--- title: Apple Watch: The 7 Best Apps Right Now description: A year after the Apple Watch's release, these are the best apps available for the device. canonical: https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/ author: John Patrick Pullen article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-11T16:56:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:49:50.166Z article:section: Business og:title: The 7 Best Apple Watch Apps Right Now og:description: One year in, these are the standouts og:url: https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d8dc88fed32268c/69888e953c1639cda245cce2/gettyimages-465696900.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Apple Debuts New Watch og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The 7 Best Apple Watch Apps Right Now twitter:description: One year in, these are the standouts twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d8dc88fed32268c/69888e953c1639cda245cce2/gettyimages-465696900.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The 7 Best Apple Watch Apps Right Now ## Video: Apple CEO Time Cook Announces Apple Watch Updates [Watch (HLS stream): Apple CEO Time Cook Announces Apple Watch Updates](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/53IBN9dj.m3u8) (1:17)  _Published 2016-03-21_  by [John Patrick Pullen](/author/john-patrick-pullen/)  ## John Patrick Pullen Apr 11, 2016 4:56 PM CUT  The new Apple Watch is seen on display after an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, 2015 in San Francisco, California. The new Apple Watch is seen on display after an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, 2015 in San Francisco, California.Stephen Lam—Getty Images  by [John Patrick Pullen](/author/john-patrick-pullen/)  ## John Patrick Pullen Apr 11, 2016 4:56 PM CUT Almost a year into owning the Apple Watch, I’ve developed a love/hate relationship with the device. On a positive note, it has fundamentally changed how I use my iPhone — that is to say, I use it less frequently. The downside is that there haven’t been many Watch apps that have really wowed me. Many apps take the impractical approach of shrinking their phone-sized interface down to a smaller screen. But the best Watch apps — including these seven standouts — feel purpose-built for Apple’s wearable. **Apple Pay** Though it’s one of the Apple Watch’s default apps, it’s still one of its best. Once you get over the geekiness of paying for stuff with a wave of your watch, you realize [Apple Pay](http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/ "undefined") is a fantastically convenient way to shop. Simply double clicking the Apple Watch’s side button brings your registered cards to the forefront — no need to reach for your phone or wallet to get checked out. Set it up before your next trip, and try it when paying for a cab. No cash, no card, no problems. [**HeartWatch**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/heartwatch.-heart-activity/id1062745479?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") Putting the Apple Watch’s most advanced feature — its heart rate sensor — to work, [HeartWatch](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/heartwatch.-heart-activity/id1062745479?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") is so good, you’d think Apple built the $2.99 app itself. As an everyday app, it continually monitors your heart rate, providing stats like your average, maximum, and minimum heart rate via easy-to-interpret visuals. As a workout app, it also keeps track of your heartrate zones, such as warmups, fat burning, fitness building, and high intensity. You can use it to track your sleeping heart rate, too. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/heartwatch.-heart-activity/id1062745479?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") [**iTranslate**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-voice-speak-translate/id522626820?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") Load up the free [iTranslate](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-voice-speak-translate/id522626820?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") app before embarking on your next international trip, and you’ll never encounter a language barrier. Able to translate your words into more than 90 languages, this Apple Watch app has a simple, two button interface. Tap the microphone button to use the Watch to record what you want to say. Then it will display your words in another language on the Watch’s screen. Press the speaker button to make the Watch play the translated message aloud. How do you say brilliant in Mandarin? One caveat: iTranslate requires an Internet connection. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-voice-speak-translate/id522626820?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") [**Golfshot**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/golfshot-plus-golf-gps-+-scorecard/id319897973?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") Golf-centric GPS watches are great, but what do you do with them after leaving the links? With the free [Golfshot](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/golfshot-plus-golf-gps-+-scorecard/id319897973?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") app, you don’t have to change your wristwear when you’re done with the back nine. Relaying your iPhone’s GPS data to the Apple Watch, Golfshot provides real-time data to the green, without having to whip out your smartphone. It also provides flyover previews and helps you keep track of your score. Too bad it doesn’t help your short game. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/golfshot-plus-golf-gps-+-scorecard/id319897973?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") [**MacID**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macid/id948478740?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") In a world full of hackers, thieves, and digital snoops, securing your computer with a password is a must. But pecking in your password can be a drag. The $3.99 [MacID](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macid/id948478740?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") app lets you unlock your Mac with the tap of the Apple Watch screen. Even better, it will secure your computer automatically when you (and your Watch and iPhone) walk away. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macid/id948478740?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") [**MLB.com**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mlb.com-at-bat/id493619333?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") **At Bat** Start with 162 games per year. Multiply it by 30 teams. Now answer this question: How can any baseball fan follow all the action? The free [MLB.com At Bat](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mlb.com-at-bat/id493619333?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") app can load you up with everything from box scores to broadcasts. Its wrist-worn counterpart can keep you abreast of all the scores at a glance. But the best part may be the Watch app’s pitch-tracking screen, which shows the hitter’s hot zones, displays the location of balls and strikes, and tells the velocity of the last pitch thrown. Home run. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mlb.com-at-bat/id493619333?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") [**A Tiny Game of Pong**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-tiny-game-of-pong/id1046553860?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") The Apple Watch’s small screen means it’s not suited to games that require lots of hyper-accurate tapping. A [Tiny Game of Pong](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-tiny-game-of-pong/id1046553860?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") solves that issue by smartly abandoning touch controls for the Watch’s digital crown. Simply turn the knob, and the paddle at the bottom of the screen moves, letting you return the volley, just like in the Atari classic. [**_Get it now_**](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-tiny-game-of-pong/id1046553860?mt=8&at=1000lsPY&ct=TMbestappsforapplewatch "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/"},"headline":"The 7 Best Apple Watch Apps Right Now","datePublished":"2016-04-11T16:56:25.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:49:50.166Z","description":"One year in, these are the standouts","url":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/","keywords":["Tech","Apple","Gadgets","Apple watch"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d8dc88fed32268c/69888e953c1639cda245cce2/gettyimages-465696900.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Patrick Pullen","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/john-patrick-pullen/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d8dc88fed32268c/69888e953c1639cda245cce2/gettyimages-465696900.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Apple Debuts New Watch","caption":"Apple Debuts New Watch","creditText":"Stephen Lam—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/","name":"The 7 Best Apple Watch Apps Right Now"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Apple CEO Time Cook Announces Apple Watch Updates","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/53IBN9dj/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-03-21T18:06:26.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/53IBN9dj.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/","duration":"PT1M17S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4288952/the-7-best-apple-watch-apps-right-now/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```