Every time I go to Starbucks, I ask the barista about their mobile payment system. Most stores say a whopping 40-60% of their regular customers use the mobile app to pay.

I saw a stat that said that 93 of the top 100 brands have an app. Starbucks stands out because the coffee app is both useful and promotional. Here are other cool free apps that are actually useful from major brands.

What are your favorite branded apps?

• L’Oreal
  The first round of L’Oreal’s Makeup Genius was absolutely gruesome. But an update made it a quite interesting experiment in augmented reality and too much makeup. You should read my review here.
• Nike
  You don’t even have to have a pair of Nike tennies to enjoy their free fitness apps, including a running app and one with workouts with your own virtual personal trainer.
• Perfect Pop
  Ban the smell of scorched popcorn forever with the app from Pop Secret popcorn. It listens for you and tells you the perfect time to take your treat out of the microwave. I *suppose* you could listen, but what’s the fun in that?
• REI
  The REI Snow Report App gives you all you need to determine when it’s time to get out your fuzzy sweaters.
• Kraft
  Kraft helps you with recipes on the go with their iFood Assistant App. Sure, they focus on Kraft products, but if you’ve ever scrounged around for recipes while standing in the grocery store, this will come in handy.
• Amazon
  Amazon has a kabillion apps, but my favorite is the one for the store, which lets you snap a UPC code and compare prices while you’re shopping in a store. You can also get the free Kindle app to read from any device or computer even if you don’t own a Kindle.
• SitOrSquat
  Charmin toilet tissue thinks you should use its product in a well-kept atmosphere, so it operates SitOrSquat, an app that helps you find the least-gross public restrooms.
• Ikea
  The Ikea catalogs contain augmented reality goodies that help you virtually place their furniture into your home to try it out. The video shows you how cool it is. Home Depot does it, too.
• CVS
  Yeah, the CVS app is all about getting you to keep returning to CVS, but it really is handy for refilling prescriptions, uploading and printing photos and more. And the pill identifier helps make your visit to the pharmacy a little safer.