The Ultimate Guide to the Best Apps, Websites, and Extensions Everyone Should Use
- Sunflower
- Feb 17
- 4 min read
In today’s fast-paced digital world, staying organized, productive, and informed can feel like an uphill battle. But what if I told you there’s a treasure trove of apps, websites, and browser extensions designed to make your life easier?
Whether you’re a student, professional, or just someone looking to streamline your daily tasks, these tools can help you work smarter, not harder. From managing your time to organizing your thoughts, this blog post dives into the best and most useful digital tools everyone should have in their arsenal. Let’s explore how these tools can transform the way you work, learn, and live.
⭐ Productivity Apps ⭐
TickTick
What it does: Combines task management, calendar tracking, and time blocking into one sleek app.
Why it’s great: Perfect for capturing tasks on the go and organizing your day with time-blocking features.
Cost: Free for basic features; $3/month for premium.
Download: TickTick
Obsidian
What it does: A powerful knowledge management tool that helps you build a “second brain” using the PARA method or Zettelkasten system.
Why it’s great: Ideal for writers, researchers, and anyone who wants to organize their thoughts and ideas.
Cost: Free.
Download: Obsidian
Notion
What it does: A versatile project management tool with relational databases and collaborative features.
Why it’s great: You can create anything from to-do lists to full-blown wikis and even publish web pages.
Cost: Free for personal use.
Download: Notion
Standard Notes
What it does: A minimalist note-taking app for quickly capturing ideas.
Why it’s great: Secure, simple, and supports the Zettelkasten method for knowledge organization.
Cost: Free.
Download: Standard Notes
Instapaper
What it does: A “read later” app that saves articles, videos, and resources for future consumption.
Why it’s great: Comes with a built-in speed reader to help you consume content faster.
Cost: Free.
Download: Instapaper
Raindrop
What it does: A bookmark manager that organizes websites into folders and lets you open multiple tabs at once.
Why it’s great: Perfect for researchers and anyone who needs to manage a lot of online resources.
Cost: Free.
Download: Raindrop
DeepSeek AI
What it does: An open-source AI tool that rivals ChatGPT.
Why it’s great: Completely free and highly effective for brainstorming, writing, and research.
Cost: Free.
Website: DeepSeek AI
Wallet by BudgetBakers
What it does: An automatic expense tracker and budget manager.
Why it’s great: Helps you stay on top of your finances effortlessly.
Cost: Free for basic features; $30 one-time fee for premium.
Website: Wallet
Day One
What it does: A journaling app for capturing daily thoughts and memories.
Why it’s great: Perfect for maintaining a digital diary with multimedia support.
Cost: Free; $34/year for premium.
Website: Day One
TogglTrack
What it does: A time-tracking app that provides insights into how you spend your time.
Why it’s great: Great for freelancers and teams looking to optimize productivity.
Cost: Free for necessary features.
Download: TogglTrack
⭐ Must-Have Websites ⭐
Khan Academy
What it does: Offers free courses on a wide range of subjects, from math to life skills.
Why it’s great: A go-to resource for learners of all ages.
Website: Khan Academy
What it does: A free tool for creating mind maps and diagrams.
Why it’s great: Simple, customizable, and integrates with third-party apps.
Website: Draw.io
Sleep Calculator
What it does: Calculates optimal sleep and wake times based on your schedule.
Why it’s great: Backed by science to help you wake up refreshed.
Website: Sleep Calculator
Kimi AI
What it does: Searches multiple websites and compiles relevant information instantly.
Why it’s great: Saves time on research and fact-finding.
Website: Kimi AI
Untools
What it does: Provides thinking tools and frameworks for problem-solving and decision-making.
Why it’s great: A toolkit for better thinking and planning.
Website: Untools
YouTube to Transcript
What it does: Extracts transcripts from YouTube videos for easy summarization.
Why it’s great: Perfect for content creators and researchers.
Website: YouTube to Transcript
Get Body Smart
What it does: An interactive resource for learning anatomy.
Why it’s great: Makes complex topics easy to understand.
Website: Get Body Smart
Sounds and Ambiance
What it does: Provides ambient sounds like library or café noise for focus.
Why it’s great: Helps create the perfect work environment.
Websites:
Tool Finder
What it does: Helps you discover digital tools for various needs.
Why it’s great: A one-stop shop for finding the right tool.
Website: Tool Finder
Promptify
What it does: Offers pre-made prompts for AI tools like ChatGPT.
Why it’s great: Saves time and enhances AI interactions.
Website: Promptify
⭐ Game-Changing Browser Extensions ⭐
Bionify
What it does: Speeds up reading by highlighting the first few letters of each word.
Why it’s great: Perfect for consuming large amounts of text quickly.
Download: Bionify
Dark Mode Reader
What it does: Enables dark mode on any website.
Why it’s great: Reduces eye strain during late-night browsing.
Download: Dark Mode Reader
Session Buddy
What it does: Saves and organizes your open tabs for easy session management.
Why it’s great: A lifesaver for tab hoarders.
Download: Session Buddy
Dualless
What it does: Splits your browser screen into two windows.
Why it’s great: Perfect for multitasking.
Download: Dualless
Sprint Reader
What it does: Lets you speed read any text by flashing words at customizable speeds.
Why it’s great: Ideal for quick information absorption.
Download: Sprint Reader
Postlight Reader
What it does: Removes distractions from web pages for focused reading.
Why it’s great: Helps you concentrate on the content.
Download: Postlight Reader
Infinity New Tab
What it does: Customizes your “New Tab” page with shortcuts and widgets.
Why it’s great: Makes your browser more personal and functional.
Download: Infinity New Tab
In a world overflowing with digital noise, these tools can help you cut through the clutter and focus on what truly matters. Whether you’re looking to boost productivity, organize your thoughts, or simply make your online experience more enjoyable, there’s something here for everyone.
DISCLAIMER: Sunflower's Notebook is not affiliated with any apps, websites or browser extensions mentioned in this list.
Start small, experiment, and see which ones resonate with your workflow. And don’t forget to share your favorites in the comments below—what’s the one app or website you can’t live without?
Comments