- 15 most useful apps for Android
- Adobe apps
- AirDroid
- CamScanner
- IFTTT
- Google Assistant / Google Search
- Google Drive suite
- Google Translate
- LastPass Password Manager
- Microsoft Apps
- Solid Explorer
- Tasker
- TickTick
- WiFi Analyzer
- YouTube
- 15 best Android apps available right now
- The best Android apps available right now:
- 1Weather
- Google Drive
- Google Maps and Waze
- Google Search / Assistant / Feed
- LastPass
- Microsoft SwiftKey
- Nova Launcher
- Podcast Addict
- Poweramp
- Solid Explorer
- Tasker and IFTTT
15 most useful apps for Android
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Adobe apps
Price: Free / Up to $52.99 per month
Adobe has some of the most useful apps out there. Their apps generally range from photo editing to utility and include apps like Adobe Acrobat (PDF reader), Adobe Lightroom and Photo Express (photo editing), Illustrator Draw (drawing), Scan (document scanner), Premiere Clip (video editing), and many, many others. Many of these apps fill niches that other third party apps simply don’t. In addition, they are all good enough to hold spots on our lists for all of those things. All of them are free to download. Some of them may require an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription to get all of the features, though.
AirDroid
Price: Free / $1.99 per month / $19.99 per year
AirDroid is one useful app. It lets you connect your PC to your Android device and vice versa. You can share files, get notifications, quick reply to a few messaging apps, and more. AirMirror and AirDroid: Remote Support are two plugins that add to the functionality in various ways. This is among the best ways to connect all of your devices together. It also works on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. There is a subscription for all of the features. However, you can try the free version first to see if you like it. Pushbullet is a good competitor to AirDroid as well.
CamScanner
Price: Free / $4.99-$6.99 per month / Varies
CamScanner is probably the best document scanner app on mobile. You use the app to scan documents into your phone and convert them to PDF format. You then send that document through email, save it to your device, and you can even fax it for a nominal fee. This is one of the few apps on the Play Store that can do all of those things and definitely the best of those. It seems to hit all the check boxes you’d want in an app like this. You can use most of the features for free or you can pay for a subscription if you intend on using it very heavily. In either case, this is probably the best app in its category. It’s especially useful during tax season and for business people.
IFTTT
Price: Free
IFTTT is easily one of the most useful apps ever. It’s an app that creates commands to carry out a set of basic tasks automatically. What’s great about the app is the sheer number of services, products, and other apps that have IFTTT supports. You can have it turn on your smart lights in your home, save images from Instagram and upload them to Dropbox, and there is even some Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa stuff available. It doesn’t take very long to learn and can automate a lot of otherwise mundane tasks on your phone. The list of things this app is capable of is so long that it’s absurd. It’s definitely useful, trust us. Plus, it’s free!
Google Assistant / Google Search
Price: Free
Google’s app is definitely one of the most useful apps ever. It contains two basic things: Google Assistant and Google Feed. Google Assistant answers basically any question, sets up reminders, turns smart lights on and off, and even pulls up songs or videos for you. Google Feed is, well, a feed with tons of stuff, including weather, news, and news. It slowly curates new stuff based on your search history and interests. You can also tune it to your likes specifically as well. The two together with Google Search in one app is a potent combination that few other developers can even compete with. This single app houses Google Assistant, Google Search, and Google Feed. All of them are useful.
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Google Drive suite
Price: Free / $1.99-$299.99 per month
Google Drive and its suite of apps are the most popular productivity apps on Android. The full collection includes Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Keep, and Google Photos. Between these apps, you have a full-fledged office suite complete with a note taking app, cloud storage, and a place to back up all of your photos and videos for free. Google Drive comes with 15GB of storage for free. You can increase the cloud storage space with a monthly subscription. The whole package are some of the most useful apps we’ve seen.
Google Translate
Price: Free
Google Translate is the go-to translation app available on any platform. It has received a number of updates over the years, including the ability to use your camera to point at something and have it translated in real-time. There is also a neural network powering the platform that helps make translation even more accurate. It has a slew of additional features as well, including the ability to translate a two way conversation in real-time. Microsoft Translate and a few other translate apps are getting better, but Google Translate is still king of the roost.
LastPass Password Manager
Price: Free / $2-$4 per month
LastPass is a password manager app. There are many of these in Google Play and most of them work fairly well. However, we like LastPass because it stays current with Android updates and also has a second authenticator app for additional security. The app generates passwords, saves your passwords to various sites, and helps you login quickly when you need to. It adds a layer of security to your life. The subscription costs are also quite reasonable. There are other really good password manager apps as well. However, we like that LastPass is always among the first to integrate new Android features quickly so it gets the spot for now.
Microsoft Apps
Price: Free / Varies
Microsoft has been killing it on mobile the last couple of years. The company definitely has some of the most useful apps out there. Some of the better ones include Microsoft OneDrive (cloud storage), the Microsoft Office suite (word documents, spreadsheets, presentations), Microsoft Launcher, Microsoft Authenticator (security), Office Lens (document scanner), Remote Desktop, Xbox and Mixer (gaming), Your Phone Companion (phone-to-PC), and several more. Additionally, they have some up and comers like a to do list app that is slowly getting better. They are also working on direct Android screen mirroring on Windows 10 and some other useful things. Cortana exists on this list too, but it’s just average as far as virtual assistants go for right now.
Price: Free / $5.99 per month
Reddit is a very useful app and website. It has a virtual ton of subreddits that cover all sorts of topics. You can find advice, tutorials, and information about basically anything. There are a lot of trashy people and topics on Reddit. However, a little tact and some patience and you can avoid most of the nonsense. Anyone with an interest should check out the subreddits for that interest. You may find some really cool stuff you didn’t previously know about. There are also a ton of third party Reddit apps. Many prefer the third party ones over the official app, but the official app works too.
More useful apps here:
Solid Explorer
Price: Free trial / $1.99
Solid Explorer is a file manager and browser that does a great job. It’s built around Material Design and that makes the app very easy to use. On top of the usual file browsing, you’ll also have the option to access your cloud storage services if you use them. On top of that, you’ll be able to access FTP, SFTP, WebDav, and SMB/CIFS clients. There is even root access if you need that. It’s a powerful app that is also simple to use. You’ll have to pay for it after the 14-day trial, but everyone needs a file manager and this one is a good one.
Tasker
Price: $2.99
Tasker is one of the most powerful apps. Tasker allows you to create automated activities that do a variety of things. It’s difficult to express what this app can do because it can do virtually anything. The app comes with 200 built-in actions that you can use or you can build your own. There are also a ton of apps with Tasker support along with plugins to expand functionality. There is a large learning curve. This is definitely not the easiest app to use. However, it works great once you figure it out. This is kind of like a power user version of IFTTT. Tasker is also free with Google Play Pass if you have it.
TickTick
Price: Free / $27.99 per year
TickTick is among the best to do list apps and also one of the most useful apps. You put tasks in and the app reminds you to do them. In addition, you can set it up for things like grocery lists and other stuff. The app also features collaboration. You can share tasks between the members of your household or job if needed. It also comes with a calendar, widgets, and note taking features. The free version comes with more than enough for casual use. The paid version is really only needed for extreme business use cases.
WiFi Analyzer
Price: Free
WiFi Analyzer is an open-source WiFi analyzer. It lets you see your WiFi connection as well as other connections in the general area. There are a number of reasons why you’d need something like this. You can see if your WiFi is sharing a channel with other WiFi networks (which can affect connectivity and speed). You can also identify nearby WiFi networks, graph signal strength, and other activities. This can help diagnose WiFi problems in the event you have issues. This is especially useful for those who stream live TV or use live stream gaming services like Google Stadia.
YouTube
Price: Free / $12.99 per month
YouTube is probably the most useful app on mobile. Sure, most use it for music videos or product reviews. However, there is a healthy and huge underbelly of tutorials, lessons, lectures, explainers, and other videos. I once learned how to change the headlight bulbs on my 2005 Chevy Equinox with a YouTube video. There aren’t a ton of things that it doesn’t have. The app is free if you don’t mind advertising. You can pay $9.99 per month to remove ads, enable background play, and get a complimentary subscription to Google Play Music. It’s a pretty good deal.
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If we missed any of the most useful apps for Android, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists!
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15 best Android apps available right now
Here it is ladies and gentlemen. The crème de la crème. The Android apps that stand alone at the top of the pantheon. These apps have become ubiquitous with Android and if you’re looking for good stuff it’s assumed that you have some of this stuff already. There are a ton of amazing Android apps out there. However, there are a few that stand out above the rest. These apps are useful to just about everyone no matter what their use case may be. Without further delay, here are the best Android apps currently available.
Most people should be relatively familiar with most of these apps. They are the best, and the best things are rarely anonymous. It’s difficult to get into the hall of fame, but we do have the best lists attached to each selection in case you want to see more options.
The best Android apps available right now:
1Weather
Price: Free / $1.99
1Weather is arguably the best weather app out there. It features a simple, paginated design that shows you the current weather, forecast for up to 12 weeks, a radar, and other fun stats. Along with that, you’ll get a fairly decent set of lightly customizable widgets and the standard stuff like severe weather notifications and a radar so you can see the storms approaching. The Ui is logical and reasonably easy to navigate as well.
The free version has all of the features with advertising. The $1.99 charge removes advertising. Otherwise, the two versions work the same way. Most will also likely enjoy the range of weather fun facts as well when you open the app. We have a list of the best weather apps and widgets if you want more options.
Google Drive
Price: Free / $1.99-$299.99 per month
Some of the features of these apps include live collaboration, deep sharing features, and compatibility with Microsoft Office documents. You can find more cloud storage apps here and more office apps here if you want something different.
Google Maps and Waze
Price: Free
If you add to that the Waze experience, which includes tons of its own features, and you won’t need another navigation app. Ever. Google also owns and operates Waze. It’s unique and fun in ways that Google Maps isn’t and we also highly recommend it. Of course, we have more GPS apps options as well here if you need them.
Google Search / Assistant / Feed
Price: Free
There is also a second Google Assistant app for those who want a quick launch icon on the home screen. The hardware stuff costs money, but Google Assistant is free. There are other decent personal assistants like Amazon Alexa, and you can check them out here.
LastPass
Price: Free / $12 per year
LastPass is one of those must-have Android apps. It’s a password manager that lets you save your login credentials in a safe, secure way. On top of that, it can help generate nearly impossible passwords for you to use on your accounts. It’s all controlled with a master password. It has cross-platform support (premium version only) so you can use it on computers, mobile devices, tablets, or whatever.
There are others, but LastPass always feels like it’s one step ahead. Additionally, the premium version is cheap. You can also grab LastPass Authenticator to go along with it for added security. There are other options for great password managers here and some free LastPass alternatives if the new, more restricted free version isn’t doing it for you. LastPass also has an authenticator app for additional security.
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Microsoft SwiftKey
Price: Free
Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard is one of the most powerful and customizable third-party keyboards available. It hit the market several years ago with a predictive engine unlike anything any other keyboard had and the app has grown a lot of over the years. It’s a free download and you can purchase themes for it if you want to.
Other features include a dedicated number row, SwiftKey Flow which allows for gesture typing, multiple language support, cross-device syncing of your library, and much more. It’s about as good as it gets in the keyboard space. It’s true that Microsoft now owns SwiftKey, but so far they have managed not to mess it up. Gboard, Google’s keyboard app, is also exceptionally good and we honestly could’ve listed either one. There are some other great Android keyboards here as well.
Nova Launcher
Price: Free / $4.99
You can even make it look like the Pixel Launcher if you want to. If you go premium, you can tack on gesture controls, unread count badges for apps, and icon swipe actions. Those looking for something simpler may want to try Lawnchair Launcher, Hyperion Launcher, and Rootless Launcher. Of course, we have a list of the best Android launchers with even more options as well.
Podcast Addict
Price: Free / $3.99
You can also set download rules, create playlists easily, and it supports both Chromecast and SONOS along with Android Auto and Wear OS. The UI and settings aren’t the most elegant things we’ve seen. However, the app makes up for it by hitting literally every other box we could think of. Pocket Casts and CastBox are other excellent options in this space, and we have a list of even more great podcast apps here.
Poweramp
Price: Free trial / $4.99
The UI has a tiny bit of a learning curve, but it’s one of the better-looking music players as well with optional themes in the Google Play Store. There are other great music apps here, but the top slot arguably Poweramp’s title to lose. Poweramp also has an equalizer app (Google Play link) if you want a better equalizer app.
Solid Explorer
Price: Free trial / $2.99
File browsing is something everyone inevitably has (or wants) to do, so you might as well do it with a capable, fantastic file browser. Solid Explorer is pretty much as good as it gets in the file explorer apps realm. It features Material Design, archiving support, support for the most popular cloud services, and even some more power-user stuff like FTP, SFPT, WebDav, and SMB/CIFS support.
It looks great, it’s incredibly stable, and it just works well. There is a 14-day free trial with a $2.99 price tag at the end of it. There are other file browsers with more features, but few blend together looks, ease of use, and features like Solid Explorer does. If this doesn’t work for you, here are some other outstanding file browsers.
Check out some excellent hardware as well:
Tasker and IFTTT
Price: $2.99 and Free, respectively
Tasker is a glorious application if you have the patience to learn how to use the app. What it does is allow users to create custom made commands and then use them in various places. There are many apps out there that have Tasker support and you can even use Tasker to create very complex commands for NFC tags. It’s difficult to truly explain what this app can do because it can do so many things. Between the apps supported, plugins you can add, and the sheer volume of stuff that you can do, there aren’t many apps out there as useful as this one.
IFTTT is another excellent automation app. In some cases, it may even be better than Tasker thanks to its simplicity and wide range of uses. Tasker is also available free as part of the Google Play Pass. There are some other great Android tools and utility apps, but none of them can step up to Tasker and IFTTT.
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