2024 “UnwrAPPed”: The Median Team’s top 5 apps of the year, ranked
In retrospect, 2024 has been a transformative year for mobile app users and developers.
New advancements in technology, tools, and user expectations have pushed apps to become smarter, faster, and more secure than ever.
From leveraging AI-driven personalization to enhancing better delivering seamless cross-platform experiences, popular apps in 2024 reflect the growing demand for innovation that truly benefits both businesses and users.
Enter this year’s edition of our ‘UnwrApped’ list (you can find the 2023 list here!), where we ask the Median team: Which apps on your phone provide the greatest value, most simplify your day-to-day, or just plain impress you!?
Every year, the Median team takes note of new and established apps that provide an exceptional, differentiated, and truly app-like experience — and showcases them in our annual unwrAPPed list!
From life-saving blood donation apps, to those that ease every day navigation, this year’s featured apps have played important roles in not only improving our team’s day-to-day actions, but also those of app users across the globe.
Here are the 5 apps that made the list in 2024.
#1. Slack
Slack is a hybrid app and team messaging platform that helps organizations communicate quickly and more efficiently.
Now part of Salesforce, Slack is a must-have for businesses looking to strengthen cross-team collaboration, expedite on communication, and improve team morale — and is especially handy for remote-first businesses.
Available on iOS, Android, and as a desktop web application, the Slack app gives you the ability to:
- Set up channels: Organize conversations into specific channels based on topics, projects, or even departments (i.e. a sales channel, a general channel, a marketing channel, or a project-specific channel) to keep conversations focused.
- Send direct messages: Deliver 1:1 messages to colleagues when a conversation requires privacy.
- Share files: Easily upload and share documents, images, and other files directly in channels, or direct messages.
- Receive notifications: Get alerted to mentions, messages, or any important updates, and customize based on your preferences.
- Make voice and video calls: You can call colleagues with voice and video calls, both one-on-one and in groups, with the ability to share screens.
With over 10 million downloads from the Google Play Store alone, this app is a crucial teamwork and productivity tool, especially for Median:
What can we expect from this app in 2025?: We predict Slack will integrate even more AI functionality to improve productivity and efficiency for its users (especially those working remotely).
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#2. Photos for iOS
This default photo and video management app — available on all iPhones and iPads — lets you store, organize, edit, and share images and videos at any time. Key features include:
- Automatic organization: Access photos in an organized manner as the app automatically sorts them into albums like Recents, Favourites, and special categories like People, Places, and Events.
- Editing: Customize photos with a range of tools available including cropping, filters, color grading, etc.
- iCloud integration: Connect your iCloud account with the Photos app to sync photos across Apple devices.
- Search functionality: Sort through photos by location, content, or date to more easily find the exact photo you’re looking for.
- Sharing: Easily share photos through apps (compatible with almost every messaging app), Messages, Mail, Airdrop, and even social media.
With a positive rating on the Apple App store, this native app is a Median team favorite:
What can we expect from this app in 2025?: Apple may add even more AI functionality to support users in editing and sharing their photo and video content for multiple platforms, from messaging to social media.
#3. GiveBlood
GiveBlood is a native app developed by the Canadian Blood Services to help users donate blood with ease, and manage their blood donation appointments.
Available on both iOS and Android devices, some of its key features include:
- Book and manage appointments: Locate nearby donation centers, schedule appointments, and view/cancel upcoming appointments.
- Track donation history: Keep a record of previous donations and track your contributions effortlessly.
- Get reminders: Get notified for upcoming appointments and future donation eligibility when approved.
- Earn and share achievements: Track milestones and share your achievements with friends — which can encourage more users to donate blood.
- Integrate easily with Google and Apple wallets: Add your online donation card to Google and Apple wallets, fully eliminating the need to possess a physical donation card.
With over 100K downloads on the Google Play Store and a 4.9 star rating on the Apple App Store, this app is another Median team favorite:
What can we expect from this app in 2025?: GiveBlood could consider introducing real-time blood demand alerts and AI-driven scheduling for an improved donor experience and continue to help save millions of lives all over Canada.
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#4. Home Assistant
The Home Assistant app that allows you to manage and control your smart home devices in one central platform.
Part of the Home Assistant ecosystem, this hybrid app is an open-source home automation platform which allows you to integrate your smart devices such as your lights, sensors, etc.
Some of the features of the Home Assistant app include:
- Smart device control: You can manage and control your lights, locks, cameras etc from one interface.
- Customized dashboards: You can customize and personalise dashboards to view and control your devices the way you want.
- Push notifications: You can receive push notifications for events like motion detections, gate openings, etc keeping you alert 24/7 and allowing you to take quick action.
- Voice control: You can use voice commands through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or even Siri to control devices hands-free across your home.
With over a million downloads on the Google Play Store, this app was also popular with the Median team:
What can we expect from this app in 2025?: We may see more features such as AI-driven automations and enhanced device integrations to ensure your homes are safe, smart, and fun!
#5. Apple Maps
The Apple Maps app — a navigation tool available for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS devices — provides detailed maps designed to help users explore new locations, find directions, and discover new places. It features:
- Advanced navigation: Receive real-time, voice-guided directions for driving, cycling, walking and even public transit routes.
- 3D Maps: View detailed 3D models of cities and landmarks, allowing you to have an immersive experience with building details, street views, and terrain features.
- Real-time traffic information: Get live traffic details based on current conditions, accidents, and road closures (even while driving) to avoid delays and plan better routes.
- Siri integrations: Connect Siri into Apple Maps for a hands-free navigation for ease during driving or walking.
With over 180 monthly users, this native app is also a go-to for the Median team:
What can we expect from this app in 2025?: If growth continues Apple Maps may surpass over 300 million monthly users and be seen as a solid alternative to the very popular Google Maps.
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That’s a wrap!
After a year of intense activity in the app development space, it’s clear that the industry continues to increase its focus on accessibility, seamless integration, AI capabilities, and, as always, improved user experiences.
To our readers: Enjoy exploring the apps that are shaping the world in 2025 — and beyond!
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