Welcome to the Top 10 Best Apps For Android All Time.
We’ve compiled a list of the best apps for Android, including some lesser-known gems that you should definitely check out. These are the best apps, period—the cream of the crop when it comes to Android.
Whether you’re looking for productivity apps, social media apps, or games, we’ve got you covered. We believe that these are truly the best apps for Android in all categories (and we stand behind this claim).
So let’s get started!
best apps for android 2019 and 2022
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Home News Mobile Apps Android Apps
10 Must-Have Android Apps for 2019
There are more than 3.5 million entries in the Google Play Store, but these 10 essential Android apps deserve a spot on your home screen.
Max Eddy
Ben Moore
By Max Eddy & Ben Moore
Updated January 17, 2019
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10 Must-Have Android Apps
Whether you are a recent convert to Android or a longtime enthusiast, the Google Play Store’s catalog of 3.5 million apps can be intimidating. Our list is a great place to begin for anyone looking to jump-start their collection.
We openly admit that this list doesn’t even begin to approach the seemingly infinite variety of apps in the Google Play Store. We also know that everyone has different priorities when it comes to their Android device, so we encourage you to ignore the apps that are not relevant to you. We test tons of different apps on Android over the course of the year, and many of us here at PCMag use an Android phone as our day-to-day device. We’re no strangers to the apps that entertain us and make us more productive.
Note that there are no games in this list, as there simply too many and of too great a variety to fit here. Instead, you can check out our dedicated roundup of the best Android games for your gaming needs. We also limit the number of Google apps we include on this list, since many are already the default apps on your device. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on the best of what the Google Play Store has to offer.
This collection is just the tip of the Android iceberg. There are many more excellent apps in our roundup of the 100 best Android apps. Do you have different suggestions about the 10 most critical Android apps for all users? Let us know in the comments. We update this list periodically and your suggestion might make it into the next revision.
Comixology Comics
Comixology Comics(Opens in a new window)
Free
Getting to the few remaining comic book stores in America can be a hassle, as is storing all of your bagged-and-boarded treasures. The Comixology Comics app serves both as a storefront and a long box. You can browse the seemingly endless lists of titles and then buy new books with a tap. It’s wonderfully easy! Depending on the state of your wallet, it may even be a bit too easy. The Comixology Unlimited feature gives all-you-can-read access for $5.99 per month, if you’re keen for a taster’s menu of digital comics.
Dashlane
Dashlane(Opens in a new window)
$59.99 per year
We can all improve our passwords with the help of a password manager. Dashlane is an excellent and feature-packed service with the ability to sync your passwords across your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Dashlane makes it easy to update old passwords and protect your identity online with tools such as a Dark Web scanner that looks for compromised accounts and a built-in VPN.
Evernote
Evernote(Opens in a new window)
Free
Evernote is your list keeper, note taker, voice recorder, to-do manager, webpage clipper, and all-around digital multi-tool. It’s overwhelming at first, but you’ll quickly find a vast number of ways to put it to good use. Our favorite feature is optical character recognition (OCR), which makes text in photos searchable. Next time someone hands you a business card, just snap a picture, and Evernote will capture all the critical information and make it searchable from all of your devices and computers and accessible on the web.
Be sure to read our organization expert Jill Duffy’s 5 Tips for Evernote Users.
Google Drive
Google Drive(Opens in a new window)
Free, with additional costs for increased storage
Google Drive isn’t just a cloud storage service. In addition to syncing and storing your files, it also includes a powerful mobile office suite, so you can create and edit files from your phone. Drive can even store your files locally, for offline viewing and editing. It might not replace your desktop office utilities, but it comes surprisingly close. It also makes it easy to collaborate on and share documents with other people, regardless of platform.
Netflix
Netflix(Opens in a new window)
$8.99 per month
When it comes to mobile video streaming, Netflix is hard to beat. It boasts a massive (if unstable) library of TV shows and movies and top-notch features like offline viewing and 4K streaming. Netflix is also leading the way among streaming services by producing critically acclaimed original programming like Black Mirror, The Crown, Narcos, The OA, and Stranger Things, to name a few. It even offers a decent selection of streaming anime titles. Netflix is no longer just about killing time; it’s about keeping up with the conversation about the latest hit shows.
NordVPN
NordVPN(Opens in a new window)
$11.95 per month
(£2.49 Per Month for 2 Year Plan (60% Off) at NordVPN)(Opens in a new window)
Google and mobile antivirus companies have done a great job of keeping Android (mostly) free of dangerous malware. But when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, it’s possible that nefarious individuals could be intercepting all of your information. That’s why virtual private networks are so important, and NordVPN is among the best. Other fun tricks you can do with a VPN? Hiding your IP address from advertisers and accessing region-locked content.
Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts(Opens in a new window)
$3.99
Podcasts are a great way to catch up with the news, learn more about given topics, or listen to entertaining stories. The sleek and highly customizable Pocket Casts is the perfect companion for chilling out with an episode of your favorite show. The app can also sync your audio across different devices, so that you can pick up where you left off. It’s never a bad time to get hooked on a podcast.
Signal
Signal Private Messenger(Opens in a new window)
Free
Signal Private Messenger is a free and encrypted messaging platform. In addition to text messages, Signal supports voice and video calls, which makes it highly versatile. Many popular messaging apps are owned by companies that have poor track records when it comes to user privacy, so using Signal is a good way to avoid these risks altogether. Setting up Signal is easy, too. Just enter a phone number and choose a user name, and you’re ready to enjoy a more secure communication experience.
Snapseed
Snapseed(Opens in a new window)
Free
Google-owned Snapseed straddles the line between full-fledged image editor and Instagram-style photo filter app, all in a sleek and attractive package. Best of all is the amount of control it gives you over how filters and effects are applied to your images. It even lets you make nondestructive edits to raw camera files and fine-tuned adjustments to exposure and detail levels. For creative mobile photographers, it’s an excellent option.
Spotify
Spotify(Opens in a new window)
Free; premium plans from $9.99 per month
There are many ways to listen to music on your phone. Spotify offers a winning combination of clear, crisp audio and a massive catalog spanning tons of genres. Collaborative playlists let you and your friends enjoy custom mixes, and runners will love the integrated beat-matching workout settings. Its multidevice support is impressive, too, letting you switch playback from one device to another remotely. If you only plan to use one streaming music service on your Android device, Spotify is the one to choose.
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About Max Eddy
Max Eddy
My Experience
Since my start in 2008, I’ve covered a wide variety of topics from space missions to fax service reviews. At PCMag, much of my work has been focused on security and privacy services, as well as a video game or two. I also write the occasional security columns, focused on making information security practical for normal people. I helped organize the Ziff Davis Creators Guild union and currently serve as its Unit Chair.
My Areas of Expertise
Technology, security, and privacy
Security and privacy software, including VPNs
Hardware multi-factor authentication keys
Open-source software and hardware
Election security and disinformation
Interpreting infosec research for a wider audience
Amateur Myst historian
The Technology I Use
Current technology trends encourage wasteful disposability, so I try to use devices for as long as possible. I have a 2020 MacBook Pro for work and a 2017 Lenovo X270 running Ubuntu 22.04 for personal use. There’s an original $99 PineBook in my closet. I use a ZSA Moonlander split keyboard with an Apple Magic Trackpad between the left and right halves, like a true sicko. When I’m off the Mac, I use a beige Microsoft optical USB mouse that’s probably old enough to drive.
My daily phone is a Pixel 3a, and in my desk I have a Nokia phone, three iPhones, and an Apple Newton MessagePad 2100. I also have a Nexus 5x and a Nexus 13, both of which are running Ubuntu Touch.
Out on the web, I’ve tried to adopt as many ad-free, community-supported platforms as possible. I’m active on Mastodon, share my photos on Pixelfed, chart my reading habits on BookWyrm, and track my growing personal library on Inventaire.
A career covering infosec has made an impact on me. I use ProtonMail for my personal email and Signal for texting. Firefox is my browser of choice, and Privacy Badger has a permanent home there. I recently switched to the BitWarden password manager and am painfully transitioning to Authy for TOTP codes. I also use a YubiKey Series 5 security key wherever it’s supported. I have far too many Google Homes for someone as paranoid as I am.
My watch is a solar-powered Citizen that has never had its battery replaced in over a decade of use. My latest eBook reader is a Kobo LibraH20 and I make frequent use of my public libraries’ services via OverDrive. I built my website with Hugo. For my low-tech life, I have two banjos and brew kombucha.
Read the latest from Max Eddy
The Scariest Things We Saw at Black Hat 2021
Is Your Crummy Router Giving Away Your Location?
This Researcher Hacked Windows Hello Using the Ultimate in Public Data: Your Face
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About Ben Moore
Ben Moore
My Experience
I’ve been writing and editing technology content for over five years, most recently as part of PCMag’s consumer electronics team, though I also spent several years on the software team. Before PCMag, I worked at Neowin.net, Tom’s Guide, and Laptop Mag. I spend too much of my free time reading forums and blogs about audio and photography.
My Areas of Expertise
Audio and headphones
Cameras and lenses
Live and on-demand video streaming services
Password managers
Phones and tablets
The Technology I Use
I use a Lenovo ThinkPad P14s for work and a 2021 Razer Blade 14 for everything else. I also keep a Lenovo Yoga Tab, a first-generation Surface Book, and a Toshiba Chromebook 2 at home. My current phone is a Google Pixel 3, though I’m holding out hope for a Windows Phone revival.
As for software, I use Firefox everywhere I can (including Firefox Focus on mobile), as well as Mullvad VPN and Bitwarden. I rely on Adobe Lightroom to edit photos and Microsoft Excel to manage the rest of my life.
I’m currently split between wired and wireless headphones. I use a Fiio K3 amp/DAC (or a Zune HD) for wired sets including the Sony MDR-7506 headphones, Pinnacle P1 earbuds, and Audio-Technica ATH-IM01 in-ear monitors. For wireless audio, I switch between the Master and Dynamic MW07 Go earbuds and the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones.
My current camera is a Nikon D500, though I’m looking to eventually jump to a mirrorless system.
Read the latest from Ben Moore
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