The Best Apps for Living in Boise
Posted by Lisa Kohl on Wednesday, July 17th, 2019 at 1:14pm
Ready to optimize your Boise experience? There’s an app for that.
Whether you’re heading downtown and want to find a parking spot, searching for the best on-tap beer in town, or simply checking the news, we’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of the best apps for Boise. Some are Boise-specific to give you the locals-only inside scoop on the City of Trees, while others are nation-wide apps that will make your Boise life easier.
Best Apps to Wine and Dine
GrubHub
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
GrubHub satisfies your hunger for fast, simple food ordering. This food delivery app will bring Boise eats right to your doorstep (or late-night office work party) while allowing you to track your food’s progress, save past orders for quick re-ordering, and pay with a variety of convenient methods.
OpenTable
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Store
Price: Free
OpenTable isn’t a Boise-specific app, but it’ll help you find, reserve, and enjoy incredible restaurants in the City of Trees. OpenTable makes it easy to see restaurants near you with available seats and make a quick reservation. It includes menus, reviews, and restaurant contact information to make dining out simple. You can even collect rewards as you go!
TapHunter
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
TapHunter is a beer and Boise wine lover's dream app. TapHunter allows you to discover nearby beer, cocktails, wine, and spirits and access tap lists and menus all in one place. Review your favorite pours to keep track of what you like best and get alerts when your top restaurants update their menus.
Instacart
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
Groceries from your favorite store, delivered, fast. That’s what Instacart promises, with trained personal shoppers and a simple, quick process. Download it today to be a grocery hero when life gets busy.
Best Apps to Stay in the Know
We Know Boise
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
The We Know Boise home search app provides the most up-to-date and powerful tools to help you find a Boise area home you'll love. Be the first to know when a new property is listed with real-time updates direct from the source. When you find 'the one,' you can book a tour or connect with an experienced local agent right from the app.
Boise State Broncos Roundup
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
What’s the score of the Broncos game? Find that information right at your fingertips with KTVB’s Broncos Roundup app, free in the app store. You’ll have access to game recaps, videos, highlights, commentary, and more.
Idaho 511
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
Idaho traffic and road conditions are delivered straight to your phone and always up-to-date with the Idaho 511 app. Add favorite routes to quickly check for hazards, accidents, and weather conditions, and view road cameras and updated information easily.
Idaho Press
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Store
Price: Free
Don’t miss breaking local news or weather updates. Download the Idaho Press’s app to read stories and even submit your own news stories quickly.
Best Apps to Get Outside
Idaho Hot Springs & Hot Pools
Available on: Apple App Store
Price: $0.99
Idaho has a plethora of natural hot springs and pools to enjoy year-round, and this app is the best place to find them all. Check out points of interest around hot springs, see detailed information about each location, explore nearby camping and lodging, and get map-based and written directions.
Idaho Wildflowers
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: $7.99
Maybe you remember hiking as a kid while your parents lugged around a wildflower guidebook. Now that extensive guidebook is available on your phone with stunning pictures, easy search functions, and detailed information. For the flora enthusiast hitting the hiking trails, this app is a must-have.
TrailLink
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
Boise’s own Ridge to Rivers organization is currently working on an app to make the foothills and greenbelt more accessible to everyone. In the meantime, TrailLink is a great second option. With walking, hiking, running, and biking trails all mapped out, crowd-sourced reviews, and user-generated pictures, you’ll be able to easily choose a trail to hit. TrailLink includes valuable information in each record such as parking availability, trail condition and difficulty, and tips for safety.
Best Apps to Have Some Fun
Boise Weekly SmartCard
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
Like Boise? Like deals? Then you’ll like the BW SmartCard. Add money to your SmartCard and spend it at a discount at participating merchants. Restaurants, grocery stores, salons, theaters, and more participate in Boise Weekly’s SmartCard program, and they’re adding more merchants all the time.
Visit Boise
Available on: Apple App Store
Price: Free
The Boise Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau has developed a free app, perfect for visitors and locals alike to get more in-depth information. From a hotel locator to a restaurant list, you’ll find an easy-to-use guide to the City of Trees in this app.
Best Apps for Getting Around
Parkmobile
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
No change on hand to pay for parking? There’s an app for that. Download the simple Parkmobile app for free on your smartphone and quickly pay for parking or feed the meter without getting up from your cozy spot at the coffee shop.
Social Bicycles (permanently closed)
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Price: Free
Curious how to hop on one of those Boise Green Bikes you’re seeing everywhere? The free app, Social Bicycles, lets you easily reserve, rent, and use your downtown Boise Green Bike. Easily see available bikes, get directions to the nearest hubs, and keep track of your rentals all in this handy app.
Lisa Kohl
Lisa Kohl is a top Idaho Realtor and creator of WeKnowBoise.com. From Southeast Boise to the North End, up to Eagle and west to Meridian, or right in the middle of the Boise Bench and downtown - We Know Boise. Whether buying or selling a home, we provide full-service real estate solutions dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals.
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