Have an Android and want Hanukkah wallpaper as your background on your phone and tablet? Just download “Hanukkah Wallpaper” from Modux Apps.
Need a quick refresher of the Hanukkah blessings for your iPhone or iPad? Check out “My Menorah 4 Chanukah” by Jewish Interactive. Both these apps for Android and Apple (iOS) products are free.
But many apps are not free. Apps for both types of devices tend to range from free to $1.99 plus any applicable taxes. I quickly became overwhelmed by the options of Hanukkah and Chanukah apps (or whatever other spelling you try), so I decided to do a Google search. The first thing that came up for 2019 was an article written by Joshua Rotter published by CNET Jan. 3, 2019. I decided to check out what he considered the best of 2018, and they were not all available for 2019. In addition, two of the apps he reviewed, Jewish Pocket Prayers for iOS and Daily Jewish Prayers for Android, have nothing to do with Hanukkah. I also checked out an app recommended by Jake Kroll in 2018 on Mashable, Smart Menorah for iOS. Of course, you can peruse your app store on your own. I downloaded several and information follows. Let us know what you think at .
• Chanukah Guide — Jewish Holiday Season App available for both Android and iOS by Saber Design (5 stars iOS, free)
In early November, when I opened the app, it had not been updated since Hanukkah 2016. It does give correct instructions on how to light a menorah in case you need a refresher. You can play dreidel, but it’s not nearly as fun as actually spinning the top.
- Hanukkah story, Hebrew songs music, Jewish holidays prayers trivia, kids Dreidel game Judaism by Motion Tale Co., Ltd. (4.6 stars, iOS, $1.99)
According to Rotter’s CNET article, this app comes with “easy dreidel game, interactive storybook, relevant prayers guide in English and Hebrew, Hanukkah-themed karaoke and trivia.” I couldn’t get the dreidel game to work, and that was a complaint with some of the reviews. The story was nice, the prayers were accurate, and I got a perfect score on the trivia! One reviewer said, “My 3-year-old can’t put it down, he walks around singing Hanukkah songs … What joy!!”
• Menorah – Chanukah by RustyBrick Inc. (2.7 stars iOS, Android, free)
This gets very mixed reviews on the iOS app store. It is updated with the correct dates for 2019. One reviewer noticed the candles were put in and lit backward, and I believe that reviewer is correct. Another calls the tunes terrible, but a third reviewer calls it very helpful. While it’s free, I’d have to say to skip it because of the backward candles.
• Smart Menorah by Brandon Koch (3.9 stars iOS, $1.99)
This is simply a virtual menorah. I like the countdown clock; there were 42 days until Hanukkah the day I checked it out. Supposedly you can set it so you can receive notifications when it’s time to light the menorah each night. One of the 5-star reviews stated, “This is a perfect way to be able to light the Hanukkah candles while on a trip, in a hotel, or dorm room where you don’t want to light a match. Easy to take with you anywhere! Love the different backgrounds and the selection of menorahs!”
• Menorah Deluxe by Lemming Labs Ltd. (Android, $1.99)
This app is similar to iOS’ Menorah-Chanukah. It allows the user to choose the candle colors, place each candle and light each candle. One reviewer, who gave it 4 stars, was “disappointed that it doesn’t know automatically which night of the holiday it is.”