Free. It's a four-letter word people love to hear, especially when it comes to purchasing Apps. If you are shelling out even a dollar for an App, you're guaranteed more bang for your buck, right? But it is not always necessary to fork over cash for a decent App, as free versions can provide almost an equal level of functionality and reliability. We have compiled a list of five superb paid Apps and their capable free counterparts.
Need to get things done?
Spend your money on...Todo ($9.99)
For those with jam-packed lives, Todo from Appigo is a lifesaver. An appealing yet simple GUI allows users to effectively organize tasks accordingly while keeping tabs of what's already been completed. Todo can sync with Remember the Milk and ToodleDo and integrate contacts from Address Book. Todo manages to cover all aspects, and then some. (See our review for this App here)
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Save your money with...iProcrastinate
iProcrastinate from Craig Otis is a free task manager that is especially useful for students, but can also be used for organizing anything from shopping lists to household chores. Smartgroups and color coding are helpful organizational tools aiding in immediate access to tasks. Unlike Todo, it lacks Address Book integration, and while it can't sync right now, the next update (due out soon) will have syncing capabilities with the desktop version of iProcrastinate. Whether for a student, homemaker, or businessperson, iProcrastinate can prioritize in a snap. (See our review for this App here)
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Need to know how much money to bring for your trip abroad?
Spend your money on...Currency Converter ($1.99)
iPhone-toting globetrotters will find much use for Paolo Grifantini's Currency Converter, which offers up-to-date information on over 200 currencies around the world (plus the Linden dollar from Second Life). With one-tap rate inversion, an intuitive GUI, and support in fourteen languages, Currency Converter can be the fiscal-minded traveler's best friend.
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Save your money with...Currency
While it may not have as many currencies or as slick an interface as Currency Converter, Jeffrey Grossman's Currency App provides much of the same functionality as its paid counterpart. Currency offers the latest rates on over 90 currencies in 100 countries, as well as support in 16 languages. For those who mind their own personal economy as much as the world economy, they can't go wrong in downloading this free conversion/inversion App.
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Need to find your way somewhere?
Spend your money on...GPS Kit ($9.99)
Whether on two feet or four wheels, GPS Kit from Garafa can pinpoint an iPhone user's location in real time. This tracking/navigation App offers detailed topographical maps, integration with Google Maps/Google Earth, a customizable dashboard, and view, save, and share waypoints. It is important to note that GPS Kit is only compatible with 3G iPhones...
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Save your money with...GPS Tracker
...but for 1st Gen iPhone/iTouch owners (and 3G users who welcome a bargain), there is GPS Tracker from InstaMapper. Like GPS Kit, GPS Tracker also tracks locations in real time (with updates as often as every 5 seconds) and Google Maps integration. But this freebie can also record up to 100,000 locations and store and buffer up to 100 points of interest. Social networking integration allows users to post their current coordinates on personal blogs or Facebook pages, for optimum Net-stalking. (See our review for this App here)
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Need to conceal private information?
Spend your money on...SplashID ($9.99)
SplashData calls its SpashID App a "safe on the iPhone," as it can store not only passwords, but other valuable information such as prescriptions and account numbers. SplashID also generates new passwords, measures password strength, and provides a 256-bit Blowfish encryption to ensure that all information is secure. Users can back up their data by syncing this App with the desktop version of SplashID for Mac or Windows (sold separately). With SpashID, all secrets are safe.
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Save your money with...1Password
Like SpashID, 1Password from Agile Web Solutions provides protection for private and personal information. 1Password keeps data vacuum-sealed with a two-layer defense (unlock code and master password), AES encryption, and an auto-lock feature. Information can be backed up by syncing with the desktop version of 1Password (sold separately, and not available on Windows). Although this App is listed as being free for a limited time, 1Password has already been on the market, sans price, for close to two months. Take advantage of this freebie while you can. (See our review for this App here)
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Need to access your desktop, away from your desktop?
Spend your money on...Jaadu VNC ($24.99)
Jugaari's Jaadu VNC enables the iPhone to access Mac or PC desktops from anywhere in the world. Not only can users control their desktop applications remotely, they can also visit Flash-supported sites on their iPhones and control their favorite media players. Jaadu VNC supports VPN encrypting, combination keystrokes (alt+ctrl+del), and other various VNC servers. There are no limits when it comes to remote PC or Mac desktop access with a Jaadu VNC-enabled iPhone.
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Save your money with...Mocha VNC Lite
We are well aware that there is a full version of Mocha VNC ($5.99) but save a few features (including alt+ctrl+del functionality), Mocha VNC Lite is almost identical and just as reliable. Like Jaadu VNC, Mocha VNC Lite offers remote access to Mac or PC desktop applications and documents via iPhone. Mocha VNC Lite also features a landscape mode, an extensive help menu, and a simple-to-use interface. For a Lite App, Mocha VNC Lite works like a million bucks. (See our review for this App here)
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Summary
As with all purchases, it's important to look for a good bargain. While the paid Apps we feature on this list are superb, their free alternatives can provide much of the same functionality and reliability you desire without having to part with a single penny.
If there is a bargain we forgot to list, sound off in the comments section.
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