Several of our favorite apps are having a holiday sale

There is an App Santa promotion running, and several of our favorite iOS developers have put their apps on sale for the holidays.

Here are a few apps we heartily recommend, even when they’re not on sale:

1Password for iOS: $17.99 → $9.99

I sometimes like to refer to my iPhone as “Command Central”. It’s great for a lot of things, and then okay at a lot of other things. And while it may not be the best device for some tasks, I can still do pretty much anything from the iPhone if and when I need to. And since I have my iPhone within arm’s reach pretty much 24/7, it makes sense that I should be able to access critical information when I need to. And that’s why 1Password is so great.

1Password is far more than just a password manager. If that’s all it was then the updates to iCloud keychain sync would have negated the need for 1Password. However, 1Password also stores secure notes, bank information, and pretty much anything else I can think of.

1Password for Mac: $49.99 → $34.99

This is at the top of our list for Mac apps we think all moderately computer-savvy people should be using.

If you’ve been holding out on getting 1Password, now would be a good time. You can get the Mac and iOS suite for a total of $45 (originally it’s $68). Usually the Mac app alone is $50.

Mileage Log+: $9.99 → $4.99

For years I used Trip Cubby to track all my business, medical, and charity-related driving. That app was recently retired, and out of its ashes arose Mileage Log. I haven’t yet tested and tried any other mileage trackers, so I can’t say for certain how Mileage Log compares to the others, but I do know that Mileage Log is awesome and it complies with the IRS’s regulations for tracking miles driven for tax purposes. I’ve used the app to log 63 trips so far this year for more than 1,300 miles.

Day One for iOS: $4.99 → $2.99

Day One is the very best journaling app for iOS and the Mac. And, like 1Password, the whole Day One suite is on sale for the holidays. The universal iPad + iPhone version of Day One is just $2.99 and the Mac version is just $7.99.

PCalc: $9.99 → $6.99

PCalc is our pick for the best calculator on the iPhone. It’s a universal app, so you get the iPad version as well. “Faster” is the key to PCalc. Its combination of features, customizations, and user interface niceties is designed to get your calculations done quickly. It’s faster than any other calculator I’ve used; not because of the processor in the phone, but because of the thought that went into its design. If you want a calculator that has lots of power features but values its user interface above all, you’ll want PCalc.

Tweetbot 3 for iPhone: $4.99 → $1.99

Tweetbot is the best iPhone Twitter app. It was recently updated for iOS 7, it has all the features you’re likely to need and then some. It’s full of animations and is delightfully well designed.

Calendars 5: $6.99 → $2.99

Over the past few months, we’ve been testing and using different calendars for iPhone and iPad. And those these reviews are still in the pipe (we’re writing up our iPhone calendar app review at the moment), Calendars 5 looks like one of the best, if not the best calendar app for the iPad.

Perfect Weather: $2.99 → $1.99

Perfect Weather is our runner up pick for the best iPhone weather app. It’s a lovely app with excellent support for multiple locations, large radar displays, and weather details that are easy to hide and pull back out. Moreover, it has this super-cool feature where you can record an animated GIF of the radar you’re looking at, and then share that online. So, if you’ve got a crazy storm blowing through your city, you can show the radar view to your friends.

Delivery Status: $4.99 → $2.99

If you have an Amazon Prime account, you’ll almost certainly want Delivery Status to go with that. Delivery Status is both a universal iOS app and a Dashboard Widget for OS X. You paste the tracking number for a shipment you’re expecting, and Delivery Status will keep tabs on it, letting you know where the package is and what day it will arrive. I’ve been using it for years to track deliveries.

Vesper: $4.99 → $2.99

Arguably one of the nicest and most well-designed iPhone apps for notes there is. Vesper is fast, easy to use, and beautifully designed. Currently it is an iPhone app only, and so there is no syncing of your notes to your iPad, your Mac, etc. If, however, you only want to keep notes on your iPhone then I would heartily recommend Vesper to you.