The 10 Most Beautifully-Designed Apps Money Can Buy

We take a long look at the best-looking apps available for your Android and iOS phones.

May 31, 2014
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Apps: they're you're friend, assistant, and occasional savior. However, more often than not, they look just plain awful. We're not trying to be shallow here, but when you have such a beautiful Samsung or Apple phone, why is it that developers so often fail to match the aesthetic grace of their host hardware? 

We've seen it all before: clunky game apps, unbearable travel planners, and ugly note-taking tools. But don't fret. It's still not too late to get a little bit of spring cleaning done. This is the kind that can be accomplished in a few painless minutes. 

With highlights including Facebook's Paper app, the foodie heaven that is Yummly, and the essential Taasky, our list of the 10 Most Beautifully-Designed Apps That Money Can Buy is what you need to keep your phone looking fresh both inside and out.  

Cleartrip

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android

Don't make booking your next vacation or trip any more of a hassle than it needs to be. With Cleartrip, you have a fast, aesthetically-pleasing companion that will guide you toward low prices and cheap flights when you're working out your oncoming voyage. Going on websites and filling out endless forms can be dizzying and annoying, and the sites themselves are often eyesores. If you're looking for an easy and efficient way to get where you want to go, then Cleartrip is for you.

eFamily

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android

If you're looking to set up a website for you family, but you need something more heavy-duty than a standard Facebook Group, eFamily is the app you'll want to consult. Formerly known as Origami, the app allows you to connect your eFamily webpage with your phone and share updates, content, and more without having to lug around your laptop. If you're trying to keep your family updated about a trip you're taking around the world or you're just at work and want to let them know that you miss them, there's no better way to do it than with eFamily.

Nice Weather

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android

The weather apps provided on your phone by Apple or Android are useful, but often boring visually. With Nice Weather, form and function are combined to create an app that is wonderful to look at, no matter how bad the weather may be outside. On top of being a treat to the eyes, the app also offers information on current temperature, wind direction, and changes in temperature throughout the day. Available for free, Nice Weather makes dumping your phone's default app a no-brainer.

Umano

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android

It's hard to have time to read these days. With how much information is available at our eyes and fingertips we all want to be more literate, but carving out a chunk of your day to sit down and read the paper seems impossible. With Umano, you don't have to worry about scheduling out time anymore. Instead, the app will read the news to you from anywhere you'd like. Simply pick from the selection of news that they've narrated and you'll be able to listen to it in the subway, while you're running, or anywhere else on the go.

#nwplyng

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android

Music is always better when it's consumed with friends and family around; it's an artform that is meant to be shared. With #nwplyng, you're able to let your connected friends know about the moments when you listen to your favorite song, whether they're around or not. For instance, say a tune comes on that reminds you of the family vacation you took to Disney World a decade ago. With #nwplyng, you can select the song, add context to it, and then share it on any pertinent social media with the fam. Trust us, mom is going to love it.

Peek Calendar

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Price: $2.99
Platform: iOS

There's nothing more frustrating than looking at your calendar and seeing that it's full of scribbled out dates and scheduling clutter. Thankfully, Peek Calendar is here to help streamline your life by offering a slicker and less-burdened planner for your everyday existence. Created by Square Mountains, the app offers easy ways to clean up or fill out your daily schedule using simple gestures and an intuitive layout. It may not feature swimsuit models, but this calendar is still a dream to look at.

Yummly

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS

A food app should be just as fun to look at as the actual food you're making. With Yummly, that mission is accomplished in spades as the team responsible for its development has managed to put together an app that offers enticing food pics, helpful grocery lists, recipe recommendations and more. Available only for iOS, you can be sure that Android users are starving for a foodie app like Yummly.

Taasky

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Price: $1.99
Platform: iOS

For your day-to-day activities, nothing is more useful than a good To-Do list. However, writing it out on paper makes it easy target to get lost in your backpack or briefcase. And simply putting it on your computer means it will likely drown in the sea of windows and tabs you have open. With Taasky, you can have this necessary planner right on your phone, neatly organized with color-coded lists and a useful reminder system. Developed by CLEEVIO s.r.o., this app makes forgetfulness a thing of the past.

Paper

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS

Used in conjunction with Facebook, Paper is the perfect app for sorting out your NewsFeed and digesting all the updates and photos that get thrown at you everyday. With appealing layouts, tasteful presentation, and a customizable feed, the app is essential for anyone looking to get something useful out of their everyday Facebook experience. There's no better way to look at visual content on social media than with Paper, and the simplicity and ease of its design make scrolling and surfing a breeze.

WeTransfer

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Price: Free
Platform: iOS

If you're trying to easily share files with friends and Dropbox isn't doing it for you, then consider WeTransfer, the high-quality alternative in online file-transferring. The greatest thing about WeTransfer is that they've managed to make money off of their eye-catching design. The wallpapers that the app uses are actually advertisements from creative professionals looking to feature their work. For users, the pairing is an artistic and functional win-win.

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