These Are the Apps That Powered the Techloy Team in 2025
Work, play, and everything in between, these apps carried us through it all.
Everyone’s in recap mode right now, reflecting on the past 12 months, celebrating what worked, and laughing at what flopped. From the top tech gadget lists to music playlists, the year-end ritual is everywhere.
At Techloy, we decided to ask the editorial team about the apps that made their lives easier in 2025. Some of their answers were exciting discoveries, others delivered memorable experiences, a few truly stuck because they made them more productive.
Here’s what the Techloy team had to say about their favourite apps of 2025, and why they stood out.
Oluwajeminipe Fasheun-Motesho (Senior Writer)
Favourite app: Duolingo
Why: This year, I used quite a few apps, but this language learning app stood out for me. During one of my vacations to Spain and France earlier this year, Duolingo helped me a lot with communicating while I was there.
Although I’m not at a native level yet, it boosted my confidence enough to hold basic conversations. Without it, the language barrier would have been a real dilemma, but thanks to Duolingo, I never had to worry.
Among all the apps I used, this one tops my list because it’s practical and fun. It makes learning a new language feel achievable and not overwhelming.
Emmanuel Umahi (Writer)
Favourite apps: Spotify, SoundCloud, and Untitled Stream
Why: This year, I spent most of my time on social media and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. I also relied heavily on productivity tools such as Google Docs, Canva, and ChatGPT, along with streaming apps like Spotify and Audiomack.
Honestly, it’s hard to pick just one app that stood out because each played a role in my day-to-day life, whether for work, relaxation, or staying connected. All of them contribute to my day.
But if I had to choose the ones that truly shaped both my work life and personal life, it would be streaming platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Untitled Stream. Most of what I do revolves around them, and they’ve become an essential part of my routine.
Loy Okezie (CEO)
Favourite app: TikTok
Why: Among all the apps I used this year, TikTok stands out as my most used and has slowly become my favourite. It’s easily my biggest source of entertainment on the internet right now. I enjoy the feeds, the rewards system during live sessions, and even the little things like digital high-fives.
It’s the kind of app you open for a few minutes and end up staying much longer, not because you planned to, but because it keeps giving you something worth watching.
Louis Eriakha (Writer)
Favourite app: YouTube
Why: Not sure I can put a number on how many apps I used this year, but one thing I can say is I made it a mission to try out a ton of new apps and games this year, so it was all very experimental.
But among all the things I tried, YouTube remained my one true app since the first time I had access to a phone with internet connection, so I can't say it's surprising that till now, my screentime for YouTube alone is like 6-7 hours a day.
I consider myself a visual learner and someone who just likes premium entertainment and storytelling at my fingertips. And YouTube provides that.
Kelechi Edeh (Senior Creative Associate)
Favourite app: ChatGPT
Why: I know I used TikTok, IG, and X a lot this year, but ChatGPT easily took the top spot. It's obvious there’s a lot of scepticism around AI right now, especially in creative spaces, but I’ve found ChatGPT genuinely helpful, and it has changed the way I approach ideas and shape stories.
As someone who writes fiction and works with video, I use it less as a shortcut and more as a thinking partner. It helps me break through creative blocks, test story ideas, sharpen drafts, and think through concepts before they become visuals. It doesn’t replace the work, but it makes the process less lonely and a lot more fluid.
Aside from ChatGPT, I’d say Instagram and maybe Letterboxd deserve a mention, mostly because they kept me sane (and a little delusional) while the world fell apart in 2025.
Ejiro Onose (Senior Writer)
Favourite apps: X, ManagPlus, Tachiyomi
Why: I’ve curated X to the point where it feels personal. It’s where I get gists, stories, and sharp takes from people I actually like and learn from. Once you clean up your timeline, it becomes a really good place to keep up with conversations that matter to you. Then there’s MangaPlus and Tachiyomi, which are my go-to apps for manga. They’re how I keep up with new chapters, discover new series, and unwind.
Between quick reads on X and long manga sessions, those apps were a big part of my daily routine this year and, of course, the way I approach writing as a whole. The constant exposure to different voices, ideas, and storytelling styles shapes how I think, what I pay attention to, and how I put my own words together.
Dennis Da-ala Mirilla (Managing Editor)
Favourite app: Substack
Why: There were only a few meaningful apps I used this year, like Substack. I have had the app for a long time, but this year it became my go-to. On any given subject, you would find some of the smartest takes on Substack. I like the app particularly because it feels like social media for people looking for the real deal and not just noise. It has broadened my interests. I have become so into China only because of this app.
I love scrolling and then going back to my history and just reading on the weekend. So much debate is happening in the world. I learnt about an anti-modernity group living in rural parts of Ireland this year. That is very fascinating, even just knowing that people are protecting themselves like that. I am so grateful for it.
Damilare Odedina (Senior Writer)
Favourite app: Chrome
Why: Chrome was my favourite app this year because I use it for almost everything I do. I like how it just syncs across all my devices, so I can start something on my laptop and pick it up on my phone or tablet without missing a thing.
The desktop version is really useful too; it makes managing my tabs, passwords, and little tasks so much easier. For me, it’s one of those apps that doesn’t get in the way and makes my whole day run smoother.
David Adubiina (Writer)
Favourite app: Instagram
Why: Now that I think about it, I didn’t really try that many apps this year, but I can say for a fact that I use productivity tools like Google Docs and Canva almost every day for work, alongside apps like Instagram, X, and comic apps like Manga Zone. However, Instagram stands out because it’s my go-to when I need to take a break, and second, as a reliable source for consumer tech content.
It takes the No. 1 spot as my favourite because it helps me find topics to focus on for tech guides, discover trending conversations, and learn about upcoming consumer tech products to compare. Beyond that, Instagram has given me fresh perspectives on video scripting and content creation. For me, Instagram is a creative toolkit that fuels my work and keeps me ahead of the curve.
Chivumnovu Ogbonda (Writer)
Favourite app: TikTok
Why: Well, if I had to put a number on it, I used roughly around 50 apps this year alone, but TikTok was just it for me. All in one, if you’d like to call it that. It’s how I get most of my news and insightful content because it really has the best algorithm for picking up exactly what I like. I type in what I want, and somehow it just nails it every single time.
TikTok has completely changed the way I search for content, which is why it’s my favourite pick for 2025. And when it comes to entertainment, it’s on another level compared to Instagram and Facebook. Nothing else even comes close.
Louis Eriakha
