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If you’re the proud owner of one of the latest Android smartphones, you are walking around with one of the most powerful generations of smartphones on the market right in your pocket. From their processors that rival those found in laptops, to their powerful cameras and top-notch displays, today’s smartphones are powerhouses in our pockets. However, if you’re looking to extract their true potential, then you’ll be turning to a vast app marketplace to do so.
With the sheer number of apps for Android available on the Google Play Store, it can be overwhelming to select the best ones for your lifestyle. We’ve tried to make that a little easier by putting together a list of our favorite Android apps to help with anything from work to music, and from sports to news. There’s something for everyone in this comprehensive breakdown.
If you’re an iPhone loyalist, then check out our list of the best iOS apps instead, and if you’re more into gaming, check out our list of the best Android games.
Android essentials
Can two billion people be wrong? The biggest social network on the planet has a decent official app. Keep up with your friends and family, jump into instant chats, and stay informed with push notifications. Best of all, Facebook isn’t just a place to share content stolen from Reddit and Twitter, as the world’s biggest social media site has also been pushed out into sections for dating, shopping, and videos. Pair it with Messenger for the ultimate double-act.
Google Play
YouTube
Alright, you probably have YouTube already — but that doesn’t make it any less essential. YouTube’s mobile app is sleek and intuitive, bringing the entirety of the video-sharing site to the palm of your hand. For those subscribed to YouTube Premium, you’ll have access to all the premium content, as well as special features like audio playback while the screen is off.
Google Play
Sometimes unfairly viewed as the lesser version of Facebook, Twitter is the place where everything seems to happen instantly. Birthplace of the now now-ubiquitous internet facet, the hashtag, Twitter is the best place to be if you like to be on top of the latest breaking news as it happens. Follow your favorite content creators, actors, or crazes, and follow all the news, impressions, and opinions as they roll in.
Google Play
Google Home
If you’re spending more time at home than usual, you might finally have the time to get to that connected-home project you always swore you’d do. If you are the proud owner of a Google Home device, then you already know the ins and outs of a digital assistant. The Google Home app takes this one step further, allowing you to control a plethora of connected smart home devices. It also serves as a command central for any native Google-connected device and your Google-connected accounts, like maps, contacts, calendars, and more.
Google Play
Movies and videos
Netflix
Netflix isn’t just one of the best video-streaming services; it’s the video-streaming service. There’s a huge selection of Netflix movies and TV shows for subscribers and the performance is silky smooth. It’s not just restricted to old favorites either, as Netflix has produced a huge amount of excellent exclusive content — though if you’re anything like us, you’ll just put The Office on again. This is as entertained as you can get from just $9 a month, or $16 a month if you want access to 4K content.
Google Play
Disney+
Disney holds possibly the largest library of film and television properties in the world and they are al on Disney+. From Hamilton to The Mandalorian you’ll find something for every member of the family. As theatergoers are slow to return all around the globe, Disney has begun using Disney+ for major blockbusters like Mulan and Soul. There’s a seven-day free trial, and it’ll cost you $6.99 a month after that — though you can pay $70 for a year in advance to save $14. In March 2021 this will increase to $7.99 a month or $80 yearly.
Google Play
Hulu
Hulu’s the place to go if you want to see the latest episodes of thousands of shows or movies, or catch up on some older classic movies. Running shows are updated as they air, while you can often also catch live sport on here too. Hulu offers various subscription models, including one that opens up the entire streaming library for $6 a month, and another that removes midstream ads for $12 a month. If you’re looking to cut the cord, Hulu also offers live TV with DVR starting at $65 a month, but be aware it costs $5 more more if you want to fast-forward through commercials on recorded episodes.
Google Play
Amazon Prime Video
These days, it seems all the content in the world isn’t enough to satiate those of us who suddenly find ourselves with far more time to watch a new show or movie at home. Amazon Prime offers a number of fantastic originals on its streaming platform, which also serves as a great home base for its extensive catalog. Prime Video also allows you to add all your favorite subscription channels to your feed. We’ve also found the best movies on Amazon prime to start watching today if you’re interested.
Google Play
HBO Max
The streaming race continues to heat up, and AT&T wasn’t about to let WarnerMedia go without a fight. HBO Max launched in the summer of 2020 and brings with it all the HBO content audiences are already familiar with, with the added benefit of original content produced exclusively for the streaming platform. Like other streaming giants, HBO has shelled out some serious cash to acquire content for its platform, like Doctor Who and Friends.
Google Play
Music and audio
Spotify
Spotify is probably the first name that springs to mind when you think about music apps and for good reason as it’s one of the best streaming services out there. There’s a massive selection of music on offer, from the latest huge releases to up and coming acts. Spotify also now offers video support for some of the best podcasts on their platform. There’s a free version if you want to try it out, but if you want ad-free listening, to download music, play any song, and have unlimited skips, then you’ll need to subscribe for $10 a month, though Spotify does offer a generous three-month free trial. Spotify also offers a family household plan for $15 a month, a student account at the reduced cost of $5 a month, and a “Duo” account covering 2 people in the same household for $13 a month.
Google Play
Soundcloud
If you’re looking for an all-you-can-eat buffet of sound with no ads and no subscription fees, you’ve found it. You can discover new music and stream it from the cloud, but this is no Spotify replacement — most of the music on Soundcloud is from relatively unknown artists, and if you’re not able to find it on Spotify, you can probably find it here. Listening is free, with the pro versions of SoundCloud mostly being for the artists themselves. It’s not just about music, though, as you’ll find a lot of podcasts on here too. A great complement to another music streaming service.
Google Play
Podcast Addict
If you find yourself listening to more podcasts these days, you’re not alone. Recently, it seems every friend and co-worker has a new favorite podcast, as we’ve all been bitten by the podcast bug. Podcast Addict is an absolute powerhouse for podcast fans, with an extensive library to choose from featuring over 1 million podcasts and over 35 million episodes. Though there are paid options with extra features, the core app is free. For the sheer amount of content and decent features, this app is a fantastic value.
Google Play
Google Play Music
Google’s official streaming service is a worthy competitor to Spotify. Not only does the app provide a vast library of content, but it also allows users to upload up to 50,000 of their own songs for online storage. So if you’ve got a collection of MP3s from before the days when streaming was the normal way to consume music, upload them to Google Play Music and stream them from any of your mobile devices. Be warned though, it’s not long for this world.
Google Play
Apple Music
If you use a Mac or iPad on top of your Android phone, you may be better served with Apple Music over Spotify. Apple Music offers access to Apple’s massive library of music, as well as Apple’s Beats 1 radio station, which plays both current hits and up-and-coming music. The celebrity DJs and exclusive album streams are a plus, but you’ll have to subscribe before you can listen. There’s no free tier, so you’ll have to pony up $10 a month.
Google Play
News
The New York Times
One of America’s most hallowed publications also has one of the best news apps. The New York Times app arranges the publication’s content in a clean format and allows users to customize their newsfeed, and it comes with breaking news alerts to bring you the biggest news as it happens. If you’re looking for one of the best news apps out there, this is it.
Google Play
Vice News
If you prefer journalism that leans toward gonzo, Vice offers its robust library of written and video content in an app that is elegant and easy to navigate. The app includes estimated reading times, so users with a time-crunch can prioritize articles to suit their schedules.
Google Play
NPR News
The official app of National Public Radio provides a steady stream of straightforward reporting in both print and audio. Users can not only listen to news reports but also various programs such as All Things Considered and Radiolab.
Google Play
AP News
The Associated Press has a long-standing reputation for being one of the least-editorialized news sources around, as well as being consistently on the cutting edge of breaking news. So, if you’re looking for your daily dose of news without the added fluff, then AP News on Android is the perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee. AP’s self-ascribed description says it best — it’s “where the news gets its news.”
Google Play
Google News
Though it may seem like a no-brainer, the Google News app is a worthwhile recommendation, thanks to its smart curation and diverse news feed. Google News puts together news from sources all over the world, which makes it likely that you’ll find your favorite news source from back home within its catalog.
Google Play
Nwsty
Ever feel like there’s just too much news to keep up with? Nwsty might well be the app for you. It’s aimed at those who don’t often read the news and makes it easy to keep up with the daily headlines without spending too much time on them. Each day, you get six to 10 headlines in your digest that you can quickly and easily read in a matter of only a few minutes.
Google Play
Sports
Strafe Esports
If your favorite sports league isn’t in season or back on the air quite yet, then let yourself go down the rabbit hole of e-sports. The Strafe app covers all the most popular leagues and teams from League of Legends to Counter-Strike and everything in between. You can keep up with all the latest tournaments while reading all the most detailed statistics.
Google Play
theScore
Whatever gets you excited, from NASCAR to the NFL, theScore will have you dancing in victory or crying in your beer. It brings you all the latest touchdowns, goals, and home runs as they happen.
Google Play
ESPN
Having the official ESPN app installed is a no-brainer for any die-hard sports fan, especially if you have ESPN+. You can quickly get the latest news on your favorite teams and leagues, including MLB, NFL, NCAA, MLS, NHL, and more.
Google Play
Barstool Sports
Barstool Sports has grown into an empire comprising podcasts, journalism, and content focused on pop culture, politics, and many other topics. It still keeps its roots in sports coverage and commentary. So if you’re looking to not only see pundits discuss your favorite team but also get a chuckle or read the latest political news, then you’ll enjoy the Barstool Sports app.
Google Play
Social media
Tiktok
Essentially Vine for a new generation, TikTok is the home of short videos that are amusing, meme-laden, and just generally fit for a certain demographic. It says it’s there for raw, 15-second storytelling — but we know most people are there for the memes and song mimers. It’s fun, showcases some real creativity, and while it might not be for everyone, it is blowing up right now, and garnering attention all over the world. However, the future of TikTok is murkier than ever as we await the likely sale of the company’s U.S. operations to an American company, and Instagram turns up the heat with its competitor product, Reels. We’ve also found TikTok alternatives for those looking for options.
Google Play
Instagram is ubiquitous in photography now, so you might as well have it on your phone. Owned by Facebook, the social network centered on photos offers great filters and connectivity with others. Instagram has also recently launched a TikTok competitor called Reels.
Google Play
Houseparty
Houseparty couldn’t possibly be more relevant for a socially distanced era. This app allows you to stay in touch with friends by jumping in and out of “always-on” group hangouts. There’s also a great selection of games you can play while hanging out which are always being updated and improved. Perfect for hanging out with friends and family if you can’t hang out in person. Houseparty is a fun way to interact with friends, but you may want to consider turning location data off when using the app.
Google Play
Messaging
Signal
In today’s privacy-minded world, Signal provides an encrypted way to share messages and video calls. Whether you’re sharing sensitive work info or traveling abroad in a place with more prying eyes, Signal allows you to communicate privately and worry-free.
Google Play
Messenger & Messenger Kids
Facebook’s best feature is arguably its built-in messaging. Facebook now offers its messenger service as a stand-alone app, enabling you to chat with your Facebook friends and anyone in your contacts with the app installed — without having to be signed into Facebook or even have Facebook installed on your phone at all.
If you’re a parent, then Messenger Kids is a must-download on your child’s phone. Messenger Kids might seem like it’s built for kids, but it’s really built for parents. With the app, parents have control over their kids’ contact list, and messages can’t be deleted — meaning that parents can check in to take a look whenever they want. Of course, there are some pretty sweet features for kids, like kid-appropriate stickers, GIFs, emojis, and so on.
Messenger Messenger Kids
The Google Play Store has no shortage of messaging apps, but WhatsApp’s secure end-to-end encryption and feature-rich interface mark it as one of the best. This cross-platform app lets you send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages for completely free. A must-have for messaging addicts, even if the U.S. hasn’t fully embraced it yet.
Google Play
Zoom Cloud Meetings
Zoom has emerged as a darling of the work-from-home and stay-at-home lifestyle, and rightfully so. Connect with friends, family, and co-workers through simple group video chat features, and amplify your collaborating through file sharing, screen sharing, and instant messaging. If you’re looking for a solid and free video chat app, this one’s for you.
Google Play
Snapchat
Snapchat is all about sharing photos, short videos, and conversations that expire automatically after they’ve been viewed. You can use filters, decals, and effects to enhance your photos and videos, and take your Snap game to a whole new level.
Google Play
Dating
Tinder
Tinder is the ultimate dating app for mobile users, thanks to its location-centric features. Regardless of what its reputation may be, it’s still a great way to meet people. Your next match could be a swipe right away.
Google Play
Coffee Meets Bagel
This app is geared toward those who are looking for a real relationship, rather than a quick hookup or short fling. Every day at noon, you get sent a prospective match based on a specific set of criteria. You can Like them or Pass on. If you like them, you’ll be set up with icebreaker questions; if you pass, the app will learn your preferences and try again tomorrow.
Google Play
Hinge
Owned by dating mega-conglomerate Match Group, Inc., Hinge takes the common dating app experience and adds a whole new level of honest vulnerability and a throwback to pre-internet dating by incorporating your Facebook friends in your search for love. What Hinge offers is a far more limited dating pool with an average of only 10 suggestions per day, in the hopes that each suggestion will be of significantly higher quality than blindly swiping through some of the more crowded alternatives.
Google Play
Grindr
The dating app of choice for gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer people of all sorts, Grindr is one of the biggest dating apps around. Using it is simple — let the app know your location, and you’ll be matched with other nearby members so you can chat, swap pictures, and hopefully meet up in person.
Google Play
Reading
Kindle
Don’t worry if you don’t have a Kindle — you can still read your ebook directly on your smartphone. From best-sellers to the classics, it’s all here, with more than 900,000 titles in Amazon’s store.
Google Play
Google Play Books
If you’re not a fan of Amazon, then Google’s Play Books is an excellent alternative. Google has a massive database of books to choose from, including all the classics — and you can even buy and play audiobooks too.
Google Play
Audible
Audible is the premier place to consume audiobooks on your Android device. There are thousands of audiobooks on offer, from classics to the most recent hits, and you get your first audiobook for free. A $15-per-month subscription gets you a credit per month to spend on any audiobook, and options for playback speed and cross-device syncing make listening even easier. There’s even a car mode for listening on the go.
Google Play
Comics
Comixology’s free app is a window into a staggering library of more than 40,000 titles, including all the big names from Marvel and DC. It’s the biggest comic book reader out there right now.
Google Play
Blogging
Weebly
Weebly is a powerful site and content creation app utilized by millions of users. This app lets you create and manage your online store straight from your Android device. Keep track of all the most important analytics for your e-commerce store from the Weebly app. Powered by Square, Weebly is a true workhorse in the mobile site development space.
Google Play
Tumblr
The Tumblr app makes it easy for you to share anything from anywhere. You can post any kind of content to multiple blogs, save drafts for later, schedule posts, and then join in the discussion.
Google Play
WordPress
This app mirrors the functionality of your WordPress blog and helps you create and edit posts. It’s a simplified version that’s easy to use, and it also displays reactions to your latest articles.
Google Play
Gaming
Steam
Steam is the biggest and most prolific community and storefront for PC gaming. Through the Android app, users can access the Steam community, browse the store, and purchase new games.
Google Play
PlayStation App
PlayStation Network can be accessed on your Android via the official PlayStation app. You’ll be able to sign in to your PSN account, interact with friends, make purchases, and even schedule downloads for your PlayStation 4.
Google Play
Xbox
Microsoft’s Xbox app not only brings your Xbox Live account and console interface to your phone, but it also opens up your gaming experience, with many games offering special, second-screen features, such as maps and bonus content.
Google Play
Facebook Gaming
Facebook has decided that now is the perfect time to launch a stand-alone gaming app. Competing with the likes of Twitch and YouTube, Facebook is capitalizing on the rise in game streaming by taking it social for its 2.5 billion monthly active users.
Google Play
Nutrition, cooking, and food
Grubhub
While the world of food delivery apps is vast, Grubhub is one of the best. Its seamless integration with local restaurant menus makes it one of the most user-friendly experiences in food delivery. If you’ve developed a recent taste for ordering in, then check out the options on Grubhub.
Play Store
MyFitnessPal Calorie Tracker
If you want to lose weight and get in shape, then you need to start counting those calories, and this app, from MyFitnessPal, is an easy, accessible, and completely free way to do it.
Google Play
Food Network Kitchen
Find thousands of recipes from your favorite food network chefs and personalities, including recipes featured on their TV shows and specials. How-to videos and shopping list features will equip you with everything you need to make a great meal.
Google Play
Calorie Counter by FatSecret
The calorie counter from FatSecret offers one of the most comprehensive nutrition and calorie-tracking apps supported on Android. The service has thousands of restaurant and grocery meals in its incredibly diverse array of existing foods with nutrition information attached. The apps lets you set goals, keep a food diary, and like most apps these days it includes a social angle allowing you to create a profile and share your progress with others on the platform.
Google Play
Fitness and health
Peloton
The fitness sensation of Peloton is certainly hard to ignore. While the price of its bike or treadmill may be out of reach for some folks, its app offers a thorough library of workout videos with great production value and neat organization by fitness subject. The Peloton network also offers live classes by lively instructors and allows close health tracking to help keep you motivated. Peloton currently offers a 30-day free trial, and a full membership for the app without the bike will run you $13 a month, though compared to a private trainer or gym membership, it’s a fitness app that seems well worth it.
Google Play
Zombies, Run!
If you’re trying to jump on the running bandwagon but need a little extra motivation, then try gamifying your workout experience. Zombies, Run! is exactly what it sounds like and precisely what it needs to be. This app runs you through (pun intended) an engrossing story plot as the world gives way to a zombie apocalypse. So, you better run!
Google Play
Adidas Running App by Runtastic
Runtastic is a smartphone staple, with a simple interface that doesn’t sacrifice advanced features. The no-frills app uses your smartphone’s sensors to track metrics, such as your distance and relative pace, as well as calories burned and your heart rate. A few extra features, such as 3D mapping and a workout diary, only complement the app’s wearable integration. Runtastic is now owned by Adidas, adding an extra element of branding to the app, but it still functions much the same way as before.
Google Play
Strava Running and Cycling GPS
Strava is an excellent tracking app that monitors your runs or cycling routes via GPS. It gamifies your cardio workout and pairs your progress with leaderboards, achievements, and challenges, bringing a competitive spirit to your routine. It also has Android Wear support.
Google Play
Sleep as Android
Sleep as Android is one of the biggest sleep tracking apps on Android, and there are a bunch of reasons it’s popular. You can track your sleep, movement, and snoring, you can play soothing noises to put you to sleep, and it syncs data with quite a few other apps and devices, including Google Fit and Philips HUE smart bulbs.
Google Play
Daily Yoga
Yoga is unbelievably powerful. It strengthens your core, increases flexibility and focus, and decreases stress. Plus, it can help you lose weight and stay healthy. This app will guide you through daily yoga routines of varying difficulty and length, and step-by-step, HD videos showing exactly how to do each pose.
Google Play
Self-improvement
Calm
Taking a moment of calm can be crucial for your mental health, and Calm is one of the leading meditation and sleep-promotion apps in the Play Store. It has guided meditations, breathing exercises to reduce anxiety, sleep stories, and more. There are guides for beginners and experts alike, and while you’ll need to pay to get access to most, there’s still a lot here for free users who aren’t sure if they’ll enjoy it.
Google Play
Udemy
Whether you’re looking to learn something new for work or just for yourself, Udemy probably has a course to help you. With over 130,000 video courses taught by expert instructors, you can use Udemy to pick up skills with coding languages, Photoshop, yoga, and even more. You can download individual lessons to learn on-the-go, and there’s an audio-only mode if you’d rather learn in places like the car. Most courses will cost you money, but there are deals and discounts available for many.
Google Play
Duolingo
Duolingo offers a free and approachable way to learn a new language. Through a mix of gamification, read and repeat, and a challenging but engaging skill system that the user has to climb through as they learn the new language of their choice. Duolingo offers a plethora of languages for English speakers as well as a number of languages for native speakers of other languages.
Google Play
Fabulous — motivate me!
With science-based coaching as its backbone, Fabulous – Motivate Me! Will help instill healthy, positive habits and routines into your life — everything from better sleep, sticking to a morning routine, finding time for creativity, daily meditation, losing weight, and more.
Google Play
Finances and money
Acorns
Looking to save a little more money? Acorns helps you invest by rounding off your credit card or debit purchases to the nearest dollar. Once you’ve accumulated a little money, it’s easy to transfer the funds to your bank account. Acorns also offers retirement accounts like a Traditional IRA, so you can start saving for retirement now.
Google Play
Mint
Mint is our favorite money management website, but it also has a terrific app. Mint can keep track of multiple bank accounts or credit cards to help you stay on budget and out of the red.
Google Play
Venmo
Venmo allows users to send money for free. The transactions can be sent to any bank and occur overnight. This makes paying back your friends simple and quick.
Google Play
Cash App
Create your “Cashtag” and you can receive payments for just about anything. Formerly known as “Square Cash”, Cash App lets you quickly transfer money between other users for free, using a passcode of your choosing and 128-bit encryption as an added security measure.
Google Play
Robinhood
Getting started on your investing journey has never been easier. An app you’ve undoubtedly heard about by now, Robinhood is a free equities and crypto trading platform. It’s a great way for young and beginning investors to get their feet wet in the world of Wall Street.
Google Play
Shopping
Depop
Depop’s ultra-minimal, online marketplace takes little more than a photo to get started. Once captured, share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter before striking a secure deal with a host of potential buyers via the built-in chat function.
Google Play
eBay
There’s very little that you can’t buy or sell on eBay. The app is full-featured and much easier to use than the website. Bid on items, track your orders, and sell all of your unwanted stuff right here.
Google Play
Amazon Prime Now
While the selection on Amazon Prime Now may not be as good as what you find on Amazon, the upshot is free delivery within two hours. If you’re in a real-time crunch, some products and locations offer one-hour delivery available for a small fee. With Amazon’s recent acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon Prime Now even offers a decent selection of groceries.
Google Play
PayPal
The easiest online checkout method right on your smartphone. You’ll be able to manage your PayPal account, send and receive payments, and more. The app can also notify you of transactions, offering handy reminders and alerts when you use PayPal as a payment method or have an upcoming bill due.
Google Play
Travel and events
Google Maps
Google Maps has been stopped us from getting lost for fifteen years now, and it’s never been better. Get voice-guided navigation for trips, different instructions for driving, walking, cycling, or taking public transport, and search for anything you need. If you’re using some Pixel phones, you can even get AR-based walking directions, which is pretty neat.
Google Play
Uber
If you need to get somewhere and don’t have wheels of your own, hop in someone else’s ride. Uber allows you to call upon a private driver in your city who will help you get to where you need to go. It’s all the ease of a taxi, at a lower cost, and without the fumbling for cash at the end.
Google Play
Lyft
Lyft is another private cab service, that helps you to find a — well — lift whenever you need one. Basically an alternative to Uber, you can hail a cab and pay directly in the app, and can even split the tab with a friend easily.
Google Play
Airbnb
Forego the headache of trying to find and book a hotel, and instead find an open room or home to stay at on your travels. Users can search for accommodations, communicate directly with hosts, and book, all without leaving the app.
Google Play
Google Translate
Translate speech or text between more than 70 languages with this app. It can act as your interpreter, enabling you to decipher signs and menus and enable two-way conversations. You can download translation files if you know you’ll be without a data connection, and it can even translate signs with Google Lens.
Google Play
Going out
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is the ultimate going out app, with millions of recommendations and reviews from people all around the world, covering the best things to do wherever you are. Plan ahead with Tripadvisor’s tools, allowing you to organize your hotel bookings, restaurant trips, and attractions. You can even book them from the app with Google Pay access. It’s also great when you’re traveling, thanks to support for mobile tickets and bookings.
Google Play
Yelp
Craving a decent microbrew, a breakfast burrito, or a good latte? Yelp will help you scratch that itch. It’s packed with user reviews, directions, and tips for almost every place around, making it invaluable for almost every trip out.
Google Play
StubHub
StubHub allows you to buy and sell tickets to virtually any event, from sports to concerts. StubHub protects its users with its “FanProtect Guarantee,” meaning you can buy and sell tickets on their app without risk.
Google Play
Fandango
A streamlined glance at your local theater listings with trailers and reviews of all the top releases, this app can also work as a mobile ticket at participating cinemas. Check times, select seats, and pay, all within the same app.
Google Play
GasBuddy
GasBuddy offers a convenient way to find the best gas prices wherever you may be. More than just a price checker, GasBuddy also helps you log your driving habits, fill-ups, and miles. The app covers every major gas station in the country thanks in part to user-contributed data. You’d be surprised how short a drive away 10 to 20 cent cheaper gas usually is.
Google Play
Foursquare City Guide
With over 60 million quick reviews of the best (and worst) places to eat, drink, and more in any city all over the world, you’ll know exactly where to go — and where to avoid — while you’re out and about.
Google Play
Device performance
All-In-One Toolbox
The all in one toolbox is exactly what it sounds like. This app provides tools for storage management, file management, and a number of other system management gadgets to help your smartphone run smoothly.
Google Play
Files by Google
Google’s Files app is an all-around excellent utility app that allows you to find files quickly and free up space on your phone. You can also easily exchange files with other people close by with Files, similar to Apple’s AirDrop. While there are other similar Android apps on the market, Files is less cluttered and not bogged down with ads.
Google Play
Google Find My Device
Google’s official phone tracking service helps you locate your phone, remotely erase its data, and reset the screen lock PIN, and it works with any device associated with your Google account.
Google Play
Gboard
There are many keyboard apps out there, but Gboard is generally considered one of the best. Coming straight from Google, Gboard is loaded with a tonne of features, including swipe typing, inbuilt Google search, GIFs, and emojis.
Google Play
Photo editing and management
Adobe Lightroom
Lightroom, a program built upon Photoshop, is an essential photo editing tool for photographers. The mobile app takes the features of the desktop application and puts them on your Android device.
Google Play
Adobe Photoshop Express
While not as feature-filled or extensive as the desktop version, Adobe Photoshop Express still offers an impressively wide array of tools for editing and creating images directly on your Android device.
Google Play
Scribbl
Scribbl offers a convenient way to spruce up your images with effects and animations. This app hearkens back to the days of rotoscoping, and while the principal of the effects experience is simple on its face, the diversity of animation and glow effects make for a fun editing process.
Google Play
Imgur
The official app for one of the most procrastination-friendly sites on the internet. Browse through near-endless GIFs and images from almost any topic you can imagine.
Google Play
Google Photos
A centralized location for all your photos. Google Photos will automatically backup your photo libraries on your phone to your Google Drive, saving them in a special folder that only you can access.
Google Play
Documents, web, and email
OfficeSuite
It’s one of the most downloaded apps on the Play Store, and that’s for a very good reason. OfficeSuite is a full-featured alternative for Microsoft Office, and includes tools to view, edit, and create Word, Excel, and Powerpoint documents, as well as including support for various PDF operations. It’s an all-in-one solution for your document woes, and it’s free to get most of the features. OfficeSuite Premium gets you the ability to work on password-protected files, 50GB of cloud storage, the ability to export PDFs to other formats, and more.
Google Play
Google Drive
Downloading Google Drive should be a given. it’s one of the biggest sharing and cloud saving platforms out there, with 15GB for free and the ability to access your files and photos wherever you might need them. It’s tied into Google’s other services as well, including Gmail and Docs, making it the natural choice for anyone invested in Google’s ecosystem.
Google Play
Dropbox
Dropbox is another cloud saving service, and while you think you have that covered with Google Drive, Dropbox is still useful to download and use, because it often works with a number of third-party apps Drive doesn’t. It only gives you 2GB for free, but if you use it primarily for smaller files you should be okay with that amount.
Google Play
Evernote
Who needs to carry a notepad when you have your phone and Evernote? Evernote’s app is an elegant and extremely useful solution for note-taking, and can be used for everything from simple to-do lists, to notes with accompanying photos. You can scan in typed notes with your camera, create separate notebooks, share your notes with other people — and best of all, everything is searchable so you’ll never lose that important note.
Google Play
Andropen Office
Power to the people! Or at least spreadsheets. Andropen is an Android port of OpenOffice, an open-source suite of productivity software allowing you free access to what basically amounts to a slimmer version of Microsoft Office. Andropen allows you a free workspace to open and manipulate word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
Google Play
Productivity
NordVPN
In today’s extremely connected world you could also use a little added layer of security. A good VPN app like NordVPN allows you to connect to a number of servers all over the world. Perhaps you’re trying to connect to one country from another for work, privacy, or streaming purposes. Using a VPN can come in handy, so it’s best to have one available for use.
Google Play
LastPass
Everyone should have a good password organizer because most of us know the feeling of forgetting one of our many passwords for an important account. LastPass offers a convenient way to organize all of your passwords on your device. It also features a system for setting up emergency access in case of your untimely departure.
Google Play
Toggl
When it comes to productivity, few things are more important than time management. Toggl is a great timesheet and time-tracking app that helps you keep track of how much you’ve worked and on what. Toggl can sync with your calendar, produce detailed reports on your time use, and even make suggestions for increasing efficiencies.
Google Play
Google Assistant
This app doesn’t bring Google Assistant to your phone if you don’t have it, but it does allow for a much easier way to access Assistant — by adding a shortcut to your home screen. If squeezing the edge, long-pressing the home button, or using a dedicated key isn’t your style, you can add the shortcut to your home screen easily thanks to this app.
Google Play
Slack
Slack remains one of the preeminent communication tools for businesses everywhere. Organize your teams and employees into channels to help with team productivity. Slack’s intuitive layout and ability to integrate workflows with a number of other popular productivity apps like Google Drive, Salesforce, and Dropbox make it a powerful tool to help get work done.
Google Play
Editors’ Recommendations
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