You might think that you always need an iPhone nearby to get the most out of your Apple Watch. But that's far from the case.

Thanks to improvements in technology, you can still use Apple Watch apps as long as you have a cellular or Wi-Fi signal. And there are a number of apps that are completely independent of your iPhone. Here are some of the best.

1. CARROT Weather

Carrot Weather Apple Watch

Always keep an eye on Mother Nature with CARROT Weather. This powerful iPhone weather app is also a great choice for the Apple Watch. You can see a detailed forecast for your location, or almost anywhere else, featuring more weather information than you can imagine.

But the best part of the app is the wide variety of complications for a watch face. If you can't get enough of the elements, you can even create a specific watch face with only complications from the app. Make sure to see some of the best custom Apple Watch faces for inspiration.

Download: CARROT Weather ($4.99, subscription available)

2. Spotify

Spotify Apple Watch

While Apple Music for the Apple Watch has always been a great way to rock out without an iPhone nearby, you might not know that Spotify offers the same capability.

Connect your AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones to your watch and you can listen to your library of tunes and podcasts while on the go. Unfortunately, you can't search for songs to listen to, so it's probably a good idea to create a playlist for whenever you need it. Even with that limitation, it's great to access the streaming service on the small screen.

Download: Spotify (Free, subscription available)

3. Chirp for Twitter

Chip Apple Watch

If you can't get enough of social media, Chirp for Twitter is a great way to see what's happening from your wrist. For an Apple Watch app, Chirp is surprisingly full-featured and capable without an iPhone nearby. You can browse your Twitter timeline and see videos, images, mentions, and other hallmarks of the platform.

It's also easy to view your mentions and even search for a specific phrase. And you can even compose a tweet or view and respond to direct messages using Scribble or voice dictation. The app's complication can also show you the latest tweet from your timeline on a watch face.

While you can download the app for free, an in-app purchase is required to unlock all of these features.

Download: Chirp for Twitter (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. Things 3

Things 3 Apple Watch

Things 3 powers up the usual to-do list and is made to help you accomplish more. The Apple Watch app is completely independent of an iPhone and brings all of your to-dos to a smaller screen. Using the app, you can see the Today list, mark items complete, and even create new to-dos with Scribble or voice dictation. And all of the activity on your watch will automatically sync to your iPhone the next time it's nearby.

There's no need to open the app to see your to-do list as there are a number of complications that show items you need to complete on your watch face.

Download: Things 3 ($9.99)

5. Rules!

Rules Apple Watch

Who says you can't have fun on the Apple Watch? Rules! is a fun way to pass the time on the small screen without an iPhone. As you might have noticed from the name, the game is all about following the rules. It starts out simple in the first few stages as it's easy to remember all of the rules from the puzzles like tapping the numbers in descending order.

But the real fun is trying to remember all of the rules as you advanced into later stages. And if you're looking for other games to play on the device, make sure to take a look at our roundup of the best Apple Watch games.

Download: Rules! ($2.99)

6. Spark

Spark Apple Watch

Spark is one of the best ways to handle your daily email deluge. One of the top features of the app is that it automatically categorizes incoming email into three different categories: personal, notifications, and newsletters. That's a big step to being able to find what's truly important and what's not.

On the Apple Watch app, you can easily see email from all three of these categories. You can read email and choose to snooze, archive, or delete messages. With Scribble or voice dictation, you can also compose a reply. It's a great way to triage your inbox while away from your iPhone.

Download: Spark (Free, in-app purchases available)

7. HomeRun for HomeKit

Homekit Apple WAtch

For smart home fans, one of the best features of an Apple Watch is the ability to control HomeKit devices from your wrist. While the built-in Home app provides a great way to interact with lights, locks, cameras, and more, HomeRun for HomeKit focuses on bringing a lightning-fast way to activate scenes with different devices without needing a nearby iPhone.

You can customize existing scenes on a grid with a unique glyph and color to make them easy to find and locate. A complication allows you to run a scene directly from a watch face. It's also possible to create a daily routine where the complication will change throughout the day so you'll always have the scene you need ready to activate.

Download: HomeRun for HomeKit ($2.99)

8. Streaks Workout

Streaks Workoiut Apple Watch

All you need is an Apple Watch and Streaks Workout for a great way to exercise anywhere. Before starting, you can select from four different workout lengths of varying lengths between six and 30 minutes long. Each option offers a number of equipment-free exercises. You can also create a custom workout with one of the 30 exercises.

While working up a sweat, you can also play Apple Music songs directly from your Apple Watch. When you're back in range of an iPhone, all of the workout data syncs with Apple Health so you can see the information along with other metrics. Make sure to take a look at other great iPhone apps that connect to Apple Health.

Download: Streaks Workout ($3.99)

9. Night Sky

Night Sky Apple Watch

Astronomy fans just need Night Sky and an Apple Watch to help identify what's above at night. If you have an Apple Watch with a built-in compass, you can just raise your wrist and see a real-time view of all the celestial objects above your location.

Rotate your wrist around to see different objects that are highlighted in green. Tap it to read more information. Spin the Digital Crown activate time travel to see what the sky looked like earlier or later at night.

While Nigh Sky is free to download, a subscription will unlock additional features on the Apple Watch (and iPhone version), like a guided tour and night mode.

Download: Night Sky (Free, subscription available)

Making the Most of an Apple Watch Without an iPhone

Whether you're just out for a run or forgot your iPhone at home, there are still great apps you can use on your Apple Watch.

And if you leave your iPhone at home, make sure the battery on the wearable device is at its best. There are a number of steps you can take to save battery life on an Apple Watch.