Gear

The 11 iMessage Apps You Should Download First

A list of our favorites on day zero of App Store messaging add-ons.
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Square Cash

Mobile payments keep losing friction as they proliferate. You can send skrilla to a friend inside Snapchat, on Facebook Messenger, and now, with [Square Cash](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/square-cash-send-money-for/id711923939?mt=8), in iMessage.

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GIF Keyboard

Search for GIFs and drop them into chats. Because __[c'mon](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gif-keyboard/id917932200?mt=8)__!

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Super Mario Run Stickers

Everyone's favorite Kong-dodging, princess-saving, Japanese-Italian plumber is [now on iOS](https://more-deals.info/2016/09/inevitable-nintendo-finally-puts-mario-iphone/), which means [he's ready to invade](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-mario-run-stickers/id1152842283?mt=8) your iMessage chats too.

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Star Wars Stickers

Stickers work as stand-alone emoji, or as overlays on top of photos. So, with the [Star Wars sticker pack](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-wars-stickers/id1145177384?mt=8), you can send a winking Lando to compliment some lulz, or match a stormtrooper helmet with your white tux in your wedding photo.

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This week's update to Apple's iOS 10 brings with it a host of enhancements. One of the most anticipated is the ability to run apps inside iOS's native messaging client, iMessage. There are stickers, of course. But popular apps also now come with add-ons that let you run some functions (or even the whole damn app!) inside iMessage chats. Play a game, make an e-payment, or decide on a restaurant and make a reservation, all without leaving your chat. Here's a list of our favorites from the App Store right now. Most are free, but some will cost you a dollar or two.

  • Image may contain Cell Phone Electronics Mobile Phone and Phone
    Square Cash

    Square Cash

    Mobile payments keep losing friction as they proliferate. You can send skrilla to a friend inside Snapchat, on Facebook Messenger, and now, with [Square Cash](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/square-cash-send-money-for/id711923939?mt=8), in iMessage.
  • Tenor

    GIF Keyboard

    Search for GIFs and drop them into chats. Because __[c'mon](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gif-keyboard/id917932200?mt=8)__!
  • Nintendo

    Super Mario Run Stickers

    Everyone's favorite Kong-dodging, princess-saving, Japanese-Italian plumber is [now on iOS](https://more-deals.info/2016/09/inevitable-nintendo-finally-puts-mario-iphone/), which means [he's ready to invade](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-mario-run-stickers/id1152842283?mt=8) your iMessage chats too.
  • Disney

    Star Wars Stickers

    Stickers work as stand-alone emoji, or as overlays on top of photos. So, with the [Star Wars sticker pack](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-wars-stickers/id1145177384?mt=8), you can send a winking Lando to compliment some lulz, or match a stormtrooper helmet with your white tux in your wedding photo.
  • Citymapper Limited

    Citymapper

    Share your current location with just a couple of taps. [Send a pin](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/citymapper-ultimate-transit/id469463298?mt=8) centered on your beach blanket, or tell a friend which table is yours in the massive Biergarten.
  • Zynga

    Words With Friends

    With not-*Scrabble*'s [new iMessage app](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/words-friends-free-word-game/id804379658?mt=8), you can start new games with anyone on your contact list and then play words in those games, all within a chat.
  • Confide

    Confide

    Your messages need some hefty crypto? [Confide](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confide/id779883419?mt=8) protects your conversations with end-to-end encryption. It also has screenshot protection and a feature that deletes messages after they've been read.
  • ESPN

    ESPN

    This [app](https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id317469184?mt=8) from the sports news giant lets you send your friends scores of specific games, search for games, and play highlights directly in the text messaging keyboard.
  • The Weather Channel

    The Weather Channel

    Knowing the forecast makes for smoother planning. [This app](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weather-channel-for-imessage/id1149498832?mt=8) can drop a daily forecast or a weekend forecast into any chat.
  • Poll

    Poll

    Create and deliver [simple polls](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/poll-for-imessage/id1151990256?mt=8) quickly and easily. It's best in group conversations to help you and eight friends decide on which movie to see, which late-night eats spot to hit up, or whose brother is hottest.
  • Open Table

    OpenTable

    Search for restaurants near you and [book reservations](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/opentable-restaurant-reservations/id296581815?mt=8). Also, like Poll, it lets you and your friends vote on which of your favorite spots you'll visit tonight.
Michael Calore oversees WIRED's coverage of consumer technology and internet culture, and is one of the hosts of WIRED's weekly podcast, Uncanny Valley. As a writer, he covers a range of topics including music, film, art, software, social media, and underground culture. ... Read more
Director, Consumer Tech and Culture
TopicsAppsiMessageiosiPhone
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