For millions of people, the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year. A song even says so. It can also be… a lot. Gift lists grow, events pile up, and budgets wobble.
Fortunately, your iPhone can help turn festive fear into festive cheer. At least if you’ve got the right apps installed…
Go solo or team-up
If you’re running the whole show yourself, you’ve got full freedom. Pick the apps that fit your brain, including iPhone-only tools. But if you’re collaborating, stick to cross-platform options and avoid forcing anyone to pay just to get involved.
Whichever route you take, keep things simple. This isn’t the time for complex, feature-stuffed mega-apps. Focus on tools you can learn quickly and benefit from. And don’t overthink it. If Apple’s built-in apps already keep your world afloat, continue using them.
Count the days
December has a habit of vanishing. Stay ahead of it with Up Ahead (free) or Countdowns (free), and set timers for key festive deadlines. Add Home Screen widgets for glanceable reminders, or dip into the apps for bold and easily navigable timelines.
Got kids with devices? Stop them nagging you every waking moment about how far away Christmas is with the family-friendly Christmas Countdown (2025) (free or $4/£4 for 2025 or $10/£10 lifetime). Again, pay to unlock Home Screen widgets to further save your sanity.
Also, start tracking everything. Solo planners can use Notes for scribbles, photos, and basic lists. Reminders works for more complex and time-sensitive to-dos. Working with other Apple users? Share notes and lists with them. If your friends prefer Android or Windows, Todoist offers up to five collaborative projects for free, and Google Docs is solid for shared notes.
Shop till you drop
Amazon used to be the easy option for wish lists, until it wrecked its version with an update that blocked anything not sold on Amazon itself. If you can persuade friends and family to sign up, Moonsift (free) is a great replacement.
For tracking off-list ideas you might buy for others, share links from Safari to Notes, or use Pinterest (free). And for in-person browsing, Visuel (free + IAP) uses AI to automatically sort your snaps. Just keep an eye on the subscription and cancel it when you’re done.
We won’t tell you where to shop – you know your own favorites. Just be wary of ordering from overseas late on, because customs delays are real. And consider paying extra for faster shipping as the big day creeps closer.
Wherever you shop, hunt for bargains. Use price comparison apps like Google (free), Price.shopping (free) in the USA, or idealo (free) in the UK. Love Amazon but not how it updates prices about every other minute? Keepa (free) reveals whether you’re looking at a deal or a ‘manipulated’ discount. And if you prefer other price-comparison sites, add them to your Home Screen for speedy access.
Throughout, manage your budget. Math Notes in Apple’s Notes can add values typed inline, although notepad/calculator combo Soulver ($14/£14) is more powerful and flexible. For a dedicated but friendly expense tracker you’ll use year-round, try Pennies ($5/£5).
Don’t forget deliveries either. Apps like Shop (free) and Deliveries (free + IAP) help you track packages that are on their way to you.
Be prepared
Think ahead and install apps before you need them. If you’ll be a way from loved ones, buy a month of Zoom (free + IAP) for unlimited-length cross-platform video chats. If everyone’s on Apple gear, FaceTime supports group calls and SharePlay for shared movies and gaming.
When traveling, set up mapping (Google Maps; Waze – both free) and weather (Hello Weather; Carrot Weather – both free + IAP) apps in advance. Weather on the Way (free + IAP) combines both, helping you see how conditions will change during a long journey.
If you’re the chef, use Kitchen Stories (free), Tasty (free), Paprika ($3/£3) or Mela (free or $7/£7) to make sure Christmas lunch runs like clockwork. And to keep you in the mood throughout, feast your ears on Christmas Radio (free + IAP). Although probably not 24/7 when others are in earshot, or they won’t stay jolly for long!