New York City is one of the most exciting, dynamic places to live. There’s always something to do and a new place to try out. But what if you don’t know where you want to eat? Or you want to make sure your apartment is the best deal possible? Or you need an app that can help you find parking in a city where space is at a premium?
There are so many apps available on the market these days, it can be tough to keep track of which ones are best for certain things. That’s why we put together this list of our favorite apps for New Yorkers!
We hope this list helps you make the most of your time in New York City!
Best Apps For New Yorkers
hese days there are apps for just about everything: Food delivery, connecting with your neighbors, and now, Covid-19 vaccine passports. When you live in New York City, especially now, it’s good to know which apps can make your life a bit easier.
If you need to know if an event you’re attending has specific restrictions or want your grocery or takeout orders delivered contactless—there’s an app for that. Most of these apps change with the times (have you updated your phone recently?) and it’s especially important to regularly update your apps so you have the latest features. Some of these apps also have premium subscriptions and memberships so you can get the most out of the apps you depend on.
[Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post was published in October 2020. We are presenting it again with updated information for October 2021.]
Keep reading for our picks of apps that you need to download to make living in New York City run a little smoother. (Want more apps? Brick Underground has rounded up transit apps to help you navigate the city like a pro, and rental apps that help find your next place in NYC.)
Stop the spread of Covid
Covid-19 has changed almost all facets of life, like having to show proof of vaccination if you want to attend just about anything in the city: Large events, indoor dining, Broadway shows, and even museums. There are two official apps that you can download to get into these events: New York’s Excelsior Pass and NYC COVID SAFE, which is part of the city’s Key to NYC, the city’s initiative to get people vaccinated and requirement to attend indoor events. You can upload a photo or your vaccination card and/or negative test results to both apps.
There’s also Covid Alert NY, which shares current infection rates across the state and has a feature that will alert you if you’ve spent more than 10 minutes within six feet of someone who tests positive for Covid-19 if they also have the app, you both had Bluetooth enabled, and they allow their results to be shared.
Get back out into the city
Broadway and other events are slowly returning to the city—but be prepared to show proof of vaccination, wear a face mask, and social distance when you attend them. Most events and shows are also operating under limited capacity so you might have a harder time scoring tickets.
If you’re looking to attend a free event in NYC, 1iota gets you tickets to talk show tapings, live recordings, and other free events. The app also lets you know if the production has specific Covid requirements. And if you’re ready to finally see a show on Broadway again, tkts is a good app to get discounted tickets. Right now, there are only a handful of shows with discounts on the app, and most require you to visit their Times Square kiosk to purchase tickets.
Connect with your neighbors—and neighborhood
If you’re spending more time in your neighborhood these days, it’s good to know what’s happening around your block and connect with neighbors who can help you or you can help during these uncertain times. NextDoor is a social media platform for your block—you can only read and post about topics happening around the neighborhood you designate. If you use Reddit’s app, you can also find New York City and neighborhood threads about what’s going on around your neighborhood (Pro tip: It’s good for local restaurant recommendations and the scoop on neighborhood drama).
Know what’s going on around NYC
There’s a lot going on in the world these days so having an app that curates all of the breaking news helps keep you up to speed. For local news, check out Patch (you get hyper-local news specific to your neighborhood), Apple News (you can choose what topics you want to get news alerts for and there’s Apple+, a paid subscription that gives you access to tons of publications), Flipboard, and of course New York Daily News, New York Post, and The New York Times.
Be aware of nearby crime
The city is certainly not as dangerous as it was decades ago, when Times Square was seedy and not so family-friendly, but crime has gone up in certain parts of the city. To help, there are apps that can help you monitor your home and neighborhood. There’s Neighbors by Ring, which uses activity recorded by residents’ Amazon’s Ring Video Doorbell Pro and uploads it to the app for neighbors to see, and the crowdsourced app Citizen, which alerts you of any nearby crime.
Fair warning: Once you download these apps, you will get what seems like a disturbing amount of notifications about crimes taking place nearby. You may want to turn off notifications and check the app when you have concerns.
Get your food, booze, and groceries delivered
New York City is a foodie’s dream, so it’s essential to check out all of your options when you’re ordering in, especially locally-owned restaurants that could use your support. There’s a ton of food delivery apps out there, including the granddaddy Seamless and also Postmates, where you can have more than just food delivered, plus Caviar and Uber Eats. For booze, your local wine and liquor store might have their own app, but you can also download Minibar and Drizly to get alcohol delivered to your front door.
Going grocery shopping isn’t nearly as fraught as it was at the height of the pandemic, but if you don’t have time to deal with lines, or you’re high risk and prefer to stay inside, apps like Instacart and Fresh Direct will bring your groceries to your front door.
When ride-sharing is your best bet
There are a lot of transportation options in NYC and the subways are being cleaned more, but if you want to avoid a crowded train during rush hour, or you’re traveling between hard-to-reach places, ride-sharing is your best bet.
Uber and Lyft are two of the most popular ride-sharing apps in NYC, and they all have Covid guidelines for you and your driver (your Uber driver might be separated by a sheet of plastic and you also have to wear a face mask). Just keep in mind that costs and wait times for rideshares have gone up. Tip: If you’re patient, Lyft has a feature that gives you a cheaper rate if you’re willing to wait a bit longer, and sometimes the car shows up sooner than expected anyway.
—Earlier versions of this article contained reporting and writing by Virginia K. Smith
apps for living in new york
The 7 Apps You Need to Have While Living in NYC
BY
OCTOBER 14, 2015
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A young, tech-savvy population short on patience but big on smartphones has generated a wealth of software geared towards irascible New Yorkers. Apps of the moment are increasingly mitigating the everyday hurdles of urban living, allowing city dwellers to easily navigate the city’s nexus of subway routes or quickly order a late night food delivery. While residing in one of the largest cities in the world is assuredly hectic, these apps make day-to-day life in New York a little bit simpler.
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- Embark NYC Subway
The Embark NYC Subway app allows users to find out where their train is and when it will arrive. The platform also functions as a trip planner that sends schedule updates based on service changes. Additionally, the app works without a cellphone signal, which is helpful in the depths of the city’s ill-connected metro system. If Embark isn’t for you, you can also use Apple’s iOs 9’s mass transit directions, which acquired and uses much of the beloved HopStop app’s technology. RIP HopStop.
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- Fever
Fever is an event discovery app that helps locals and tourists find things to do and see. Tailored to the user’s interests (i.e. food, music, art, etc.), the app provides a curated list of New York events happening today, tomorrow and within the upcoming week. The app also features weekly lists of the best concerts, exhibitions, parties, comedy shows, restaurants, tours, attractions, nightlife and places to visit in the city.
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- Citi Bike App
The Citi Bike App works in conjunction with New York’s city-wide bike sharing program. During the muggy summer months where biking is permissible, the app functions as a catalyst to get you riding. Based on the user’s location, the app showcases a map of nearby Citi Bike stations and directions on how to get to them. The app also lists the number of bikes available at each station as they are checked in and out, as well as the number of empty spaces where riders can drop their bikes.
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- Seamless
New York is infamously known as the city that never sleeps. And with no sleep comes late night eating, which is where Seamless comes in handy. The app allows users to order food directly from your smartphone, upholding the ultimate convenience in the realm of online food ordering.
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- Arro
While Uber currently stands as the predominant app to use for ride-sharing services, the iconic New York yellow cab is making a comeback. CMT recently partnered with Arro, a ride-hailing app that syncs cabs using CMT technology to the app’s users. While Uber is often less expensive than a traditional taxi, Arro does not include surge pricing in its platform. With Uber’s frequent and high surge charges throughout the city, especially during rush hour, Arro is a necessity for getting around. The only downside? Arro takes the rush out of spontaneous street hails New Yorkers are known for.
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- Happy
Happy allows users to drink for cheap at any time with participating bars. Based on your location preferences, the app features an interactive map of happy hours happening at the moment or in the future. And whether you’re craving craft beer, margaritas or a glass of wine, you can sift through the restaurant’s different deals and time frames. The app also allows you to view bar profiles, which offer an overview of their “vibes,” regular happy hour times, and hours of operation.
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- OpenTable
You can book dining reservations with a few clicks using OpenTable. The app allows you to choose from various cuisines, price ranges, times and locations, as well as invite friends to eat with you. The app also rewards you for eating out. When you honor a reservation made through the app, you accumulate Dining Points, which you can then redeem for a Dining Reward. The app also provides profiles of restaurants, complete with user reviews, payment options and dress code.
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Related: 5 startups to help you navigate New York’s food scene
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