One of the standout features of owning an Apple Watch is the ability to personalize its watch face to suit different occasions. Whether you prefer an activity-focused face during workouts or a minimalist design for the office, Apple offers a broad range of watch faces accessible through the Watch app on your iPhone. Users can explore various categories such as Chronograph, Astronomy, Color, Infograph, and Kaleidoscope, each offering extensive customization options including colors, fonts, styles, and complications — with support for third-party apps as well.
For those seeking more variety beyond the built-in options, several third-party apps provide expansive libraries of watch faces, often requiring subscriptions to unlock premium content. Here is a rundown of some of the best Apple Watch face apps available:
Buddywatch
Buddywatch stands out with its curated watch face categories like Zodiac Signs and Beaches, and an innovative Buddy AI feature that suggests watch faces matching your outfit via photo input. While many of its top features and the ability to create custom faces require a premium subscription ($2.99/week, $6.99/month, or $9.99/year), users can still explore free watch faces and use the app without subscribing. The app also recommends matching Apple Watch bands for each face, enhancing personalization.
Clockology
Clockology offers a distinctive twist by including interactive, full-screen clocks that run over your existing watch face, updating data in real-time. Its collection includes both digital and analog faces, many available for free, with the option to filter by designer or Apple Watch model. Users can create or import watch faces using customizable templates, with premium access priced at $1.99/month or $19.99/year.
Watch Faces by Facer
Known for its cross-platform compatibility with Wear OS and Tizen, Facer features watch faces from popular brands like Barbie, NASA, Atari, and Star Trek. The app provides extensive categories such as Anime, Gaming, and Space, along with a Top Charts section highlighting popular options. Some watch faces are free, while the premium subscription costs $4.99/month or $39.99/year. The app supports easy sharing and favorites management.
Watch Faces Albums & Widgets
Claiming a library of over 100,000 watch faces, this app by Appdrove LLC offers simple to complex designs incorporating weather and pedometer data. Users can create custom faces using photos, animations, or portraits, and add stickers and effects. While the app is free to download, unlocking premium content requires a lifetime fee of $6.99, with additional charges for advanced features.
WatchMaker
Potato Powered Games’ WatchMaker boasts over 100,000 watch faces, with customizable options and integrations for HealthKit and weather. It supports Apple Watch Series 1 and newer. Access to premium content comes with a yearly subscription of $29.99 or a weekly pass for $3.99, allowing users to test the app before committing.
Watch Facely
This app offers a unique QR code sharing feature called QRFaces, enabling users to share watch faces easily. Premium access ranges from $2.99 for a single face to $17.99 per month for full subscription, with an additional fee to unlock QR code functionality.
Facet
Facet provides animated watch faces in themes like Birds, Vehicles, Space, and Robots, appealing to both kids and adults seeking distinctive designs. The premium subscription costs $9.99/month or a $30 lifetime fee for full access to animated and live faces compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 and above.
StepDog
StepDog introduces a playful approach to step tracking by letting users select a virtual dog or cat companion that encourages daily activity with animations and sounds. Premium features include live weather backgrounds and local leaderboards, available for $1.99.
Watch Faces by MobyFox
MobyFox offers over 2,500 watch faces featuring licensed content from popular TV shows and movies like Star Wars, Marvel, and Harry Potter. A Pro subscription unlocks thousands of interactive faces for $1.99/week or $2.99/month, making it ideal for fandom enthusiasts.
Watch Faces Classics
For those who appreciate timeless elegance, this app provides classic watch faces from luxury brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Versace. Alongside watch faces, it offers a variety of themed wallpapers, all accessible within a single app.
Watchsmith
Focused on complications, Watchsmith integrates deeply with Apple Health to display metrics such as heart rate and activity. Users can customize positions for various complications, with premium subscriptions ($1.99/month or $19.99/year) unlocking advanced data like weather and tide information. The app also includes tools for time zone calculations, moon phases, and calendar events.
With such a diverse array of apps, Apple Watch owners have no shortage of ways to tailor their smartwatch to their personal style, lifestyle, and interests. From elegant classics to interactive pets, there’s a watch face app to suit every user’s preferences and enhance the Apple Watch experience.
