If you are an iOS user today, you are in luck. Of recent, Apple announced support for widgets in iOS 14. For android users, widgets have been available for years. Widgets allow you to place an app icon on your home screen and use them without launching the app.
There are many widget apps for Android that you can download and install on your device. These apps offer everything from news tickers to calculators to photo frames.
Widgets are not just for adding functionality to your device; they also serve as a way to personalize your phone by displaying information about topics that you find interesting. Sometimes, all you may need is to access information on one of your applications without having to actively open the app.
Whether you want to turn your Home Screen into an information hub or get the essential updates right on your Lock Screen, widgets would help.
What is a Widget?
Widgets are small applications that can be placed on the home screen of your device. They are mainly used to show important information to the user without them needing to open another application. Depending on the type of widget you are using, they display information like time, weather reports, directions, and many more. They help to ensure that your phone is fully functional, saving you the time you would have needed to open the app to check something as easy as the weather.
Widgets provide a quick and easy view of an application’s most important information or functionality without your leaving the home screen. There are different types of widgets. They are-
• Information widgets. These information widgets are resources that you can easily get information from. Some of the information you can get on the information widget are information on weather, sports scores, time and date, and stock figures.
• Collection widgets that display multiple similar elements derived from an app like an article collection from a news app or images from a gallery app.
• Control widgets. These widgets allow you use to control the application on your phone without having to open the application.
How to Use Apps with Widgets?
All widgets have the same use, depending on what type of app with widget it is. What you should do when you want to use apps with widgets are-
• Download your favorite widget app from Google Play Store
• Navigate to your home screen and long press on any blank space on the home screen. You have the option to pinch on the home screen to access the widget.
• After this, several options would show on your screen, you are to pick “choose widgets”
• Then you should just scroll down until you find the widget of the app you just installed on your device.
• Place the widget on your home screen, then you can use your widget with ease.
10 Best Apps with Widgets
1. 1Weather
Rated as the best 1weather app widget, the weather allows you to take a look at what the weather today would be like, without necessarily having to open the app. The information this app gives is detailed weather information in the form of widgets without opening the app.
The downside to using this app widget is that it runs ads. To get rid of the ads, you should upgrade to 1weather pro. It also has multiple widget options, allowing you to pick the widget that matches your preferences.
2. Google Keep
This app widget is rated as the best notes widget. This popular note-taking app has enabled the ability to add an app widget directly on the home screen. Using the Google Keep widget, you can quickly read your important notes directly on the home screen.
You can also easily scroll directly in the widget to view old notes. You also get quick shortcuts for adding a new note or editing a current note, though it will open the app to make these changes.
3. Battery Widget Reborn
Rated as the best battery widget, Battery Widget Reborn is a widget that adds the battery percentage widget on the home screen. In addition to this, the widget can also customize a bunch of things while adding the widget to your home screen.
You can customize the color, information to be displayed in a circle, turn the charging indicator on or off, to name a few. The downside to the app is that it has ads. You can, however, pay $3.49 for an ad-free experience with the app. This widget, which is the best of its kind is free to download.
4. TickTick
Rated as the best productivity widget is TickTick. If you are a fan of being productive and efficient at the same time, you should download this widget app. The app allows you to add widgets directly on your home screen, using which you can quickly glance at all the essential tasks and commitments that are needed to be met. Further, this saves you from opening the app manually to check every tiny detail, helping you become more efficient.
5. IFTTT
Rated as the best automation widget is IFTTT. It allows you to set custom automated tasks which makes sending that next email ever so easy. It also allows you to add toggles for these automated actions directly on the home screen.
When you add this app widget, in performing an automated action, you can easily toggle it on using the home screen widget. You would be given the option of large and small, and you can choose from them, based on your preference.
6. Quotes Widget
Rated as the best quotes app widget is Quotes Widgets. It is an excellent app aimed at trying to keep you motivated at all times. The app has a vast collection of motivational quotes. Once you have added this beautiful widget to your home screen, it cycles among various quotes throughout the week.
This widget allows you to make special customizations like adjusting the colors, background transparency, and more. This app widget is not only free to use; it also does not have any ads.
7. Countdown Days and App widget
This widget app is most important when you are looking forward to an event or a date, countdown days, an app widget. You can also event in the app and then add the widget to your home screen.
Moreover, it displays the event with a countdown of the number of days left, making it more interesting. This app widget is free to use and also does not run ads. If you have a friend’s birthday to look forward to, or even a big day and you need planning, you should consider downloading this app widget.
8. Owly for Twitter
Rated as the best Twitter widget is Owly for Twitter. With this widget, you can view tweets on your home screen without having to open the Twitter app. Using the app is extremely easy. Just log in with your Twitter account in the app and add the widget to your home screen.
You can add shortcuts for new tweets, search tweets, and more. You can scroll through tweets, refresh to update tweets, and more. In addition, you get a bunch of themes like Light, Dark, Bluish, and many more. It is one of the best apps with widgets in 2022.
9. Chronus Information Widget
Rated as the best all-in-one widget is the Chronus information widget. As the name connotes, this widget does everything a widget should do. If you want a to-do list, a calculator, or even a widget to check the weather, this widget is your bet.
Chronus is smartly designed to display all the essential information and weather in a single widget. In addition, you get a host of widget options to choose the one that matches your requirements.
It also has a dark mode that displays the widgets in black instead of the traditional transparent way. However, this app widget runs on ads, and you may be required to subscribe to get rid of the ads.
10. To-Do List
Ranked as the best-to-do widget, the To-do-list app widget is perfectly set up to ensure that you make the most out of your completion of tasks. This widget ensures that you complete your daily tasks.
After creating a list of tasks that need to be performed in the app, you can add a widget for it. Immediately you make changes in the app, it will automatically reflect these changes on the home screen widget. This app widget ensures you keep focused on your task.
Conclusion
Tablets and phones are technological marvels that entertain, let you work from any location, and keep you connected with friends, family, and coworkers. With the right app, you can transform your humble cell or slate into a mobile movie theater, workstation, art canvas, recipe manager, and so much more. Finding the best app widget is one of the best ways to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. With widgets, you get timely information from your favorite apps at a glance. With iOS 14 you can use widgets on your Home Screen to keep your favorite information at your fingertips.
The quotes widget and Chronus Information Widget have been ranked as the best apps with widgets in 2022.
Yes. Apps with widgets drain the battery of Android and iOS phones. Widgets are shortcuts for applications that help the users access some features of the application without needing to load up the application.
Yes. You can create your widgets. Not only do you get new functionality on your home screen, but you can also create it in your unique style. Using widgets, you can add reminders, calendars, photos, batteries, and a lot more to the home screen.
Widgets are useful, but too many can make your Home screen feel cramped. No worries, you can remove the widgets to tidy them up. Just touch and hold the widget you want to remove, and then tap Remove from Home.
References
- beebom.com/useful-iphone-widgets/
- androidrepublic.tech/these-are-the-top-10-most-useful-android-widgets-in-2022/
- techviral.net/best-android-widgets/
- imore.com/best-today-view-widgets
- rigorousthemes.com/blog/best-iphone-widgets/
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