9 iPhone Widgets Everyone Should Utilize

Widgets make it easy to check the info you need without opening apps – a real time-saver! As of iOS 17, widgets are better than ever, with added interactivity and functionality. Check out our selection of top iPhone widgets everyone should try!

Good to know: learn about adding widgets on Mac and removing them when needed.

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1. Weather

The iPhone’s default Weather widget effectively displays essential information, such as temperature and forecast on your home/lock screen. But if you rely on other third-party weather apps to get your information, you can switch out the default widget for one of your choice.

I prefer HeyWeather, as it offers various widgets that you can customize. Some are free, and some require a subscription, but the most comprehensive is free and includes temperature info and forecast, as well as additional info, such as UV index, humidity, pressure, and wind speed.

If you want to have more options to customize your weather widgets, try Carrot Weather, although widgets require the premium plan. If you value precision, try AccuWeather, which gives you access to a pair of free standard widgets. If you want to have your weather prognosis delivered in a really adorable fashion, check out CuteWeather.

2. Calendar/Planner

Since I had been a Google/Gmail user for years before I purchased my first iPhone, I naturally gravitated toward using Google Calendar as a widget for showing my upcoming events.

Google Calendar widgets on iPhone are pretty minimal, so I soon found a replacement in Calendars. It lets me sync all my calendars, including Google. Calendars gives me access to a wide range of widgets, such as Icon with Date, Dual Month calendar, Upcoming events, Task List, and Agenda. Creating task lists requires you to upgrade to premium.

Advanced users may want to take a look at Fantastical Calendar. It has many widget choices, from the simplest to the more advanced, such as Event List + Calendar and Quick Action. All are very customizable, and you can add info to them, such as weather and tasks.

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3. Exercise/Wellbeing

Staying active is important to me, so I try to incorporate as much exercise as possible into my day. I keep tabs on my workouts and walks and like to monitor my calorie intake and hydration to support my wellness goals.

While the iPhone’s Fitness app provides a few nice widgets that help me measure steps and see how many calories I’ve consumed, I needed a bit more. For instance, I wanted to view stats regarding the workouts I engage in. I use the SmartGym app (which syncs with Apple Health) to access home, as well as gym workouts, and offers a few widgets. I love the Quote of the Day, as it brings me inspiration I need to improve my body, but there are many other opinions, such Workout Summary and Up Next.

If you want an app that can track your water and food consumption, as well as activity, in a useful widget, try FitnessView.

4. Countdown

We’re only human, so it’s natural to forget things. But some days are just too important to miss. Whether you need a reminder to buy a gift for someone special or just want to count down the days until your next vacation, a countdown widget on your home screen keeps you on track.

I personally use Countdown Widget & Counter, which has a few widgets. While the options look simple, the style is very minimalist-modern and appealing.

If you crave a bit of personality, I recommend you take a look at Bears Countdown, a paid app with some adorable options. Another beautiful option is Countdown – Pretty Progress.

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5. Email

An email widget can help you quickly view new arrivals in your inbox and give you a glimpse of the content. Since I was deeply embedded into the Google ecosystem when I came to iPhone, I first opted to use one of the Gmail widgets. These are pretty simple widgets. The one I usually use shows me the latest email updates, but users can also opt to have quick email actions for composing an email or searching the inbox.

With time, I discovered Spark email, which offers a more elevated experience, including widgets. I appreciated the convenience of logging into Spark with my Gmail account. The range of widgets available in this app is a lot more extensive and includes simple and more comprehensive options. I use the Emails and Actions widget, which allows me to access a calendar, view attachments with a tap, and search my inbox.

For more suggestions of robust options, check out email apps for iPhone.

6. Notes

If you like taking notes of things you’re supposed to remember throughout the day, then adding a notes-centric widget can be a good idea to maintain your productivity levels throughout the day.

iPhones have a native Notes app, which works pretty well and offers a couple of standard widgets. These are good for pinning a few notes on your screen. However, I’ve come to rely on Post-It instead. The app lets you write notes using your finger or by typing them on your virtual keyboard. It also transcribes handwritten notes. You can have the widgets display individual notes or a board of multiple notes.

If you prefer to write to-do lists instead, check out Todo List, which features an attractive interface and nice widget options. If you’re already using an app like Microsoft To Do or Google Keep, they have widgets as well.

7. Browser

I’m frequently searching the Web, so adding a widget that can facilitate search and other quick actions has helped me improve my workflow. On my iPhone, I use Chrome and sometimes Brave.

I prefer Chrome’s widgets that add a search bar as well as a few quick actions, such as voice search or Incognito mode. Best of all, I can add a widget for the Dino game I love to play so much. (I am sure you do too.)

Brave has some pretty nice options as well, including Top News, which displays the latest stories, and Privacy Stats, which shows things like how many trackers and ads have been blocked. Other browsers also have widgets, so be sure to check them out.

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8. Battery

If you have multiple Bluetooth accessories that you use with your iPhone, such as headphones or smart speakers, the built-in Batteries widgets can be useful. These can show you a list of battery levels for your iPhone and connected devices. This is pretty convenient, as you don’t have to check each of them every time.

If you’d like a bit more info regarding your phone’s battery, as well as additional data, check out Smart Battery Widget. It adds a colorful diagram, as well as how many videos you have left to watch, how many calls, and more.

Smart Battery Widget also includes options to show storage information and Wi-Fi/data usage. A comprehensive widget featuring all of this information is available for a price.

9. Virtual Pet

If playing a quick round of Dino is not enough, and you want something else to help you unwind, consider installing a virtual pet app. I have Finch on my phone, which offers quite a few adorable creature options.

Finch also doubles as a self-care app, which is why it has grown on me so much. Based on a series of questions at the beginning, the app generates a series of goals and quests, that when achieved, will help you grow your virtual pet and make you feel better. The widget shows your pet engaged in various activities throughout the day, so you never ever forget about taking care of it.

If you enjoy Pixel art, try Pixel Pals, which offers widgets that show your pet engaged in various activities. There are various types of animals to choose from and many customizations.

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Bonus: Smart Stack

I have many widgets that I like to use on my iPhone, but sometimes the space on my home screen is just not enough to accommodate the different widgets. This is why I turn to Smart Stack.

This is a built-in widget that allows you to create Stacks that pile widgets on top of each other for you to easily swipe through them. All widgets that you plan to stack have to be of a similar size. With that in mind, I can pack all the information and convenience of multiple widgets into one single Stack.

If you want to continue customizing your iPhone, learn how to set a custom ringtone on your iPhone. Alternatively, check out how to silence notifications on your iPhone

All images and screenshots by Alexandra Arici.

Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer

Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.

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