12 Must-Have iMessage Apps for iPhone Productivity and Fun

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Admittedly, a call apps can potentially be the worst thing in the world. Imagine the frustration of being in the middle of using the Cox bill pay feature through your phone, getting a call in between, and then having to start over. No wonder, texting has become the logical solution. People prefer texting over calling because it doesn’t interfere with their daily lives.

Apple users have been enjoying the integrated features of the iMessage App since the release of iOS 10 a few years ago. Apple integrated the Apple App Store with their iMessage app and this has enabled users to take advantage of the plethora of Mini Apps available to them through the App Store. Let’s take a look at the 12 most productive mini apps on the App Store and what they can do for your texting game.

1: GIPHY – Find Your GIF

Sometimes, the best response is a GIF. They bring color and emotions to an otherwise dry conversation. GIPHY is by far the undefeated champion of the GIF world. GIPHY is probably the first Mini App to download as soon as your phone is out of the box. Apart from an endless supply of memes and GIFs, iOS users can now make their own memes and GIFs from right within the iMessage App. This is as simple as managing group chat in iMessage. All you need to do is create a GIPHY account to save the GIFs you’ve created.

Download Price: FREE

2: Open Table – Reservations Apps

Here’s another Mini App iOS users can stand behind. Open Table allows you to make reservations at more than 50,000 restaurants and cafes worldwide. So no matter where you are, you can make reservations and send out invites without having to open any other app than the iMessage. Isn’t this what integration is all about.
Download Price: FREE

3: Google Maps – For Immediate Location Sharing

Since iOS users have trouble sharing location directly from within the messaging apps, Apple has allowed for a work around. Now you can download the Google Maps to your Messaging Apps and start sharing locations directly, and the recipients can just click the little map and find their way to you.
Download Price: FREE

4: JibJab – For E-Cards and Greetings

Here’s a light-hearted and fun way to send Greetings and E-Cards. You can find Cards and Greetings for all occasions. And for the ones that one occasion that you can’t find, don’t fret, just create your own. You can pictures to create posters or collages to share. The sheer variety of funny cards and greetings makes this Mini App and Must App.
Download Price: FREE (In-App Purchases Start At $2.99

5: Dropbox – File Sharing

iOS is inherently lacking as far as File Sharing functionality goes. Here’s the solution we’ve all been using so far. Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage and sharing platform. You can save and share pictures and videos and more importantly, documents. However, to share files from Dropbox, you must first save them to Dropbox.
Download Price: FREE (Up to 5Gbs of Free Storage Space)

6:Venmo – Send and Receive Money

Venmo is an online payment service that is a lot more popular than the proprietary Apple Pay and Google Pay. iMessage allows you to send or receive money whilst within your chat. How convenient is that!
Download Price: FREE

7: iTranslate – Translating Simplified

If you need a translation apps, then look no further. A simple and yet powerful tool that will change the way you understand foreign cultures. With over 100 different languages available to you with a few taps, you can be suave in any language from within the iMessage app. You can even make use of your phone’s camera and mic to translate anything you see or hear. Hatásos! That’s Impressive in Hungarian.
Download Price: FREE

8: GamePigeon – Two-Player Games

This iMessage extension allows you to play a game within your chat. They have a list of 2 player games to choose from, which includes 8 Ball, Battleship, Mini Golf, Archery, and Poker amongst so many others. Now you can have a fun time chatting with someone and not even saying a single word. Oh, Irony thy name is…….Bliss?!!
Download Price: FREE

9: IMDB – Movie Reviews and Showtimes

IMDB app allows you to search and share reviews and showtimes, so you can continue making your plans without leaving the iMessage apps.
Download Price: FREE.

10: Pennies Mini – Budgeting Apps

This budgeting apps is the perfect example of integration. You can make and share budgets with your contacts. You can also make a joint budget, where all involved can suggest changes and updates to the proposed budget before its finalized.
Download Price: FREE

11: ESPN – For the Sports Fans

The ESPN Mini Apps allows you to share the best moments in sports history. You can share scores of games, and play and share highlights of the game with your friends.

Download Price: FREE

12: Poll – Let Them Decide

Poll simply lets you create polls for the group to vote on. This is perfect for times when you can risk taking responsibility for group activities. Just send out a poll and let the group decide.
Download Price: FREE