Chromebooks are some of the most popular laptops on the market—and for good reason. They’re easy to use, have a long battery life, and are often cheaper than other laptops. You can even run Android apps on your Chromebook!
If you’re new to Chromebooks, or just want a few extra tips on how to take advantage of everything Google has to offer, we’ve got you covered. Here are our picks for the best apps that come pre-installed on your Chromebook—as well as a couple we think you should download right away.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Google Chromebook
- Google Docs and Microsoft Office
Google Docs does not need any introduction. And users who are coming from Windows and are looking for Office apps, Google Docs can be a great Office alternative on Chrome OS. It brings almost all the Microsoft Office features and you can also use it while being offline. You can save files in whichever format you want ranging from PDF to DOC and DOCX. It will help you edit your documents on Microsoft Office as well.
However, if Google Docs does not cut for you and you want Microsoft Office on Chrome OS then you have that option as well. You can use the web version of Microsoft Office free of cost exactly like the native application on Windows OS. But keep in mind, there is no offline support for the web version of Microsoft Office.
- Google Docs and Microsoft Office Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Google Docs
Check Out Microsoft Office
- Google Keep
If you want to take notes quickly and scribble something for later use then Google Keep is one of the best note-taking apps you can use on Chrome OS. Sure, you can install the Android version of Google Keep, but I would recommend you to use the web app. It’s designed for a bigger screen and syncs directly with your Google account without any issue.
On top of that, you can create a standalone app of Google Keep using the guide I have mentioned above. You can also install the Google Keep extension if you want to save websites quickly and create tasks while browsing the web.
- Google Keep Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Google Keeps
- Pixlr and Canva
Many users who flock to Chrome OS find that there are no good options for photo editing. However, things have changed quite rapidly in this department. You can now do some great photo editing with all the essential tools on Pixlr. The new beta editor of Pixlr is even better with support for layers, lasso tool, wand, mask and more.
Apart from that, Canva is also a great choice for photo editing and creating collages on the fly. You can choose your dimensions, pick a background and just get started with your photo editing. Not to mention, you can create a PWA app for both the websites so there is that.
- Pixlr and Canva
Check Out Pixlr [In Beta]
Check Out Canva
- Photopea
For those users who want Photoshop-level features, well there is a great web app on Chrome OS which does exactly that. Photopea is a web app where you get a similar layout to Adobe Photoshop with countless advanced features and editing tools baked in.
And that is not all, you can continue editing photos of different file formats like PSD, XCF, RAW, SKETCH, etc on your Chromebook without any issue. All I would say is, Photopea is among the best Chrome OS apps for photo editing and you won’t be disappointed at all.
- Photopea Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Photopea - Google Canvas and Sketchpad
Since most Chromebooks come with a touch-screen display, you can use it as your drawing canvas as well, similar to the iPad. There are two great apps for doodling and illustration on Chrome OS: Google Canvas and Sketchpad. If you are a beginner and want to learn the basics of drawing, you can start with Google Canvas. It’s quite feature-rich and the touch response is excellent.
However, if you are looking for an advanced program that gives you lots of options then Sketchpad is the best choice. It has a myriad of options for brush styles, calligraphy, vector fill and more. So to conclude, if you are looking for the best Chrome OS apps for drawing and sketches then both these options are great to consider.
- Google Canvas and Sketchpad Best Web Apps for Chrome OS
Check Out Google Canvas
Check Out Sketchpad
- Skype Web
Users who have moved from Windows to Chrome OS need not worry about communication tools. You get all your native applications including Skype in the form of a web app. Skype offers a full-fledged web platform where you can access your messages, contacts, and most importantly, calls.
And similar to the native application, you can make and receive calls without any problem. All you have to do is create a shortcut to this app and you will receive calls even when the app is closed. For more information, you can head over to our tutorial on how to get Skype for Chromebook running in easy steps.
- Skype Web Best Web Apps for Chrome OS
Check Out Skype Web - Other Web Apps
At present, tons of modern websites are created based on the PWA standard. To name a few, almost all the popular platforms including Spotify, Twitter, YouTube Music, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Disney+, HBO Max, etc. adhere to the PWA framework. So, instead of looking for a native application on Chrome OS, you can use their web version.
Further, you can create a standalone app by following the guide that I have mentioned above. Do not worry, these websites don’t have a mobile layout, but designed in a uniform way that scales with the screen size. So, you will always be getting a desktop-class layout with mouse, keyboard, and touch-screen support.
- Other Web Apps Best Chrome OS Apps
Best Android Apps for Chrome OS
Since Chrome OS does not have native apps, Google has brought support for millions of Android apps on this new operating system. The apps are compatible with the mouse and keyboard and also support resizable window size. So, in this article, I am going to share some of the best Android apps for Chrome OS that you must use. - Netflix
While you can use Netflix on Chrome browser without any problem, the primary reason I am recommending the Android app because of its offline support. With the Android app, you can download Netflix movies and shows for offline viewing and that’s simply great. That said, if you want the best quality then opt for the web version which streams at 1080p. As for the Android app, Netflix streams at 480p. - Netflix Best Android Apps for Chrome OS
Install: Netflix (Free, Offers in-app purchases)
- VLC
VLC is ranked among the best media players on any operating system and the same is true for Chrome OS as well. You can install the Android app on Chrome OS and you will be good to go. As we already know, VLC (learn VLC keyboard shortcuts) supports all kinds of media formats ranging from MKV to H.265 encoded videos.
So, if the native media player is unable to render a video file, VLC is going to be your friend. The best part is that the app is completely free and open-source and you don’t need to pay anything for playing videos that are encoded with proprietary codecs.
- VLC
Install: VLC (Free) - Microsoft Office and Office Suite
The reason I am mentioning Microsoft Office again is that the Android version has offline support. Also, all the Microsoft Office apps work in full-screen mode and do not lack any of the major desktop features. However, you will need an Office subscription to activate the Office apps so keep that in mind.
In case, you are not willing to purchase another plan, you can opt for Office Suite by MobiSystems. It supports all your Office files including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF. On top of that, you can edit and create Office documents while being completely offline and without any subscription fee.
chromebook apps list
- Google Docs and Microsoft Office
Google Docs does not need any introduction. And users who are coming from Windows and are looking for Office apps, Google Docs can be a great Office alternative on Chrome OS. It brings almost all the Microsoft Office features and you can also use it while being offline. You can save files in whichever format you want ranging from PDF to DOC and DOCX. It will help you edit your documents on Microsoft Office as well.
However, if Google Docs does not cut for you and you want Microsoft Office on Chrome OS then you have that option as well. You can use the web version of Microsoft Office free of cost exactly like the native application on Windows OS. But keep in mind, there is no offline support for the web version of Microsoft Office.
- Google Docs and Microsoft Office Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Google Docs
Check Out Microsoft Office
- Google Keep
If you want to take notes quickly and scribble something for later use then Google Keep is one of the best note-taking apps you can use on Chrome OS. Sure, you can install the Android version of Google Keep, but I would recommend you to use the web app. It’s designed for a bigger screen and syncs directly with your Google account without any issue.
On top of that, you can create a standalone app of Google Keep using the guide I have mentioned above. You can also install the Google Keep extension if you want to save websites quickly and create tasks while browsing the web.
- Google Keep Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Google Keeps
- Pixlr and Canva
Many users who flock to Chrome OS find that there are no good options for photo editing. However, things have changed quite rapidly in this department. You can now do some great photo editing with all the essential tools on Pixlr. The new beta editor of Pixlr is even better with support for layers, lasso tool, wand, mask and more.
Apart from that, Canva is also a great choice for photo editing and creating collages on the fly. You can choose your dimensions, pick a background and just get started with your photo editing. Not to mention, you can create a PWA app for both the websites so there is that.
- Pixlr and Canva
Check Out Pixlr [In Beta]
Check Out Canva
- Photopea
For those users who want Photoshop-level features, well there is a great web app on Chrome OS which does exactly that. Photopea is a web app where you get a similar layout to Adobe Photoshop with countless advanced features and editing tools baked in.
And that is not all, you can continue editing photos of different file formats like PSD, XCF, RAW, SKETCH, etc on your Chromebook without any issue. All I would say is, Photopea is among the best Chrome OS apps for photo editing and you won’t be disappointed at all.
- Photopea Best Chrome OS Apps
Check Out Photopea - Google Canvas and Sketchpad
Since most Chromebooks come with a touch-screen display, you can use it as your drawing canvas as well, similar to the iPad. There are two great apps for doodling and illustration on Chrome OS: Google Canvas and Sketchpad. If you are a beginner and want to learn the basics of drawing, you can start with Google Canvas. It’s quite feature-rich and the touch response is excellent.
However, if you are looking for an advanced program that gives you lots of options then Sketchpad is the best choice. It has a myriad of options for brush styles, calligraphy, vector fill and more. So to conclude, if you are looking for the best Chrome OS apps for drawing and sketches then both these options are great to consider.
Conclusion
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