12 built-in iOS apps you should replace with third-party apps

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  • Mail

    Mail

    If you're a Gmail user then I recommend Inbox by Gmail. However, if you use a different email service - or you use several - then I suggest you take a look at Microsoft Outlook, which is one of the best - if not the best - mail apps for iOS out there

    But there are plenty of other apps you could choose from.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Camera

    Camera

    I've tried dozens of camera apps for iOS and tend to switch between Camera+ (which offers tons of control and has an awesome slow shutter feature) and Manual, which is the closest to having a dSLR with me when I've only got my iPhone.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Messages

    Messages

    There are a lot of alternatives that spring to mind (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), and which you choose really depends on what you family, friends, and work colleagues use. But if I'm going to replace Messages with anything, I'd go for Signal, because if it's good enough for Edward Snowden, it's good enough for me.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Safari

    Safari

    For me, my browser of choice is Google Chrome. But others might prefer Opera Coast, or Firefox, or something completely different such as Dolphin. At the end of the day they are all web browsers, and which you prefer is largely down to personal preference.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Calculator

    Calculator

    Lots of calculator apps to choose from, but my favorite is PCalc Lite, which even comes with an awesome Apple Watch app.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Clock

    Clock

    I like the Start app, not only because it's an easy to use alarm, timer, and stopwatch app, but also because it can be used to trigger certain apps (which include Facebook, Fantastical, Instagram, Music, Pandora, Path, Reeder, Rdio, Safari, Sparrow, Spotify and Tweetbot) when the timer reaches zero.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Calendar

    Calendar

    Let me tell you that there are a lot of calendar apps in the Apple App Store, and finding the right one can the tricky and time-consuming.

    Three that I've found to be particularly good are, in no particular order, Fantastical 2 (which comes with a great Apple Watch app), Tiny Calendar (which has some of the best layouts I've seen), and miCal (which has some really nice features such as built-in weather and a birthday manager).

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Notes

    Notes

    Without a doubt the winner here is Evernote, because it integrates with your workflow so well no matter what platform you are on. However, hardcore Microsoft Office users might want to give OneNote a go.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Reminders

    Reminders

    Who doesn't need reminding about tasks? While I think that which reminders app people get along with best is a matter of personal preference, I suggest those looking to replace the built-in Reminders app take a look at Todoist (which is great for people who like to collaborate) or Wunderlist (which offers a number of professional features as part of the Pro subscription).

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Weather

    Weather

    Three good replacements for the Weather app spring to mind. The best is undoubtedly Dark Sky, but that's going to cost you. For those who'd rather have a free app, The Weather Channel app or Weather Underground are also excellent.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Maps

    Maps

    While there are a number of good in-car navigation apps out there. When it comes to general mapping, the best alternative for the stock iOS Maps app is Google Maps.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Stocks

    Stocks

    If the Stocks app isn't doing it for you, then an app like Stock TickerPicker might give you access to the information you need.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Messages

There are a lot of alternatives that spring to mind (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger), and which you choose really depends on what you family, friends, and work colleagues use. But if I'm going to replace Messages with anything, I'd go for Signal, because if it's good enough for Edward Snowden, it's good enough for me.

Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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iPhone Apple Mobile OS Mobility Enterprise Software

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