If you could only keep one app on your phone, what would it be?

5 brike 40 5/9/2025, 8:31:06 AM
Imagine if you were allowed to use only one single application for your whole life. Who would you pick?

Comments (40)

runjake · 30d ago
The web browser of course. It can do most anything an app can do including taking photos and recording audio.

I don’t know if there is another correct answer, right?

barnacl437 · 30d ago
yeah as long as you have given it sufficient permissions. but actually i dont know if it does count default apps already come with phone, otherwise you'll already get a shiny ooh quality neat-looking (not guaranteed) camera app for better use.
paulcole · 30d ago
I mean this is like picking “satellite phone” if you could take one thing to a desert island with you. Kind of a boring answer even if it’s technically correct.
walthamstow · 30d ago
Google Maps or OSMAnd, assuming I get phone calls and texts for free.

Banking I can do on a computer, I live in a place with great public transport so losing Uber would not be the end of the world

Quinzel · 30d ago
Safari. Because at least you can access most other services from that. The navigation might be a bit shit, but you’re still connected.
owebmaster · 30d ago
Definitely not safari because its PWA implemention is lame.
brike · 30d ago
cheater....
dcminter · 30d ago
I mean "Firefox" was my first thought too, I blame the question ;)

Assuming pre-installed stuff is a given (in which case I guess I'm managing with Chrome) then here in Sweden I'd have to go with BankID so I could still do ecommerce stuff.

beAbU · 30d ago
OP, from your replies here it seems you came into this with your own opinions.

What is the one app you would keep, and why is it ChatGPT?

paulcole · 30d ago
I’ll try to not be boring here with my answer.

If I could only do one thing with my phone (app-wise) it’d either be music or podcasts. If I had to pick one, I’d go with podcasts.

So I’m going to say my podcast app of choice, OverCast.

Kuyawa · 30d ago
Brave. I could access the whole world with it, no ads, AI at my fingertips, maps, banks, crypto wallets, chats, apps, there is absolutely nothing I can't do and if there is, I'd build it.
Bender · 30d ago
SMS/Texting. All I use the phone for is voice and text. In fact I miss my old Danger Sidekick II for its nice physical keyboard, tiny phone with a slide-up screen. It was perfect for me.
anenefan · 30d ago
I'm in a very rural area so the first on any cheapie android phones is a good GPS program - doesn't need mobile network coverage to get position, time and speed of travel.
koliber · 30d ago
Notion.

Or the Telephone app that allows me to make phone calls, if we are pedantic.

d--b · 30d ago
2 Factor authentication.

I can do everything else on dumb phone + computer + camera, but 2FA is the reason I simply cannot drop the smartphone.

ValdikSS · 30d ago
There are feature phones which support applications (not Android-based), but indeed nobody made an OTP authenticator for it.
cypherg · 30d ago
Instagram because it's by far the app that gets the most use on an hour by hour basis. Endless content plus messaging.
codingdave · 30d ago
Merlin Bird ID.

I can do everything else at home on my PC.

barnacl437 · 30d ago
does it count default basic apps already installed on phones? otherwise it wouldnt even form a thing. well, as most others, a browser.

but i think i am NOT a person for one-app phone. i tend to install a lot and just throw em off the memory lane.

ValdikSS · 30d ago
Email client I guess.

Basically the only thing I really miss in the feature phones is email client.

mikewarot · 30d ago
The actual phone call app, of course. It's not really a phone without it.
hulitu · 30d ago
> If you could only keep one app on your phone, what would it be?

The phone app.

almosthere · 30d ago
assuming Phone is just a feature not an app, then maps
brike · 30d ago
interesting, I thought people are going to mention Notion, ChatGPT, tasks, but now maps:)

why it's the main app that you need? are you travelling a lot?

dcminter · 30d ago
> I thought people are going to mention Notion, ChatGPT, tasks ...

I'd bet good money that most people have neither Notion nor ChatGPT apps installed on their phones. How many people do you think don't use Maps or an equivalent whenever they're away from home?

rolph · 30d ago
maps are the most useful on phone as you tend to take maps with you.

most other apps are sedentary.

swah · 30d ago
Whatsapp but if I had no family then Safari.
pajko · 30d ago
OsmAnd+
tobinfekkes · 30d ago
1password
BOOSTERHIDROGEN · 30d ago
Ticktick
chistev · 30d ago
Chrome
cafard · 30d ago
Weather.
AznHisoka · 30d ago
My MFA app
shakna · 30d ago
Messages.
cranberryturkey · 30d ago
safari
brike · 30d ago
why not chatGPT/Claude etc?
cranberryturkey · 30d ago
i can do that with safari
davydm · 30d ago
Banking - no ways I want to waste time at a physical bank.

Sure, I'd miss all the messaging channels, but I could tell people they can only sms me.

KomoD · 30d ago
> but I could tell people they can only sms me.

Well, you wouldn't be able to keep the messages app would you? So they can't :)

brike · 30d ago
you had to have millions on your bank account if it's the most important app for you:)