Your daily commute doesn‘t have to be dead time. With the right apps, you can reclaim those minutes in transit and kickstart your productivity before the workday even begins.
Whether you‘re driving, biking, taking the bus or train, there‘s an app to help make the most of your commute time. Knock out tasks, feed your mind, or take a breather amidst the rush hour chaos. Here are 36 commute-friendly apps perfect for getting the worm (while getting to work).
Commutes keep getting longer
Before diving into the apps, let‘s look at the state of commuting today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average one-way commute in the U.S. is now 27.6 minutes – 20% longer than it was in 1980. For many people, it‘s even worse:
- Over 14 million Americans spend an hour or more commuting to work each day
- Extreme commuters who travel 90+ minutes one-way make up 2.8% of all commuters
- In some parts of the country, "super commuters" traveling 3-4 hours one-way are on the rise
All that time on buses, trains, and in traffic really adds up. More than 225 hours per year for the average commuter – the equivalent of over 2 weeks of 24/7 travel time. And with more remote work, many people are now making fewer but longer commutes to head into the office.
"A growing number of people are spending a large part of their workdays commuting. Technology – especially smartphones – provides one way to cope with the negative effects of a long commute on productivity." -Ravi S. Gajendran, Professor of Business Administration, University of Illinois
From wasted time to productivity prime time
Fortunately, technology provides an answer for converting commute time into productive time. The rise of smartphones and 4G/5G means you have a powerful productivity tool right in your pocket.
According to App Annie, the average American spends over 4 hours per day using mobile apps. By downloading the right productivity apps, you can make sure a good chunk of that screen time is put to good use on your daily commute. Let‘s take a look at some of the best apps for the job.
Task Management & To-Do Lists
Commutes are the perfect time for a "brain dump" to get all your tasks out of your head and into a trusted system. Lighten your cognitive load and hit the ground running once you reach your desk.
Todoist
Over 30 million people use Todoist to organize, plan, and collaborate on projects. Its clean, intuitive interface works equally well for simple shopping lists and complex team workflows.
Key features for commuters:
- Natural language parsing to quickly add tasks
- Voice capture via Google Assistant/Alexa
- Recurring due dates
- Reminders and notifications
- Offline access
Any.do
A feature-rich to-do list and daily planner, Any.do aims to streamline your life. Capture tasks via voice command while you drive or integrate with your calendar to see a timeline of your day while on the train.
Key features for commuters:
- Smart home screen widget
- Customizable themes
- Whatsapp reminders
- Grocery list mode
- Location-based reminders
TickTick
A relative newcomer, TickTick is rapidly gaining traction with its elegant design and thoughtful features. The app stands out for its built-in Pomodoro timer, transforming your focused commute sessions into 20-minute time blocks.
Key features for commuters:
- Works across all devices/platforms
- Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant integration
- White noise and bedtime mode for evening wind-down
- Calendar subscription for automatic task scheduling
- Premium plan with habit tracker and advanced calendar
News & Entertainment
Staying informed is a key part of a productive day. Use your commute to get up to speed on what‘s happening in the world – or let your mind wander with a podcast.
Curio
Think of Curio as a highly curated newsfeed of ideas. Their editorial team handpicks articles, speeches, and documentaries to spark your curiosity in a variety of subjects. Listen to world-class journalism from The Guardian to Aeon Magazine.
Key features for commuters:
- New content added daily
- Downloadable audio for offline listening
- Adjustable playback speed
- Picks based on your listening history
- 3 different subscription plans
Pocket Casts
Hailed as "the podcast app every iPhone user needs", Pocket Casts turns your commute into an informative and entertaining experience. Discover top shows across news, true crime, comedy, and niche obsessions.
Key features for commuters:
- Cross-platform cloud sync
- Customizable playback speed and skip
- Silence trimming
- Episode search
- Exclusive Extra content with membership
Serial Box
From the company that captivated the world with the hit podcast Serial, Serial Box delivers gripping fiction stories in a variety of genres. Episodes are the perfect length for a commute, with a steady stream of new "seasons".
Key features for commuters:
- Read or listen on the go
- 10-16 episodes per season
- Wide variety of genres
- Sample episodes to find new favorites
- Synced across devices
Learning & Skill-Building
Your commute is an ideal time to sharpen your mind and build in-demand skills. Podcasts and mobile courses have made learning on the go easier than ever.
Highbrow
Highbrow serves up bite-sized email courses and lessons straight to your phone. With over 100+ courses from top thinkers, you can dive into a variety of fascinating subjects during your commute. Each course is broken into 5-minute lessons delivered daily.
Key features for commuters:
- Lessons fit into small pockets of time
- Wide variety of topics from art to coding
- 10-day format builds learning habit
- Downloadable for offline access
- Completely free
Duolingo
The most popular language learning app, Duolingo has gamified micro-lessons perfect for a quick commute session. Choose from over 30 languages including Spanish, French, and Japanese.
Key features for commuters:
- Bite-sized, 5-minute lessons
- Fun challenges and rewards
- Personalized learning experience
- Downloadable lessons
- Completely free
LinkedIn Learning
Formerly Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of expert-led video courses for professional and personal development. Use your commute time to learn in-demand business, tech, and creative skills.
Key features for commuters:
- 16,000+ online courses
- Taught by industry experts
- Downloadable for offline viewing
- Personalized course recommendations
- Shareable course certificates
Health, Mindfulness & Fitness
Commuting, especially driving in heavy traffic, can be stressful. Make time for a little self-care to arrive at your best.
Headspace
With guided meditations tailored for commuting, Headspace aims to transform your transit time. Use it to find a moment of Zen while on the subway or shake off that road rage.
Key features for commuters:
- Commute meditations from 1-20 minutes
- Guided and unguided content
- Courses for stress, focus, and more
- Downloadable sessions
- Free 10-day beginner‘s course
Strava
For active commuters who bike or run to work, Strava is a must-have app. Track your route, distance, speed, elevation and calories burned — all while competing with a global community of athletes.
Key features for commuters:
- Detailed activity tracking
- Social leaderboards and challenges
- Route discovery and recommendations
- Safety features like Beacon
- Cross-device sync
Seven
When your commute unexpectedly comes to a standstill, sneak in a quick workout with Seven. This app promises "maximum results with minimal equipment" through randomized 7-minute workouts.
Key features for commuters:
- Over 200 science-backed exercises
- No equipment needed
- Adjustable intensity
- Fun challenges and achievements
- Syncs with Apple Health
Commute Management
Take the stress out of daily travel with these apps designed to optimize your route and keep you in the know.
Transit
For public transit riders, the aptly-named Transit app is a game-changer. It provides real-time data on departure times, delays, and service disruptions for buses, subways, trains, and more.
Key features for commuters:
- Integrates with bikeshare & scooters
- Shows real-time vehicle locations on map
- Alarms and notifications for your ride
- Offline functionality
- Covers over 200 cities worldwide
Waze
The gold standard for drivers, Waze uses real-time crowdsourced data to help you avoid traffic, find the cheapest gas, and sidestep accidents and road hazards.
Key features for commuters:
- Real-time routing based on live conditions
- User-reported alerts for police, crashes, etc.
- Carpool to share costs with neighbors/coworkers
- Automatic day/night display adjustment
- Integrates with calendar, Spotify, and more
Productivity Boosters
Streamline your routines and stay focused with these useful commute companions.
IFTTT
Short for "If This, Then That", IFTTT lets you create powerful automations between apps and devices, so you can do more with less effort. Save time on repetitive tasks and let technology work for you during your commute.
Key features for commuters:
- Connect over 700 apps and devices
- Set up customized "recipes"
- Example: automatically log commute times to spreadsheet
- Example: get weather/traffic alerts via text
- Example: save your parking location to maps
Instapaper
A bookmarking service to save content for later reading, Instapaper is perfect for stocking up on articles, stories, and blog posts for your commute. Their clean reading view and highlighting tools make it a reader‘s best friend.
Key features for commuters:
- One-click save from browser or app
- Distraction-free "text view"
- Easy highlighting and commenting
- Curated recommendations based on picks
- Downloadable for offline access
Making the Most of Your Commute Apps
So you‘ve downloaded a bunch of shiny new apps. But how can you maximize their effectiveness and build a productivity-powered commute?
Have a plan
Don‘t just open apps at random and putter — be intentional about what you want to accomplish on your commute. The night before, decide which tasks you want to knock out and cue them up on your phone.
Block distractions
It‘s easy to get sidetracked by messages and notifications while using your commute apps. Use "Do Not Disturb" and your device‘s built-in tools to manage interruptions and stay focused.
Know your rhythms
Do your most challenging tasks when your energy and attention levels are highest. For many people, that‘s the first part of the morning commute. Save easier activities for heading home when you may be more depleted.
Switch it up
Keep yourself engaged by varying your commute activities. Listen to a podcast one day, meditate the next, and catch up on industry news the third. A little variety goes a long way.
Reflect and iterate
Get curious about your commute routine. Notice what does and doesn‘t work for you, and make small tweaks over time. The goal is to develop a flow that meets your unique productivity needs and preferences.
The Productive Commute Awaits
With conscious effort and the right digital tools, you can transform your commute from lost time to bonus time. By front-loading your productivity, you‘ll set yourself up to have a better, less stressful workday.
The apps highlighted here can make your commute more efficient, educational, and enjoyable — but they represent just a fraction of what‘s possible. Keep exploring and experimenting to find the perfect productive commute formula for you.
With an extra 250+ hours per year to optimize, even small changes can yield huge results over time. So give your commute a productivity makeover, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
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