Apps which make things effortless

Whether you’re an app minimalist or you have so many you’ve lost track of what half of them do, chances are you’ve come across at least one that genuinely changed your life. Or at least made it a little easier.

And that’s what this list is all about: slightly-less-than-well-known apps we think can help the coming year feel a little more effortless (chosen in part by our SMARTY Community).

In no particular order…

FairEmail

An open-source Android app which makes managing emails a breeze.

If you find yourself constantly jumping between multiple inboxes, trying to find sensitive bits of information in a sea of notifications, junk and spam, we have the app for you (as long as you’re on Android).

FairEmail is a great email client for users who are concerned about privacy. It’s free of ads, free of connections to third-party servers and only needs minimal permissions.

It might not be as slick as the AI-enhanced mainstream clients like Gmail, or Outlook, but its stripped-back interface is enjoyed by over half a million users.

If you want an email client that’s open source, community-audited and just plain-old-works, it might be time to check out FairEmail.

Todoist

The ultimate app for staying on top of your to-do list.

It’s the new year and your to-do-list is overwhelming. You’re not worried though because you installed Todoist: the world’s number one to-do list app (according to them).

There’s a paid version, but the free tier contains pretty much everything you’d need. It helps you create tasks and organise them by project.

It even works across your devices so no matter how chaotic things get, you can access your to-do-lists wherever. Smart and simple to use, Todoist is a must-have if you’re prioritising getting things done in 2026.

Worried about the weather derailing your plans? Check out our picks for UK’s best weather apps.

Expensify

An app to help you stay on top of your finances.

You don’t need to be an accountant to stay in the black in 2026. All you need is Expensify.

The free version lets you scan receipts and automatically extract the date, merchant, amount, or any other relevant information you need.

It even lets you keep track of tricky things like trips by distance or miscellaneous businesses expenses.

Whether you’re an individual or an enterprise of 20 people or less Expensify is our pick to help you effortlessly stay on top of your finances.

If budgeting is your priority in 2026, we’ve got a list of great budgeting apps to help you stay on top of your finances.

Insight Timer

A meditation app you can effortlessly customise to your needs.

You can probably already name one or two big wellness apps, but we thought it was important to put a quality freebie on this list.

The free version of Insight Timer doesn’t just give you thousands of guided meditations, but the ability to create fully customisable mindfulness plans to help take the effort out of your daily mindfulness practice.

Just like how we believe your mobile provider should be simple, intuitive and only provide what you truly need, we think inner peace should be the same.

Wanderlog

The travel app that makes it easier to get the most out of trip.

Travelling is a common New Year’s resolution. But what about the quality of that travel? That’s where Wanderlog comes in. Imagine: shareable itineraries. Mapped out journeys and locations. Easy budget tracking. Flight and accommodation integration. Packing lists. Local recommendations. And that’s just the free version.

If you want to do more travelling in 2026, Wanderlog is the essential companion, at your side for each leg of your journey.

Want more apps to help you plan an effortless bank holiday getaway this year? Check out this post for more of our favourites.

Biscuit

The app that helps you take care of your dog and rewards you for it.

While these apps help you effortlessly keep your New Year’s resolutions, it might be completely sane and normal to wonder how your pets are keeping theirs.

Luckily, we found Biscuit, the app that helps you keep your dog healthy by helping you track things like walks, treatments and vaccines.

We love how this app rewards you with vouchers you can spend at places like Tesco, M&S, Costa and more, just for taking care of your dog and without needing a paid subscription.

With Biscuit, 2026 can be your dog’s year too.

The SMARTY App

The one-stop app to let you customise your SIM plan.

Sure, we might be biased, but when it comes to effortlessly managing your SIM, the SMARTY App offers an unparalleled user experience. You can check your usage, activate your SIM, refer your friends and more.

This app does the best job of emphasising straightforward account management over confusing extras, bundles or outsourcing you to customer service if for any reason you’re unsatisfied with what you’re spending.

It’s one convenient place for you to manage all your mobile needs. It doesn’t get more effortless than that.

Big thanks to SMARTY Community members LKD70, CaseyS and JJP2 for their recs. Check out where we found these recommendations on our Community page and join to learn more about how you can get the most out of your phone as a SMARTY user.

And thanks for reading our blog on the best apps to help you have an effortless 2026.

Disclaimer: This article includes SMARTY, our own app. We have no affiliation with the other products listed, and all recommendations reflect our genuine reviews.