My Go-To Toolkit: 10 iPhone Apps That Revolutionize My Workflow

Explore my favorite tools that enhance productivity and make managing tasks a breeze.

Sadullah M. Bağ
7 min readJun 26, 2024
Photo by Alvaro Perez on Unsplash

In my day-to-day life, I’ve found a few standout tools that really make life easier. From jotting down thoughts in a beautifully designed note-taking app to squeezing every last bit of space out of a crowded PDF, the right apps can make all the difference. In this blog, I’ll be sharing the top ten iPhone apps that have seamlessly integrated into my workflow, adding not only functionality but a dash of fun to my daily tasks. Whether it’s managing my schedule or backing up my notes, these apps have stood the test of time.

1. Craft

Craft transforms the way you handle documents and notes. With its intuitive use of markdown, you can effortlessly create, manage, and structure your content — whether you’re online or off. Its robust collaboration tools enable seamless sharing and real-time feedback, making it ideal for team projects. Plus, Craft isn’t just about writing; it’s about bringing your notes to life with rich media integrations, smart organization features, and powerful AI assistants that enhance your productivity by automating mundane tasks like summarizing documents or even rephrasing content to fit different styles. Whether you’re drafting a quick memo or compiling a comprehensive report, Craft offers a sophisticated yet user-friendly platform to elevate your document management.

  • Craft Plus plan: $8/month
  • Craft via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

2. NotePlan

NotePlan redefines the way you manage your daily workflow by seamlessly integrating note-taking and scheduling into one responsive calendar. Every task and note you enter is automatically organised, tagged and becomes part of your daily agenda, giving you a bird’s eye view of your upcoming commitments. It supports Markdown for clean formatting, ensuring that everything from quick memos to detailed project plans are both readable and accessible. NotePlan also keeps your data safe with robust iCloud backups, so lost notes are a thing of the past. With features such as hotkey support, NotePlan is designed to enhance productivity across all your Apple devices, providing a smooth and efficient user experience wherever you go.

  • NotePlan Plus plan: $9.99/month
  • NotePlan via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

3. Timemator

Timemator transforms your project management by automating the tracking process and integrating your activities into a seamless timeline. Whether you’re managing one project or juggling several, this tool simplifies tracking without any manual input from you — just set your rules and Timemator does the rest. It caters to a wide range of professionals by recognising specific tasks, whether you’re designing in Sketch or coding in Xcode. For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, Timemator offers a traditional timer with start/stop functionality for customised time management. In addition, its detailed reports provide insight into your productivity, with the option to track finances by assigning hourly rates to projects, ensuring that every minute counts financially. This makes Timemator not just a time tracker, but a comprehensive tool for effectively managing both time and revenue.

4. Dropshare

Dropshare enhances your file management and sharing with effortless drag-and-drop functionality. It automatically uploads screen captures and allows for easy access across devices with upload history synchronization. Secure your files with password-protected download links and expiring access to ensure privacy. The integration of keyboard shortcuts and markdown notes further streamlines your workflow, making Dropshare a vital tool for both professionals and casual users alike.

5. PDF Search

PDF Search improves your document management with a lightning-fast search engine that scans large PDF files to find exactly what you need, whether it’s a specific term or sequence. Powered by AI, it automatically corrects typos and understands context, ensuring you never miss important information due to simple mistakes. The built-in PDF reader optimises interaction through annotation, while WiFi syncing across all devices streamlines your workflow, making access to your documents as flexible and mobile as your work demands.

  • PDF Search Monthly Access: $4.99/month
  • PDF Search via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

6. Diarly

Diarly turns your Mac into a secure and customisable digital diary. Perfect for capturing thoughts, memories and tasks, it lets you write freely and format your entries with its Markdown editor. Keep your personal musings secure with encryption and never worry about syncing issues; Diarly ensures your entries are seamlessly accessible across all your devices. From daily reflections to tracking personal growth, Diarly is designed to keep your journaling both organised and private.

  • Diarly Premium: $20
  • Diarly via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

7. Soulver

Soulver is a versatile note-taking application that seamlessly combines natural language processing with advanced calculation capabilities. Whether you need to quickly convert currencies, calculate distances or manage complex mathematical models, Soulver interprets your text-based input effortlessly. Ideal for everything from simple day-to-day tasks to sophisticated calculations, this app is unique in that it allows you to work naturally — ask it to perform calculations as if you were talking to a friend. This intuitive interface, coupled with the ability to customise and deeply integrate with MacOS, makes Soulver an essential tool for anyone looking to boost their productivity with smart technology.

  • Soulver for iPhone: $14
  • Soulver via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

8. PDF Squeezer

PDF Squeezer streamlines the process of compressing PDF files. Its minimalist interface removes the complexity, allowing you to quickly reduce file sizes with simple drag and drop. Ideal for making large documents fit within email or cloud upload limits, this tool ensures your documents remain clear and readable even when bandwidth is low. Whether it’s preserving the visual quality of a PDF presentation or password-protecting a file, PDF Squeezer does it efficiently, making your files compact and easy to share.

9. Daily

Daily redefines the way you manage your time with intuitive tools that adapt to your workflow. Automatic reminders ensure you never miss a task, while the timesheet feature gives you a detailed view of your daily, weekly and monthly activities. Customize your tracking to suit your work rhythm, and with options to export your data and multi-language support, Daily fits seamlessly into your day, boosting productivity and ensuring you never lose track of time.

  • Daily Lifetime Access: $59.99
  • Daily via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

10. Muse

Muse turns your device into a versatile digital whiteboard where creativity meets clarity. Effortlessly jot down ideas, create storyboards or plan your projects with intuitive tools that make organising your thoughts as easy as scribbling on a notepad. Whether you’re layering concepts with nested boards, blending text with visuals or using pre-designed templates to get a head start, Muse provides a dynamic canvas that adapts to your workflow. Perfect for individual brainstorming or team collaboration, Muse simplifies complex ideas into a visually cohesive space.

  • Muse Pro Membership: $9.99/month
  • Muse via Setapp + 240 apps: $9.99/month

I hope this tour of some of the standout apps available on Setapp has given you a glimpse of how they can streamline your daily workflow, enhance your creativity and manage your tasks more efficiently. As you’ve seen, whether it’s organising your thoughts, backing up your documents or tracking your time, each app offers something unique to make your digital life a little easier. Dive in, explore these tools and find new ways to boost your productivity and creativity.

If you have any app suggestions or tips of your own, feel free to share them in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! 🙂

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Sadullah M. Bağ

Social Media, Technology, Apple, Productivity, Critical Thinking