Best iPhone/ iTouch Apps for Teens
Ed. note: This post from 2009 remains a perennial favorite for readers, but don’t forget to visit our extensive App of the Week archive for more suggestions on iOS and Android applications for teens.
An article in a local newspaper recently touted the launch of a new iPhone application (iCommunicate) designed to help parents of autistic or developmentally delayed children. It sounded like such a wonderful tool, and it made me wonder if there were any apps out there (other than games) that might be useful for teens. I decided to do a little research and see what I could find.
The App Podcast, which bills itself as the leading iPhone and iPod Touch app review site, has plenty of categories to choose from to help you in your search for the killer app. I was disappointed to find that they haven’t created a special niche dedicated to apps for teens. In fact, a keyword search of the site for the term “teen,” only yielded two hits: Teen Live Drive ($7.99) which helps teens prepare for the driving test, and Kipo ($0.99) which encourages good behavior in kids and teens with a point earning/rewards system. Is it me, or does the basic concept of Teen Live Drive just seem wrong in some way? Given the preponderance of warnings about the dangers of teens texting and driving, there’s something troubling to me about suggesting teens should use their phones to become better drivers.
iPhone and iPod Touch review site, 148Apps, was recently named one of the Top 100 Websites of 2009 by PC Magazine. The site provides up to date reviews and information on best selling apps and recent price drops. Reviews are organized by category. Again, none of the apps are tagged specifically for teens, rendering any type of targeted search futile.
While the mainstream review sites aren’t geared toward identifying the best of the apps for teens, check out this list of Ten Best and Worst iPhone Apps for Teens and Parents as decided by Radical Parenting. There are a few real finds on this site and a few apps bound to raise eyebrows with teens.
TextPlus is a free app that serves up free unlimited texting for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app is free for the sender, though standard text messaging charges apply for the person receiving the text message. In the case of the iPod Touch, a number is assigned, which will show up on the other person’s phone. SAT Test Prep ($1.99) promises to increase those all important college entrance scores. And Sit or Squat fulfills a more basic need: directions to the nearest (and cleanest?) local restroom.
What do you think are the best or most popular iPhone apps for teens? What do teen patrons have to say? I took an informal poll of the teens at my library and here are the results:
- Tap Tap Revenge
- More Toast!
- Sally’s Salon
- Flashcards
- iTranslate
- Flight of the Hamsters
This is great. I’m going to post something similar on our library site and link back here–I’m interested to see how responses vary from the list provided by Radical Parenting.
What about fun apps like the new PrankMe app
im 13 and i loveeee facebook app
my top 10 are…
1. facebook
2. wallpapers
3. fml
4. taylor swift app
5. seventeen fashion finder
6 .whiteboard
7. dash of color
8. myspace
9. textfree
10. rollercoaster games
i like…..i like…..eggs…..ahhhhh!
Heeey
my fav apps for my iPod touch areee:
1. Facebook.
2. Wallpapers.
3. Cooking Mama.
4. Converse.
5. Gap style mixer.
6. What do you prefer?
7. Truth or Dare.
8. Twilight trivia.
9. New moon trivia.
10. aim
1. facebook
2. echofon
3. words with friends
4. pandora
5. doodle buddy
6. drunk texts
7. flood it
8. fml
9. white noise
10. line up
1.scoops
2.rockband
3.facebook
4.waterslide extreme
5.tap tap 3
6.sprin
7.fingerzilla
8.doodlebowl
9.glow hackey
10.dots free
1.doodlejump
2.scoops
3.textfree
4.rolando lite
5.tap tap revenge 3
6.plants vs zombies
7.unblock me
8.AIM
9.FML
10.pocket god
1. facebook
2. tumblr
3. pandora
4. cover orange
5. shanedawson
6. taylor swift
7. flashcards
8. forever 21
9. doodle jump
10. quotes wp
Plants vs Zombies,
Call Of Duty; World At War; Zombies
Facebook
Ebuddy
Textplus
Fruitninja
Doodle Jump
Angry Birds
Tap Tap Revenge
FML
Plants vs Zombies, ($2.99)
Call Of Duty; World At War; Zombies (5.99)
Facebook (FREE)
Ebuddy (FREE)
Textplus ($1.99)
Fruitninja ($0.99)
Doodle Jump ($0.99)
Angry Birds ($1.99)
Tap Tap Revenge ($1.99)
FML (FREE)
I know its the same thing i just thought id give you an idea of the prices.
FYI, They may have changed a bit since i bought them, but it’s somewhere around this.
My Top 10 Apps Are:
1: Facebook
2: iBooks
3: Smurfs
4: Angry Birds
5: PlayMouth
6: Plant vs Zombies
7: Messenger
8: Cut The Rope
9: Fruit Ninja
10: Skype
1. Whoz Yo Daddy
2. Facebook
3. Angry Birds
4. Solataire
5. Beluga
6. Words With Friends
7. iBooks
8. Twinkle
9. Cue Cards
10. Urban Daddy
1.Facebook
2.Kindle
3.Twitter
4.TextNow
5.FT90 CE ( a P90X workout schedule)
6.Bump
7.Carnivores
8.Bible
9.Gravilux
10.tunein Radio
1. Facebook
2. Air peguin
3. Flickhomerun
4. Instagram
5. iFunny
6. Temple run
7. Robot unicorn attack
8. Text now
9. Pandora
10. Tiny tower
FIFA 11!!!!
1. Facebook
2. Sims freeplay
3. Tap tap revenge
4. FaceTime
5.textplus
6.nyan cat: Lost in space
7. Pic collage
8. Temple run
9. Oovoo
10.Pandora
Most popular teenage app is Love Score by Co-creations.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/love-score/id498161687?ls=1&mt=8
1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. Fruit Ninja
4. Skype
5. Temple Run
6. Mega Jump
7. Viber
8. Shazam
9. Rintones
10. FML
1) facebook
2) temple run
3) local chat
4) voxer
5) tumblr
6) skype
7) instagram
8) camwow
9) twitter
10) myfitnesspal
1. textplus
2. Pandora
3. Draw Something
4. Rage Comics
5. iFunny
6. FML
7. Simsimi
8. Temple Run
9. Nyan Cat
10. Emoji Free!
1~facebook
2~robot unicorn attack
3~ifunny
4~simsimi
5~temple run
6~text free
7~ginger booth
8~peggle
9~that awkward moment
10~pandora
1~facebook
2~ifunny
3~pandora
4~bigfoot finder
5~crazy chicken
6~robot unicorn attack
7~cupcaker maker
8~path
9~ginger booth
10~duck finder
Twitter
Facebook
Pandora
Temple run
Skype
Angry birds
Call Of Duty
Tape Tape Revenge
Plant vs. Zombies
Youtube
1.) Facebook
2.) Youtube
3.) Zombieville
4.) Temple run
5.) Robot unicorn Attack<3
6.) AXE IN FACE :3
7.) Flick homerun
8.) Templerun
9.) textplus
10.) ifunny
Best Games:
1) Doodle Jump (Very addictive)
2) Ragewars (Amazing for meme lovers)
3) Slide (Very fast paced and fun)
4) Smash Dude (Good for getting anger out)
Best Education Apps:
1) inClass.
2) flashcards.
3) Ruler.
Utilities:
1) iFirstAid Lite
2) Draw
3) Hi Future Self (Good for reminders.)
4) Bug Spray (Supposingly keeps bugs away.)
5) Piggie (Finance)
6) Taxi Magic
7) OneBusAway
Photography/Photo editing
1) CamWow (VERY GOOD photo taker)
2) CamWow Pro, Or CamWow Retro (More Photo taker things..:P)
3) Be Funky FX (Photo editor)
4) Pici Booth (Just like a photo booth, very fun for parties, ect!)
5) Pix
Overall Fun Apps:
1) Bored!
2) iFunny (BEST APP…)
3) Liquid Lite (Very fun and amusing!)
4) Pocket Pond (Theriputic and fun!)
5) Police! (Funny prank)
6) Zippo Lighter
7) Magic Piano
8) Soundhound (For that one song you’ve got stuck in your head but don’t know what it’s called!)
9) Bongos (Fun for all ages and amusing)
10) AutoTune Star
11) Bubble Wrap
12) SpinArt Free
13) Spin the Coke
14) App Trailers (Preview app trailers for points that you can exchange for giftcards!)
I Just went through a list and this is what i have down! (ALL ARE FREE AND FUN!)
1~Find My Phone (Useful)
2~Facebook
3~Tumblr (I Love this)
4~Twitter
5~ Skype
6~Temple Run
7~Textplus
8~Instagram
9~Kik
10~ Fml
1. Twitter
2. What’s App (best app ever)
3. Facebook
4. Skype
5. Instagram
6. Bolt (game)
7. Catwang
8. SoundHound
9. Urbanspoon (I love to eat.. Sooo:P)
10. Nike Running (Nike +GPS) (sickest thing)
11. QQImage
12. Diptic
13. I like FREE apps
14. Text plus (gold) (the best one)
15. Tumblr! (loving this thing)
Really inspiring