If you’re lost in the world of iMessage apps, but know you want to get started, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of five essential iMessage apps that no iPhone should be without… they’re just far too useful. They also happen to be free as an added bonus. Check them out.
Venmo
Venmo is a phenomenal service for sending and receiving money on the fly and it doesn’t cost a dime. All you need to do is securely log in with Facebook and then link your bank account to your Venmo account. From there, you can either request money from someone or pay someone right within their iMessage conversation. Money you receive stays in your Venmo balance until you decide to withdraw it to your bank account. I’ve seen Venmo used to pay someone for running an errand, covering a check at a restaurant, or splitting a monthly bill with roommates. The social aspect is built in so you get to see how your friends use it without seeing any amounts spent or received. Venmo is free and currently only available in the United States, but the service has expressed interest in expanding internationally.
IMDb
IMDb is the most comprehensive movie database on the Internet. If you want to go see a movie with friends and need to decide on a title, you need the IMDb iMessage app. Even if sending showtimes and locations isn’t supported where you are, you can still browse movies available and send the links in conversations so everyone is in the know. IMDb also works with movies of the past too, so you can also recommend a movie to a friend from years and decades ago to check out.
SwiftGift
SwiftGift lets you send real gifts to people while only having their phone numbers. This app is a lifesaver if you forget someone’s birthday or event and need to quickly send a gift along. Just go to the SwiftGift app and pick out a present. The recipient gets a text message notification that someone sent a gift, and now all they have to do is fill in the delivery address and wait for the gift to arrive. SwiftGift is free (though the gifts themselves are not) and available in United States and United Kingdom.
Tinder
Bear with me on this one because I promise it’s not what it seems. Yes, Tinder is a dating app and obviously some people don’t need one of those, but what everyone could benefit from is a convenient way to share multiple photos at once. Tinder now comes with an iMessage app called Stacks which has oddly nothing to do with dating. Instead, from iMessage, you can pick several different photos from your camera roll and send them in one “stack” to someone else. They get to vote on which pictures they like and which they don’t. Basically, it’s a really fun way to have friends approve or disapprove of different looks, outfits or general photographs. It’s free too.
Yelp
You probably already know what Yelp is and thanks to iMessage, now it’s even better. Yelp is your go-to for figuring out which restaurant, bar or really any venue is best. Now, you can send Yelp ratings and reviews directly in iMessage so when you’re picking a place to go with friends, you can collaborate based on the Yelp links you send each other. They’re complete with these reviews, plus photos, affordability rating and more. It should make planning in large group chats a little less stressful. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
