Apple’s Most Underrated Apps Are Secretly More Powerful Than You Think—Try These Before Paying for Another Subscription - Gotechtor (2025)

The Underrated Power of Apple’s Default Apps

Apple’s productivity suite doesn’t scream innovation. In fact, it’s so understated that most people dismiss it as “basic.”

But here’s what I found: beneath the minimalistic design lies an incredibly powerful and efficient system if you know how to use it right.

1. Notes: The Second Brain You Didn’t Know You Had

If you think Apple Notes is just a digital notepad, you’re using about 10% of its potential.

The real magic happens when you start treating it like your personal knowledge vault.

• Tags & Smart Folders: Forget digging through endless notes. Tagging allows you to create a dynamic system where everything organizes itself. Need all work-related notes? Just search #Work, and they appear like magic.
• Collaboration: I was shocked at how smoothly Apple Notes handles real-time collaboration. I co-managed a project with a colleague using shared notes, and it felt as seamless as Google Docs—without the mess of Google Drive.
• Scan & Search Everything: Handwritten notes, receipts, business cards—Apple Notes scans and makes them searchable. I can’t tell you how many times this saved me from digging through my camera roll in panic mode.
• Locked Notes: Need to store sensitive information? Unlike Evernote, Apple Notes lets you lock specific notes with Face ID. No more worrying about prying eyes.

After integrating these features into my workflow, Notes became my go-to place for research, brainstorming, and daily planning.

Also: 10 actually useful Apple Notes features that will maximize your productivity and simplify your digital life

2. Reminders: The To-Do List That Works for You

I’ll be honest: I underestimated Apple’s Reminders app for years. At first, I thought it was a glorified grocery list, but then I discovered its hidden strengths.

• Smart Lists & Prioritization: Unlike the cluttered interfaces of third-party apps, Apple Reminders keeps it simple. You can categorize tasks, set priorities, and even automate follow-ups based on location or time.
• Siri Integration: Imagine you’re driving and suddenly remember you need to send an email. Just say, “Hey Siri, remind me to email John when I get home,” and it appears right when you pull into your driveway. No tapping, no forgetting.
• Subtasks & Grouped Lists: Managing a big project? You can create a master list and break it into subtasks with deadlines, notes, and attachments. It’s like having Trello baked into your iPhone.
• Shared Lists: My wife and I use a shared grocery list. She adds things, I grab them on my way home, and we never have to text, “Do we need milk?” again.

My productivity shot through the roof once I stopped treating Reminders like a simple task list and started leveraging these features.

Also: 10 brilliant Apple Reminders features that I use every day to get my life together and reduce stress

3. Calendar: The Backbone of Time Management

Google Calendar may dominate in workplaces, but Apple Calendar is an unsung hero—especially if you live in the Apple ecosystem.

• Natural Language Input: Typing “Lunch with Sarah next Tuesday at noon at Blue Bottle” automatically schedules it; no extra steps are needed.
• Multiple Calendars: I have separate calendars for work, personal life, and content planning, all color-coded and toggle-able.
• Time to Leave Alerts: Unlike most calendar apps, Apple’s integrates with Maps to tell you exactly when to leave based on real-time traffic. No more being late because of a last-minute jam.
• Seamless Sync Across Devices: One thing I always found annoying with third-party calendars was unreliable syncing. On the other hand, Apple Calendar works flawlessly across my Mac, iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch.

The beauty of Apple’s Calendar isn’t in how flashy it is; it’s in how effortlessly it integrates into your day-to-day life.

Also: 7 exciting iOS 18 Apple Calendar features that will make you forget Google Calendar ever existed

Why This Trio Works Better Than Third-Party Apps

At this point, you might be thinking, “Okay, these features are cool, but why should I ditch my fancy third-party apps?” Here’s why Apple’s built-in suite is a game-changer:

• Seamless Integration: Apple designs its apps to work together. Set a reminder directly from Notes. See your tasks in Calendar. It’s a frictionless experience that third-party apps can’t replicate.
• Privacy & Security: Unlike Google, Apple doesn’t mine your data. Your notes, tasks, and events stay encrypted and private.
• No Subscriptions or Learning Curve: Most “powerful” productivity apps come with a price tag or a steep learning curve. Apple’s system is free, intuitive, and built right into your devices.

Also: The underrated iPhone app that can double your productivity without adding stress

Final Thoughts: The Best System Is the One You Actually Use

After years of chasing the “perfect” productivity system, I realized that complexity was my biggest enemy.

The more complicated my setup, the less I used it. Apple’s Notes, Reminders, and Calendar may not be flashy, but they’re ridiculously effective.

They work together in a way that feels natural, eliminating the constant app-hopping that kills productivity.

If you’ve been drowning in an ocean of productivity tools, do yourself a favor: simplify.

Try Apple’s built-in apps for a week. You might just find that the best productivity system was right in front of you all along.

Lise is a master of phone organization and a nerd of the internet! She writes a regular column for Gotechtor focusing on quick tips for decluttering and organizing your iPhone to be more productive, while still keeping it aesthetic.

Lise Dieuveuil

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