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With a chill in the air and warmth in the heart it can really be only one time of year. Oh yes! It’s Christmas time again! With the 2021 holiday season upon us, it’s time to destress by downloading one of these great apps onto your mobile phone today.

It’s become something of a tradition here at Gadget Cover to give technophiles a few pointers for the best apps to download for the season. There’s bound to be something to bring a smile to your face. 

So, what are you waiting for? Make it an ‘appy Christmas by using one of these winter wonders to plan and survive the big day. But with your mobile phone being such an important part of your plans you don’t want any positives to be wiped out by the loss, damage or theft of your mobile. That’s why having the right mobile phone insurance is essential for a tree-mendous Christmas.

Best app for organising gift lists – Giftster (iOS, Android)

Let’s face it, the giving of presents is a huge part of many family Christmases. So having a good gift list app in your armoury to keep a track of wish lists, purchases and a host of other jobs is vital. Put an end to confusion and worries over forgotten items by downloading Giftster now.

This free gift registry app lets you create a range of wish lists for family, friends and work colleagues. And provides quick communication with other family members so you don't end up duplicating gifts. It also has a useful Secret Santa feature, too, to make office gift exchanges super easy. If you're finding the gift-giving season is proving too much for your juggling skills, then this app is perfect for you.

Remember, if you’re buying a new phone as a Christmas gift for yourself, you’ll want to arrange mobile phone insurance even before it’s unwrapped.

Best app for driving over the festive period - Google Maps (iOS, Android)

Most people now use their phones to help guide them around traffic problems to their final destination. And Christmas time is no exception. With more cars than ever on the roads, accidents and hold ups can play havoc with plans to see friends and family over Christmas.

Those motoring geniuses over at AutoExpress have put a variety of route-planning apps through their paces. In their considered opinion the Google Maps app is the one to go for. Easy to load up and use, it quickly provides you with an accurate traffic-sensitive list of directions. It will also give you a choice of different routes, and useful extras such as Street View, too. It simply has it all!

For other apps to complement the route-planning abilities of Google Maps, why not take a look at our recent article on the best apps for travellers? Particularly if you’re planning a trip abroad this festive season.

Best app for perfect festive snaps – Picsart (iOS, Android)

There are lots of apps out there that let you download Christmas frames and stickers to enliven your festive pics. But if you really want to show off those snaps of festive gifts, warm mince pies, fireside hot chocolate, and wholesome family time then you’ll want something more substantial. Step forward and take a bow, Picsart. This fun and easy-to-use app provides huge amounts of creative control, great image-editing, and a variety of cool filters. Adding text and stickers to give you the perfect pictures to share with family and friends alike.

And if you’re looking for advice on how to capture the best seasonal snaps then take a look at this brilliant advice blog from the photographic geniuses at Picsart themselves.

Best app for choosing a festive tipple – Cocktail Flow (iOS, Android)

There are few things more likely to please visitors to any Christmas house party than a warm mince pie and a delicious Christmas cocktail. Whether you’re new to cocktails or are an experienced mixologist, then the Cocktail Flow app has got plenty for you. With a smooth design and step-by-step instructions to a long list of cocktail recipes you’ll be the life and soul of the party.

Running low on certain key ingredients? Don’t worry, the ‘My Bar’ feature will help you out. Simply add all the ingredients you have to hand and the app will immediately tell you what cocktails you can make, without having to run to the corner shop mid-celebration. Who knows, you might discover a new personal favourite!  

Best app for keeping worries under control – Chill Panda (iOS, Android)

No matter how much of a domestic god or goddess you are, even the most seasoned campaigner will sometimes find themselves feeling a little over-awed by all the demands. And that’s where apps like Chill Panda come into their own. Recommended by the NHS, the app features a range of breathing exercises alongside ideas on how to distract yourself and how to manage your worries. It’s perfectly natural to feel stressed at Christmas time, just remember that you’re not alone.

If you feel like your mental health has taken a bit of a beating over the past year or two why not treat yourself to one of these mindfulness apps? There is an incredible array of apps now available to help with everything from your general mood to specific mental health concerns. Give one a whirl today, you might be surprised by how effective it is.

Best app for last-minute winter getaways – Skyscanner (iOS, Android)

Okay, sometimes no matter how many hours you’ve spent exploring the beautiful island of Chill-ville, you simply must escape! If your budget and family commitments allow, then a last-minute holiday to soak up some Mediterranean sun might be just the ticket.

Skyscanner is undoubtedly the ultimate app tool to find last-minute flights at a price that can’t be beaten. Just open the app, pick your dates, choose ‘everywhere’ and it will show you the cheapest destination to fly to.

Just remember to check what COVID tests you’ll need before and after travelling and make sure your mobile phone insurance is up to date so you can contact friends and family in an emergency.

Best app for snow day watchers – Met Office Weather Forecast (iOS, Android) or BBC Weather (iOS, Android)

As temperatures begin to plummet, the thoughts of many Britons turn to the skies and the possibilities of a fabled ‘White Christmas’ – and a day off from work and school! With the odds of whether Christmas morning 2021 will be met with deep blankets of snow still up in the air at the time of writing, it’s down to you to make your own forecast. With the Met Office and BBC Weather vying to be the most popular weather apps in the UK, who will be right this Christmas? Reputations can be made or broken on such results!

If you don’t fancy either of these then there are plenty of other great weather apps you can download to stay ahead of the cold.

Best app for getting on Santa’s nice list - Video Call Santa (iOS and Android)

Staying on the right side of Santa is an important part of the run up to Christmas. And what better way than to give him a call and check how he’s doing? The Video Call Santa app has 24 different simulated video calls from the big man himself for you to choose from.

You have the option to choose a British accent, whether to have your calls as incoming or outgoing, and you can save all the different calls in a gallery. So, your little ones can listen back to their favourite calls whenever they want.

Best app for controlling those tech habits at Christmas – Kaspersky Safe Kids (iOS, Android)

Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for getting together as a family. And when you’ve spent so many hours preparing for the festivities you might get somewhat stressed if you feel the rest of the family is glued to their devices. Obviously, there are plenty of ways to use parental controls on both iOS and Android phones straight out of the box. However, if you want something more bespoke and offering lots of other additional benefits then a parental control app is worth downloading.

This offering from Kaspersky is a highly rated, full-featured and affordable monitoring system for both desktop and mobile platforms. You can use it to locate your kids 24/7, schedule screen time, lock individual website categories and block unwanted content. Great for putting you at ease by knowing your child's whereabouts whilst allowing more time for those all-important fireside chats!

Best app for when you’ve had enough of slaving over the stove - Just Eat (iOS, Android) or Deliveroo (iOS, Android)

Going out for dinner can seem like a great escape from domestic drudgery when you’ve had enough of the kitchen. But sometimes this isn’t possible, particularly if it’s a last-minute decision and your favourite restaurants are booked up for Christmas.

That’s why increasing numbers of families are choosing to have restaurant-quality food delivered straight to their door. Just Eat and Deliveroo are the two biggest delivery services in the UK offering hundreds of different cuisines. Perfect for a bite to eat on Christmas Eve when you’re busy wrapping!

Best app for Christmas movies and entertainment – Disney+ (iOS, Android) or Netflix (iOS, Android)

When it’s so cold outside, it’s wonderful to snuggle up together on the sofa and watch a classic Christmas movie. If you’re a fan of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars then the Disney+ app is just right for you. It also has great content from National Geographic if you really want to geek-out to nature. As well as being useful at home, if you’re travelling over the holidays then it has some additional features worth enjoying.

It gives you access to unlimited downloads (provided you’ve got enough storage on your device). Plus you can watch them on up to 10 devices with no internet connection needed. So, while your kids are watching endless episodes of The Simpsons you can binge on Star Wars’ The Mandalorian. Keeping everyone happy.

If Disney+ programming isn’t your thing, then Netflix is the obvious alternative. Now is the perfect time to catch-up on hundreds of brilliant award-winning shows. These include You, Riverdale, Squid Game, Money Heist or even all six seasons of Downton Abbey.

Best app for kitchen creatives who fancy something other than turkey - BBC Good Food (iOS, Android)

With an archive of 13,000+ recipes there’s enough inspiration here to keep your Christmas day offerings interesting for many years to come. It also includes an uber-useful Cook Mode feature, which stops your screen from locking mid-recipe. Saving your beautiful phone from sticky fingers!

Best app for getting over that post-Christmas slump – National Trust (iOS, Android)

Whether you feel like exploring historic houses and gardens, archaeological sites and monuments, or coastlines and countryside there’s sure to be a walking location perfect for you. The National Trust app will be your handy guide to great days out at a range of special places.

If you really want something to get your heart pumping then why not try wild swimming? While it’s not for the faint-hearted a bracing dip in one of the UK’s many outdoor swimming spots could become a fine Christmas tradition. The Wild open water swimming app is available on iOS and Android.

Mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover

Your phone can provide the vital missing ingredient in your Christmas party recipe. That’s why it’s always so important to get it insured right away. The helpful team at Gadget Cover will quickly set you up with a mobile phone insurance policy to suit your needs and budget.

Policies arranged through Gadget Cover include protection for accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage. And for an extra premium you’ll be covered against loss, too, if you lose your gadget in the Christmas rush.

If Christmas time means you’re ready for a new phone, then don’t delay looking for the right mobile phone insurance to protect your new device.

Call our team of specialists today for a quote and protect your tech with mobile phone insurance.