6 iPhone Apps That Make Widgets Actually Useful

Widgets are supposed to make the iPhone more useful, but most don't live up to their potential. But a few apps can finally make widgets worth your time.

• 8 iPhone Widgets to Boost Productivity

Table of Contents

• 6. Widgy
• 5. Widgetsmith
• 4. ScreenKit
• 3. Fantastical
• 2. Colour Widgets
• 1. Sticky Widgets

6. Widgy

If you want complete control over the look and functionality of your widget, Widgy is the tool you’ve been waiting for. It opens up a new layer of flexibility, allowing users to design widgets from scratch or choose from a huge library of community-created templates.

What makes Widgy stand out is its balance of power and creativity. You can build a widget that shows your battery status, step count, weather, or calendar events, all formatted exactly how you want. Do you like a minimalist clock? No problem. Do you want a data-heavy block with charts and icons? That’s possible, too.

It takes a little getting used to, but Widgy doesn’t leave you stranded. The app includes pre-built widgets that you can customize with just a few taps. Once you get used to it, it will start to feel natural. The level of customization is unparalleled, making Widgy perfect for anyone who wants their iPhone to reflect their workflow, their aesthetic, or both.

5. Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith was one of the first apps to pioneer the iOS widget wave—and it’s still one of the best. Widgetsmith offers a more user-friendly, well-guided experience than Widgy, making it ideal for those who want control without complexity.

You can create widgets for the time, weather, calendar events, reminders, and even health data. Choose a size (small, medium, or large), choose a function, then customize the look—fonts, colors, background—to match your style. The interface is simple, and while the design options aren't as limitless as Widgy, they're enough to make your home screen feel purposeful.

If you want your home screen to be beautiful and functional without spending hours designing it, Widgetsmith is the way to go.

4. ScreenKit

If you want your iPhone to look like a curated mood board, ScreenKit is the app for you. Best known for its aesthetic icon packs and themes, ScreenKit also offers a variety of stylish widgets without completely sacrificing functionality.

ScreenKit focuses less on deep customization and more on simplicity. Browse through pre-designed themes — like minimalist pastels or a tech-forward dark mode — and apply them all at once. Each theme comes with built-in widgets, including a clock, calendar, battery indicator, motivational quote, and countdown timer. These widgets are more about aesthetics than utility, but for the average user who wants a consistent look, it’s a fair trade-off.

3. Fantastical

Fantastical has long been a favorite among productivity enthusiasts, and its widget support reinforces why. While Apple's default calendar widget is fine, Fantastical takes things a step further with smart, elegant widgets that help you manage your time more effectively.

The app shows multiple upcoming events, reminders, weather, and even meeting invitations at a glance. The layout is clean yet informative and uses space wisely.

Fantastical's widgets are also highly responsive. You can choose from a variety of layouts depending on the level of detail you want. If you use it with the main app, you also get features like natural language input and to-do list integration.

2. Colour Widgets

Colour Widgets strikes a great balance between style and widgets. Great for those who want a functional widget that still looks good and doesn't require complicated setup.

The app offers pre-built widgets for a clock, calendar, step counter, and battery monitor, all with a clean, modern aesthetic. Setup is quick: Select a widget, choose a theme, tweak a few colors or fonts if you want, and drop it onto your home screen. No layers or code required.

One underrated feature is the ability to add custom text. You can create countdown timers, motivational notes, or personal reminders right on the screen. For users who treat their phone like a planner or vision board, this is a thoughtful touch.

While it doesn't offer the in-depth data integration of Widgy or Fantastical, Color Widgets makes up for it in accessibility and style. Color Widgets is perfect for keeping things neat and handy.

1. Sticky Widgets

Sticky Widgets does one thing really well: put digital notes on your home screen. It’s not flashy or feature-rich, but that’s exactly why it works. Open the app, type your note, and it shows up in a widget that looks like a virtual Post-it note.

It's perfect for reminders that aren't in your calendar or to-do app. Think shopping lists, motivational quotes, or something you tend to forget. You can change the colors and fonts to give it a little personality, but the appeal is in its simplicity.

Sticky Widgets doesn’t try to be a planner or a diary. It’s simple, yet one of the best productivity widgets around. It gives you a place to take notes and keeps them front and center. For those who think best with quick notes and visual cues, this is a neat little widget that’s a must-have.

Widgets used to be just decoration. Now they can help you stay on track, express your style, or help you focus. With the right apps, your home screen stops being a blank slate and starts working. These options don’t just look good, they actually help your iPhone work better.