Over the past few months, I’ve been writing about new apps that have become a part of my daily life. I’m not one to change up my routine offhandedly. It takes a lot to get me to try something different, and even more for me to stick with it. Which is why I’m so impressed with these apps that have embedded themselves into my life and become so important to me.

There’s one characteristic all of these tools have in common that you might have noticed: They’re all indie apps. That means they are created by independent app developers, not big companies. Every app I’ve featured on my site this year has come from developers working on their own to support themselves through the applications they create.

That’s been a purposeful decision on my part. I made a conscious choice a while ago to follow people and websites that feature independent app developers. Sources like MacStories, Indie Dev Monday, and Indie Apps Catalogue are great for discovering new tools by creators I’ve never heard of. And by following indie developers and those who support them on Twitter, I’ve found even more ways to keep up with what’s happening in this space. It’s been so much fun and exposed me to a treasure trove of useful apps.

There are a lot of reasons why I’ve chosen to focus on indie apps when looking for something new, and I’d like to share a few of them.

First of all, indie apps tend to be well and uniquely designed. They aren’t generically built for a bunch of different platforms, and they aren’t designed by committee. Rather, they are crafted by individuals who put a lot of time and intentionality into making them. Not only do they look great; they work really well, too.

There are thousands of apps out there, and you can probably find dozens that accomplish any given task. To find an app that not only does what you want it to do but also connects with you and makes you want to use it, though—that’s something special. And it’s something I’ve found indie apps are especially good at.

Indie developers tend to tackle problems that are personal to them. They create apps that they are passionate about, and their passion translates into a good user experience. I choose to use the apps I do because they feel like they were made for me. They mesh with the way my brain works, and that comes from the way they’re designed.

Indie apps also tend to be good platform citizens, which is very important me. It’s a tad ironic, but I’ve found that the smallest developers with the least resources actually invest the most in making their apps as useful and versatile as possible for their users.

That means they include basic features like share sheet extensions, drag-and-drop, and split screen support on iPads. It also means they offer Shortcuts actions and Home screen widgets so that users can interact with them in the way they prefer. Some even go so far as to create Apple Watch versions (no small feat!), which I find really fun and useful. I take advantage of these platform features more because my favorite apps support them.

Apple offers all kinds of great system options that developers can use to make their apps better and make users love their devices more. I’ve found that indie devs tend to lean into these features, and their apps are better for it.

I’ve also found customization to be a great benefit of using indie apps. Whether it’s changing the screen tint color or adjusting how the app actually works to fit you, these apps give you options and settings—not too many, but just enough—that allow you to make them your own. The same can’t be said of every app.

The pace of updates on indie apps is also just incredible. I’ve started checking my App Store updates tab daily because the apps I love are being constantly refreshed with new features and refinements. If you’re the type of person who likes to use all of the latest OS features as soon as they’re released, your best bet is to invest in indie apps, because their developers are always the first to incorporate those updates. It’s fun to always have something new to try in the apps you love.

Finally, the relationships you can build with the developers of indie apps are just so fulfilling. They’re always so welcome to feedback, and they actually respond to you! Sometimes, your ideas even become inspiration for new features down the line. It’s so much more enjoyable to use software from independent app developers rather than faceless corporations.

It feels good knowing that the money you spend on apps is going to independent developers, too. I’ve found the app subscription model that many indie devs use to be the perfect setup: I pay a reasonable amount every year to support the developer’s work, which allows them to provide for themselves and keep making the app better. Everyone wins, and it feels like I’m directly connected to the people making my favorite tools.

That alone is enough of a reason to support indie developers in my mind. All the other stuff is just a bonus. But taken together, these reasons make indie apps so much more compelling to me than any of the other options out there.

All of my favorite apps are indies, and they make my life so much better. If you haven’t looked into the world of independent developers and their apps lately, I suggest you give them a try. You won’t regret it.

Here are a few of my favorite indie apps to start off your search:

OpenBudget, a personal finance app from Khan Winter
Sofa, a downtime organizer by Shawn Hickman
Structured, a day planner from Leo Mehlig
Good Sudoku, my favorite puzzle game from Zach Gage
Awesome Habits, a habit tracker from Michal Tuma
Slipity, a powerful presentation app from Josiah Oslund
Everlog, a journaling app from Wessley Roche
Mela, a recipe manager from Silvio Rizzi
Play, a YouTube watch later app from Marcos Tanaka

There are so many great indie apps out there. These are just a few to get you started, so be sure to go out and find some for yourself! And if you find something amazing, please don’t hesitate to send it my way. You never know when you might find your next favorite app.