5 Free Apps To Change Your Life

An average of 1,060 new apps are released on the iOS Apple App Store every day.

Read that again.

E-V-E-R-Y D-A-Y.

With apps being invented for literally everything and anything, odds are, if you’ve thought about it, there’s an app for it. If you’re willing to try something else besides Instagram and Youtube, this one’s for you.

In the following blog post, I share the apps I use daily for my personal & professional development. Let’s get started!

Professional/Skill Development

1) Duolingo

Duolingo is a language-learning app that allows you to learn 19 distinct languages. The app offers a simple and fun way to learn whilst using gamification tools such as streaks, hearts (symbolizing lives), and leaderboards to make it an entertaining experience. Many of you who know me personally are aware that I started speaking Dutch relatively quickly after moving to Amsterdam and I have Duolingo to thank for this accomplishment. I am currently learning German and on a 46-day streak!

2) Mimo

Similar to Duolingo, Mimo is an app that teaches you computer programming in a gamified manner. On the app, you’re able to decide between learning Python, SQL, and/or Web Development (using HTML, CSS, then Javascript). Do these words sound like mumbo jumbo to you? Give it a shot! Who knows, you might enjoy learning how to code. Mimo has also partnered with Iron Hack, a 9-week Bootcamp in either web development, data analytics, or cybersecurity boasting an 80% graduate hiring rate at companies such as Visa, Google, and Accenture. Personally, although I doubt I will pursue a career in tech, I think coding is a great skill to have in your arsenal as it improves your digital literacy, problem-solving skills, promotes creativity, and looks great on your resume! I am currently learning Python and on a 23-day streak.

3) LinkedIn Learning

If you’re a student, please check if your university offers access to LinkedIn Learning for free (my university did) as this platform is truly a gold mine of information. The company helps you develop your business, tech, and creative skills with a massive 5000 expert-led courses made readily available to you. If you follow such courses alongside your degree, you’re allowing yourself to become an extremely competitive candidate post-graduation as your learning has overcome the boundaries of the teachings inside the classroom. You become a beacon for knowledge and the pupil of the best teachers all across the globe which has immense value. The abundance of variety in courses across the platform allows you to follow the ones that interest you, which means you’re always learning about subjects you genuinely want to know more about. I cannot stress the value of e-learning enough, seriously guys, pick a course and do it! You’ll even get a certificate at the end and you can add it to your LinkedIn profile which makes your professional profile much more noteworthy. As for myself, I am currently brushing up on my excel skills and currently following a course on the ins & outs of becoming a financial analyst.

4) Forage

While we’re on the topic of e-learning, Forage is yet another platform where top companies provide free open-access virtual experiences to students & professionals wishing to get an inside view of what it’s like to work at such corporations. The tasks, although condensed and simplified (most courses are between 5–6 hours) are surprisingly similar to those you would undertake at an internship. The unique value proposition of Forage is most certainly its impressive portfolio of prestigious companies with the likes of Goldman Sachs, Accenture, KPMG, and even PwC all offering virtual experiences on the platform. I recently completed programs offered by BCG (Boston Consultancy Group) and J.P. Morgan in strategic consulting & investment banking respectively. These were great learning experiences and I recommend both virtual experiences as well as the platform itself to all who wish to see what practical tasks are associated with a certain career.

5) Binance Academy

For all the crypto lovers out there, Binance Academy is a great educational platform. Although I don’t trade on Binance itself, I’ve used their academy to learn more about blockchain, the metaverse, NFTs, smart contracts and so much more. They keep adding new courses and more material regularly, which is of high quality and easily digestible. They even have an “Earn & Learn” program which rewards users with free tokens after they complete short courses, such as reading specific blockchain and cryptocurrencies related articles.