Guide helps users locate beaches, lakes, and rivers in North America and even gives water quality reports. Users can also access info about parking, amenities, and lifeguards at various facilities.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
The Meater app compliments the Meater Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer that helps users grill their perfect meal! Meater’s algorithm displays a cook time estimate and users receive audio and visual notifications on your smart device when the food is ready, meaning more time hanging with friends and family. Users can even access “Previous Cooks,” making favorites easy to repeat at any time.
Price: Free. Device starts at $69.
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
Did you or a Gen Z you know get totally robbed of the “end-of-the-year school’s out sign my yearbook!!!!” rite of passage? Downloading HAGS might soften that blow… a little. Through Snapchat, users can search and join their high school to access the class page. From here users can scroll through their classmates, pick which yearbooks to sign, and send signatures to friends.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
From the makers of Pokémon GO, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is the real-world augmented reality (AR) game inspired by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Players can cast spells, brew potions, and play with friends in real-time multiplayer battles against dangerous foes. The app even links with Health Kit so players can track steps taken while playing the game.
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
As parts of the country begin to reopen, others are still in quarantine or a semi-quarantined kind of life, and socializing is still a bit complicated for many this summer. Enter: Houseparty. Users can video chat with up to seven other friends in one “room” but have as many “rooms” as they want and go between “rooms” as often as they want. Need to spice up the standard video chat? Try out the built-in games Houseparty offers.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet, desktop
Health & Wellness
The great outdoors is the perfect place to spend a socially distant summer, but don’t let the sun burn your shoulders or your good time, download the UV Index Widget! Quickly check the UV index to see the forecast for the next seven days and use the MySkin tool to get a personalized report for any location in the world. It’s perfect for the beach, lake, or even a walk outside on a hot summer day.
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
Featured as Best of 2018 by the App Store & 2019 Webby Award Winner for Best Lifestyle App, Shine is an inclusive self-care app with meditations, positive affirmations, a gratitude journal feature, and a diverse community. Take some meditations on the go on your next summer stroll or jot down a journal entry after a socially distant picnic with friends.
Price: Free, in-app purchases available
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
This time of year, farmers markets are bursting at the seams with tons of fresh summer produce! Put those veggies to use for a meal or two with Very Veggie, a vegetarian inspired cooking app that will make the whole family’s mouth water. From quick weekday meals to decadent desserts, these sustainable recipes could just be your new, light, summer favorite.
Price: $3.99
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
Educate Yourself
Calling all curious plant lovers – PlantNet is for you! PlantNet allows users to quickly snap a picture that compares to their giant plant database. The more info given about the plant, the more accurate the results. Whether you’re taking a city stroll or hiking a more rural area, PlantNet can identify and give thorough information about thousands of different plants.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
There is no reason to fall off the reading wagon this summer with We Read Too. We Read Too is a directory of hundreds of picture, chapter, middle grade, and young adult books written by authors of color featuring main characters of color. Users can quickly browse hundreds of options and read details about each book. The app links to the user’s browser to help find ways to purchase and read their selections.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
Keep kids’ brains engaged with Lessons in Herstory, an education app that works with textbooks to educate users on women’s roles in history. Users scan any portrait of a man in their textbook and the app uses AR to bring to life forgotten stories of important women. While the app is only compatible with a limited selection of textbooks, the app is expanding soon. Users can also use the app on the Lessons in Herstory website.
Price: Free
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet
The summer of 2020 is shaping up to be a busy one, and we don’t necessarily mean rushing between swim practice, your neighbor’s BBQ, and 4th of July at the lake. The news cycle has always been ongoing, but now more than ever, it’s easy to lose important info in the shuffle. Stay in the loop with a curated and personalized audio-driven news feed that has every story tailored to your interests. Users can enable offline mode or listen on the web player, making news on the go easier than ever.
Price: Free, in app purchases available
Compatibility: Smartphone, tablet