Plenty of celebrities have mobile app games, including many with the last name Kardashian or Jenner. From musicians to rappers and actors, fans can enjoy playing fun mobile games as favorite celebrities or in celebrity-themed settings. But mobile apps owned and developed by celebrities aren’t just games. They run the gamut and include other interesting options, too. While some apps come and go, failing to get traction, others have real staying power and continue to be used by thousands of fans.
The best of the apps were developed because of the celebrity’s passion for something. In some cases, they have nothing to do with their professional careers but are simply a clever, marketable idea come to life. Others are fun and silly, and some are even inspirational.
Tom Hanks (Hanx Writer)
Tom Hanks developed the free Hanx Writer app, which is available for iPhone and iPad, to honor his love of the old clickety-clack sounds experienced when typing away on a typewriter. While the app doesn’t provide the same tactile feel as the keys, the sound is totally nostalgic for others who feel similarly.
Writers still have the benefit of being able to backstroke a key to delete something, unlike with a real typewriter, which required some handiwork. The free app has decent reviews from fans who love the novelty aspect. Once done downloading this app, consider using one of the best free font apps for iPhone as well.
Kim Kardashian (Kim Kardashian Hollywood)
One of many apps from Kim Kardashian and the other members of the Kardashian/Jenner family, Hollywood, which is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play, is a mobile game. But it’s also designed to help players connect with others through an online community, making new friends around the world who share a love of fashion, events, and celebrity culture.
Each player chooses their own character, whether it be a model, movie star, fashion designer, entrepreneur, or someone else, then travels the world visiting various venues. Shop in boutiques, visit luxury homes, then go to the club at night. Create an entire virtual life, complete with a job, spouse, home, and even kids. There are in-app purchase options.
Levar Burton (Reading Rainbow Skybrary)
Available on App Store, Levar Burton, beloved for his kids’ show Reading Rainbow (and his role in Star Trek), is behind this app that aims to educate and excite young children about the joys of reading.
The app features interactive books and videos hosted by the storyteller himself (and others), so kids can either read on their own or have the content read to them. As kids read more, they earn stickers and can even build their own stories in the app. The app is completely free to download with no advertising, but you will have to sign up for a monthly subscription for $4.99/month after the one-month trial (or $39.99 per year).
Maisie Williams (Daisie)
Dubbed a creative learning app, Daisie, available on the App Store, provides live classes by industry experts in a variety of the arts, including film, music, animation, fashion, and photography. Courses on topics like creative writing could rank among the best free apps to improve your writing, during the trial period, at least. There are thousands of creators on the app and a community those interested in can join, with live classes being held daily.
Build a schedule, learn at a pace that works, and collaborate with like-minded individuals. The app is free to download, but once the trial period ends, it costs $3.33/mo. when locking in for the year or $9.99/mo. to use it month-to-month.
William Shatner (Shatoetry)
Another Star Trek alum, William Shatner, known for playing Captain Kirk himself, has an app called Shatoetry, which is available for download for $1.39 on the App Store. Using the app, you can create sentences, statements, phrases, messages, and more, all using Shatner’s voice. Once your creation is complete, sit back and watch Shatner recite it for you.
Coining these creations Shatisms, there’s also an opportunity to team up with friends using GameCenter and create content together. While the name implies that the app is ideal for composing poetry, plenty of fans use it simply to create fun messages to send to friends and family members, particularly fans of Shatner himself.
Jillian Michaels (The Fitness App)
Given her celebrity status as a fitness guru, it’s no surprise that celebrity fitness guru Jillian Michaels offers a fitness app for both App Store and Google Play. Providing workouts that can be done both at home or at the gym, they are as short as seven minutes long for those who don’t have time in their busy schedules to do a full exercise program.
The highly rated app also includes nutrition advice and mindfulness features. It’s a great app to use alongside one of the best free nutrition apps. The Fitness App is available with a seven-day trial for premium access, after which it’s $14.99/mo.; or save by spending $34.99 for three months or $119.99 for a full year.
Ellen DeGeneres (Heads Up!)
While this one is technically a game, the idea is to use it merely as a guide for real-life fun with others. Indeed, the game itself has been turned into a board game as well that is sold at various retail outlets and online. In terms of the app game, however, Heads Up! is available in App Store and Google Play and works sort of like charades.
A word appears on the player’s head, and friends give out clues to help the person guess it within 60 seconds. The game works over FaceTime on iOS devices (or use Zoom on another device), so it’s a great way to play with friends and family overseas or during a remote event. The app is $1.99 to download, providing access to thousands of words in various categories, like celebrities, accents, and superheroes, along with themed packs like Harry Potter, Friends, and Marvel.
Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, And Others, Though Recently Sold (Tidal)
Tidal has become known as one of the premiere sources for hifi music and is a hugely popular music app. It is designed for those with discerning ears who want to hear music as the artist intended. And it was a celebrity-owned service prior to Square becoming a majority owner in 2021. When it launched, Tidal was co-owned by Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Daft Punk, Jack White, Madonna, Arcade Fire, Alicia Keys, Usher, Chris Martin, Calvin Harris, deadmau5, Jason Aldean, and J. Cole.
The idea behind the app was to offer exclusive content from participating artists with high-quality streaming. Today, Tidal operates in 61 countries. Jay-Z reportedly still owns a minority share in the company, according to Vox, which still classifies it as a celebrity-owned app. Tidal comes with a free trial, after which it’s $19.99/mo. but can be accessed through a multitude of devices.
Snoop Dogg (Snoopify)
Calvin Broadus Jr., a.k.a. Snoop Dogg, is behind this hilarious gimmicky app that is designed to allow fans to “Snoopify” their photos by adding stickers and other imagery of the popular musician and entrepreneur to them.
Available on Google Play, there’s artwork from Dogg himself as well as 7 Days of Funk and other sources. Once a photo has been altered, share it on social media. The app Is totally free, but there are in-app purchases.
Centr (Chris Hemsworth)
Chris Hemsworth, known best for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, is behind the health and fitness app Centr, which he created alongside his wife Elsa and other fitness experts, celebrity chefs, and wellbeing coaches. Available on the App Store and Google Play, the app offers a variety of workout programs from trainers that can be combined with meal plans and meditations.
Those interested in exercising at home can find a suitable program and follow along. Subscriptions are $10/mo. when billed annually, $20/mo. quarterly, or $29.99/mo. monthly, and there’s a one-week trial.