As the end of the year approaches, most people are thinking about what New Year’s Resolutions they might make – buying a first home, becoming more organised or finally learning the constellations, for example.
Whatever your goal for 2026 (and beyond), there’s probably an app you can download on your smartphone to reach it.
Take savings, for example, we all know we should be putting more money away – a rainy day fund for those annoying unexpected expenses that always seem to pop up – and an account where you regularly put money away for a bigger savings goal, but time is precious, and no one really wants to spend too much of it arranging their savings accounts.
This is where the Plum app comes in, which we’ve picked as our top app for life improvement in 2026.
As the cost of just about everything is rising, it’s even more crucial to be financially resilient and have a savings plan in place. Plum isn’t a bank but an app which can help – as it’s designed to automatically save your money for you.
You choose the amount, and the account – all of which pay competitive rates of interest – and it does the rest.
Here we look at how it works and pick out four other apps which could improve your life with a few clicks.
Plum – makes your money work harder
If you’re starting to think about your savings goals for next year, putting money away for a house deposit might be top of the list. But whatever reason you’re saving, with Plum, this can be an achievable goal.
It can analyse your bank account and regular spending to see just how much you could be saving – and then move this money into a savings account.
You can also choose one of its eight ‘Auto Saves’ where it automatically puts money away for you (some of these require a paid-for subscription). This could be putting money away for a rainy day, for example, but there are also more fun options, such as ‘The Naughty Rule’, which puts money away for you whenever you shop somewhere you think you shouldn’t.
Plum isn’t a bank, and the money is moved into a separate account, which could be a regular savings account, a Cash ISA where interest is tax-free, or even a Lifetime ISA (LISA) to save towards a first home or retirement, for example. Interest is also tax-free in a Lifetime ISA, plus a Government bonus. Or you could even move the money into an investment account such as a stocks and shares ISA (capital at risk).
This clever little life-improving app, which boasts market-leading interest rates, makes your money work harder for you and brings your financial goals closer, and we feel it deserves this spot as our number one app for improving your life in 2026.
Plum’s basic version is free to download on the App Store and Google Play.
Duolingo
Learn a new language from your phone.
French, Spanish, Japanese or Portuguese – with Duolingo, you can learn a new language in an easy and accessible way from your smartphone.
With bite-sized learning, you can set how long you want to learn for each day, and you’ll be given a range of videos, text and sound bites to help you pick up a new language. The most basic version of the app is free and includes adverts, or you can pay for a premium version with additional features such as extra speaking and listening exercises.
It’s not a brand-new app, but it’s one of the best around for learning a new life skill. The simple daily lessons are easy to follow and help you to develop a habit of learning each day.
Stellarium
Spotting stars, satellites and constellations.
If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered if that bright star was actually a planet or maybe a comet, you can now use Stellarium to instantly find out.
As soon as you’ve downloaded the app, if you hold it towards the night sky, you’ll be shown a map of everything you’re looking at.
The most basic version of this planetarium app is free (the premium option includes more features), and it’ll give you a detailed view of the planets, stars, satellites, constellations and comets directly above you.
The app uses real-time information, and you can then click on certain elements to get a more detailed explanation.
Todoist
Declutter your mind.
How many ‘to-do’ lists do you usually have on the go? If it’s more than one, you need an app like Todoist, which helps to simplify your everyday tasks.
Instead of losing track of paper lists or those in your head, you can quickly and simply keep track of what to do with this app, which nearly 50million people have already signed up for.
By regularly keeping track of your tasks, you can not only get them finished sooner, but you can also develop new habits and become more productive. On the app, you can list your jobs, set reminders for them, and filter them by things like your work and personal life.
The basic version is free, and you can choose whether to use it for yourself or as part of a team.
First aid by the British Red Cross
Free emergency health advice.
Most people don’t know basic first aid skills as they’ve never been taught them, but in an emergency, being equipped with these skills could save someone’s life.
This free app, available for Apple and Android phones, is full of simple first aid skills to help you if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation.
While no one wants to have to use the advice given, if you do end up in a health emergency, there are easy-to-follow instructions and videos which could make a big difference.
Created by the British Red Cross, there are videos, quizzes and step-by-step guides to teach you the basics of first aid. You also don’t need an internet connection to use it, as it will work offline too.
