Best Apps For The Android

Best Apps For The Android

Android is a platform for mobile devices, developed by Google. It’s an open source system that allows developers to create apps for the platform, and it’s available on a wide range of phones and tablets. You can use Android to access your email, play games, manage your contacts, get directions, take photos, shop online or offline—the list goes on and on! The best part about Android is that it’s free. You just have to pay for the device itself.

Android has been around since 2008 and has grown significantly since then. There are now more than 2 billion active users across the globe! That means there are plenty of apps available to help you get things done faster and easier than ever before. But where do you start? We’ve compiled some of our favorite apps below:

Best Apps For The Android

Android tablets and phones are technological marvels that entertain, let you work from any location, and keep you connected with friends, family, and coworkers. With the right app, you can transform your humble cell or slate into a mobile movie theater, work station, art canvas, recipe manager, and so much more. Unfortunately, finding the best Android apps is a bit of a challenge.

There’s a titanic quantity of apps to download from the Google Play Store, but which ones are worth their salt? We’ve assembled this list to help you discover worthwhile apps, so read on: You may find something you didn’t even know you needed.

These 103 recommended apps are organized into 13 categories, including music, productivity, security, and utilities, so it’s easy to find ones that suit your mood. Need an entertaining streaming video service? There’s an app for that. In search of a dependable word processor that’ll keep you productive while on the go? There’s an app for that, too. Note that we don’t include any games in this roundup. For those, check out our separate list of the best Android games.

If this is your first time with an Android device, 103 apps might be overwhelming. If so, take a look at our list of 10 must-have Android apps to cover the basics. If your wallet is feeling a little light, know that many of the entries in both lists are free.

Each recommended app is excellent in its own way. Taken together, our collection is a snapshot of the Google Play Store’s best apps at the time of writing. So explore and enjoy.

We didn’t forget about iPhone and iPad users. For the iOS faithful, check out our roundups of the best iPhone apps and the best iPad apps.

BROWSERS
Brave Privacy Browser Image
Brave Privacy Browser
Brave Privacy Browser offers many features aimed at protecting your security and privacy on the web. For instance, it includes built-in blockers for ads, pop-ups, scripts, and third-party cookies. It even implements the HTTPS Everywhere extension, so you can ensure that your connections to sites are secure. The lightweight, minimal design looks great, too.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
DuckDuckGo Image
DuckDuckGo
Based on Google’s Chromium codebase, DuckDuckGo is a minimalistic browser designed to keep your online activities private. DuckDuckGo defaults to the highest encryption available for whatever site you visit, and lets you wipe your browsing history with a button tap. If you’re tired of trackers hounding you for advertisement purposes, and want to browse the web with a bit of freedom, give DuckDuckGo a download.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at DuckDuckGo
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Firefox Image
Firefox
Firefox is lickety-split fast, and has a clean design that is a joy to use. Mozilla makes a big point about how it doesn’t collect your data, and we are pleased to see that the app comes with a full complement of security settings—including an option to protect your information from advertisers and a private browsing mode. Like the desktop version, Firefox for mobile has a robust plug-in selection, excellent tab management, and a dynamic start page for bookmarks and the latest headlines. You can even sync settings, history, and tabs with the desktop variant

MSRP Free
$0.00
at mozilla
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Microsoft Edge Image
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge lets you easily sync web pages, bookmarks, and browsing history between your Android device and the Edge browser on your desktop. Top features of the mobile browser include an integrated reading view, news ratings (handled by NewsGuard), and a content blocker (powered by Adblock Plus). You can search with Bing using your voice or by selecting a photo, as well as earn points via the Microsoft Rewards program. Both Microsoft Edge’s dark and light themes look elegant and are easy to navigate.

$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Tor Browser Image
Tor Browser
Privacy stalwarts, rejoice! Tor now has an official (and modern-looking) Android app. The Tor project operates under the principle that “internet users should have private access to an uncensored web.” Make sure to read the overview of how Tor works(Opens in a new window) before you start using it, as it addresses specific types of privacy threats (and does so very well). The Tor browser may perform more slowly than other browsers, given its complicated inner workings, but that drawback should be negligible for the users who appreciate and rely on its protections.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Tor
See It
(Opens in a new window)
COMMUNICATION
Duolingo Image
Language Learners

Duolingo
5.0
If you’re looking to learn another language, Duolingo gamifies language learning with bite-sized lessons and a friendly interface. Starting with simple vocabulary and building from there, Duolingo is your guide to learning a new language or brushing up on one you already know. The more you use the app, the more you unlock and—with practice—the more you learn. This free app currently supports Danish, Dutch, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. Or more practical choices, like Esperanto and Klingon.

MSRP Free
Duolingo Review
Facebook Messenger Image
Facebook Messenger
5.0
The problem with most mobile messengers is convincing your friends to sign up. That said, there’s a good chance that most people you know are already on Facebook. This is handy, because the Facebook Messenger app is fantastic. It’s simple, clean, and easily handles voice and video calling. Check out our feature on Facebook Messenger to discover its other capabilities.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Facebook Messenger (for Android) Review
Google Translate Image
Google Translate
Many people fear not being unable to communicate with people from another country while traveling. Google Translate takes a bit of the edge off, quickly translating either written text or spoken words. You can even use the app to do the speaking for you, and input text through your camera or handwriting. The app can translate 103 languages with a data connection and 52 when you’re offline. It can’t handle Tamarian, but it’s sure to be a handy tool here on Earth. Another option is Microsoft Translator(Opens in a new window), which offers 60 offline languages, travel phrasebooks, a real-time conversation mode, and actually translates Klingon.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
LingoDeer Image
LingoDeer
LingoDeer is a fantastic language-learning tool with a strong Asian-language focus (though it includes a few major European languages, too). The app’s courses are multilingual, so if you wish to learn Japanese as a German speaker, this is the app for you. That said, LingoDeer is also quite challenging, as it features specific, high-level terminology and detailed grammatical explanations. Nonetheless, it is a superb resource, and the developer is constantly improving the app based on community feedback.

Per Month, Starts at $11.99
$11.99/Per Month
at LingoDeer
See It
(Opens in a new window)
LinkedIn Image
LinkedIn
4.0
Most people are probably familiar with LinkedIn as a service only visited in times of desperation—after being laid off, maybe, or after a day in the office so bad that you’re just not going to take it anymore. The LinkedIn app aims, however, to be a companion to the LinkedIn web service that you check every day. Sure, there’s the all-important profile pages showing off your work experience, and the handy tools for networking, but the service now includes visitor metrics and a newsfeed for a decidedly more social feel. It’s sometimes the easiest way to reach out and make a business connection. It’s like Facebook for grown-ups.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
LinkedIn (for Android) Review
Snapchat Image
Snapchat
4.0
With Snapchat, you quickly snap and exchange photos with one or several friends. The app also supports video snaps, as well as voice and video calling. The catch is that whatever you post vanishes after a day. It’s just a fun and ephemeral way to share the world around you.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Snapchat (for Android) Review
Signal Image
Signal
There are many apps that pay lip service to security and privacy, but Signal was built from the ground up with the goal of letting people easily communicate without having to worry about being overheard. The Signal app is a complete phone and SMS client replacement (though it works just fine as a standalone app, too) for sending and receiving encrypted calls and messages. The app’s look and feel continues to improve, too.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Textra Image
Textra
Textra is an excellent alternative to Messages on Android. The app includes numerous customization options that you won’t find with the stock messaging app, including custom contact colors, text bubble styles, and notification icons. Additionally, you get extra features such as text scheduling, the ability to blacklist contacts, and the option to rename group conversations. Textra also has excellent light and dark modes.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
WhatsApp Image
WhatsApp
3.5
In a world rife with messenger apps, WhatsApp is among the most successful, boasting an enormous and dedicated user base. Add to that an integrated web version that lets users take their chats to the desktop. This Facebook-owned app is bolstered by encrypted messaging provided by the minds behind Signal. It might just be the largest secure messaging service out there.

$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
WhatsApp Messenger (for Android) Review
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Your Phone Companion
Microsoft’s Your Phone Companion app lets you link your Android phone and text from your Windows 10 PC. As a bonus, you can also quickly access photos from your camera, as well as manage your device notifications. The app setup is easy, and it’s certainly more comfortable to type out longer responses on a physical keyboard than craft a message on your phone.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
FOOD
Blue Apron Image
Blue Apron
4.5
If you don’t want to think about buying ingredients, but still want to cook, Blue Apron is an excellent option. With reliable deliveries and great meals to choose from, this food delivery service lets you skip the trip to the grocery store. The sleek mobile app allows you to manage your account, schedule your deliveries, and save any recipes you want to revisit.

Starts at $7.49
$9.99/per serving – 2-Person Plan
at Blue Apron
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Blue Apron Meal Delivery Service Review
Cookpad Image
Cookpad
Cookpad connects you with a vibrant array of recipes. Easily add favorite recipes, manage shopping lists, and find new recipes you’ll love based on those you already like. Once you start using it, you’ll have one less excuse to eat out.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Copy Me That Image
Copy Me That
A quality homemade meal is one of life’s greatest comforts, so whip up a tasty dish using Copy Me That. This multipurpose tool lets you copy, organize, and manage recipes that you find online or input yourself. Customize your recipe collection with photos of your choosing, and organize them in whatever categories you want. The app is great for cutting through long-winded websites to get tight recipe copy, and it even provides a meal planner and shopping list to make cooking a cinch.

$0.00
at Copy Me That
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Seamless Image
Seamless
Remember the bad old days of ordering food? You needed takeout menus, knowledge of the terrain (“will they even deliver out here?”), cash, and faith that the person jotting down your order got it right. Seamless takes care of all that, even letting you pay via credit card from your Android. The only drawback? It’s not available in every city (or even every state), though it has expanded its range dramatically since it was first included on this list.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
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Untappd
Untappd helps you record each brew you try along with a rating and tasting notes. Think of it as Swarm for beer! No more staring at a tap list, trying to remember which ones you’ve had before. The app also has a vibrant community of beer drinkers that can point you toward new discoveries and an extensive list of beers. It’s also a handy way to find your favorite brew near your current location. While it’s not perfect, it can change the way you think of beer.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Yelp Image
Yelp
4.0
It pays to be a little skeptical of crowd-sourced reviews, but Yelp tells you a lot more than just what people thought of a bar, restaurant, or just about any other place where you spend money. Many locations list hours of operation, contact information, and menus, making it easy to find the perfect spot in your neighborhood or a new city.

MSRP Free
Yelp (for Android) Review
HEALTH & FITNESS
Adidas Running by Runtastic Image
Adidas Running by Runtastic
The Adidas Running app, formerly called Runtastic PRO, can do much more than just track your favorite running routes. This excellent fitness app keeps track of all sorts of useful data and can return information-rich maps to help you plan future outings. Use it for cycling, hiking, and walking, too.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Clue Image
Clue
Menstruators the world over will rejoice over Clue, a simple app with a beautiful design for tracking your period and predicting when the next will occur. Using the data you enter about your cycle—and other factors—you can use Clue to plan ahead, whether it’s for pregnancy or just to keep ahead of your cycle. Reminders and a handy calendar tool can help take the guesswork out of life. Best of all, it’s totally gender-neutral, and not the expected pink.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Eve Image
Eve
Tracking your period isn’t just about knowing the cycle, but also the other factors surrounding it. Eve by Glow lets you track physical and emotional states, which can lead to some important insights when you take the time to interpret your own data. Eve also boasts a vibrant community and a wealth of information about sexual health built right in.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Fitbit Image
Fitbit
You might know Fitbit from its popular fitness trackers, but the app that powers those devices works well on its own, too. Using your just your smartphone (assuming you meet the minimum hardware requirements), this fitness app can count steps and log activities to help you achieve daily goals. There are also social features, so you can compete against your friends. It’s a must-have (really, you must have it) for Fitbit users, but also a smart choice for anyone looking to be more active.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
MyFitnessPal Image
MyFitnessPal
This calorie counter and exercise tracker aims to help you lose weight the old-fashioned way—expending more calories than you take in. With its smart design and an extensive library of foods, it makes quickly logging the calories you take in and what you burn while exercising a snap. A barcode scanner makes it even easier to log that post-workout snack. This fitness app also plays nice with other such apps, so your data won’t be tied up in just one place. MyFitnessPal won’t give you a whole workout regimen, but it can make you more aware of your habits. PCMag has a full review of MyFitnessPal for the iPhone.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Zocdoc Image
Zocdoc
Zocdoc makes it easy to research nearby doctors on your health insurance plan and book appointments from your phone. When you first sign up for the app, you can enter your insurance information manually or scan your card to get started. The app itself looks slick too, with a modern, bright design that makes the experience of scheduling visits less stressful. Zocdoc even saves your history of appointments and makes recommendations for future ones, so you can stay on top of your health history.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
MUSIC & PODCASTS
Anchor Image
Anchor
3.5
If you want to record your own podcast, Anchor is likely one of the easiest ways to do it. This app lets you record by yourself or with friends and build out entire podcast episodes entirely from your phone. Anchor even implements some basic audio editing tools for perfecting each clip in the app. Recently, the service announced a monetization program for creators on the platform.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Anchor Review
Bandcamp Image
Bandcamp
3.0
Filled with both up-and-coming and established acts, Bandcamp is one of the most exciting music marketplaces there is. The app was initially built around streaming songs you’d already purchased on Bandcamp, but now it’s a one-stop-shop for digital and physical band merch. If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of music, this is an essential app.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Bandcamp (for Android) Review
BlackPlayer Image
BlackPlayer
Streaming services are all the rage, but if you still keep music locally, BlackPlayer is worth your attention. We particularly like the Discover option, which shuffles through 10-second previews of seldom-played tracks in your library continuously, until you decide on what to listen to next. There’s also a built-in tag editor and a ton of customization options for button styles, fonts, themes, and now playing notifications.

$3.59
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
LiveXLive Image
LiveXLive
4.5
While Pandora may have introduced the world to streaming radio, LiveXLive has refined it. You can listen to what the service thinks you’ll like, or try out one of its human-curated channels and playlists. It also has hyper-specific playlists that appeal to particular tastes and moods, such as Yacht Rock. If you aren’t ready to subscribe to LiveXLive quite yet, you can try out its free version.

Per Month, Starts at $9.99
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
LiveXLive Review
Pocket Casts Image
Pocket Casts
4.5
Android has struggled with podcasts (they don’t call ’em “Droidcasts,” after all), but Pocket Casts is here to help. This highly customizable app is great for chilling out with an episode of your favorite casts, and it can also sync among different devices so that you can pick up right where you left off. Time to start listening.

MSRP $3.99
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Pocket Casts (for Android) Review
Songkick Image
Songkick
4.0
Songkick is the bridge between the music in your digital collection and concerts in your area. Once installed, Songkick scans your device for tunes and then lets you see when and where your favorite artists are playing. If you see a show you’re interested in, you can also purchase tickets all from within the app. Add multiple locations to Songkick to catch concerts when you’re on the road.

MSRP Free
Songkick Review
Spotify Image
Spotify
4.5
With its huge inventory of music, Spotify has become a mainstay for free, legal music streaming. You can shuffle through smartly selected songs, find your favorite albums, or explore one of the service’s excellent playlists. Close ties with artists means that new tracks are sometimes available the same day they hit the shelves in record shops. Those still exist, right? Spotify also offers a limited free version.

Per Month, Starts at $9.99
$9.99
at Spotify
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Spotify Review
Stitcher Image
Stitcher
Though its interface is a bit tricky, Stitcher connects you with just about every podcast out there. Podcasts are organized by subject, or you can just search for a familiar title. Shows can, in turn, be organized into playlists for a continuous stream. Once you’ve exhausted all your favorites, let Stitcher recommend something new. With a special emphasis on sources like NPR, CNN, and ESPN, Stitcher has a little bit of everything.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adobe Lightroom Image
Adobe Lightroom
3.5
Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo-editing app for mobile that retains many of the features from its desktop counterparts, Lightroom, which earned a three-and-a-half star rating, and Lightroom Classic, a five-star Editors’ Choice winner. Some of its standout tools include raw camera file profiles, noise reduction, profile-based lens corrections, and advanced color and lighting sliders. Lightroom also notably syncs all these edits between the mobile and desktop apps.

MSRP $9.99
$19.99 Per Month
at Adobe
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Adobe Lightroom Review
Flickr Image
Flickr
3.5
Remember Flickr? The venerable photo-sharing service is an Editors’ Choice web service, and the Android app has a lot to recommend it, too. It’s more about the art of photography than the meme- and selfie-packed Instagram. Offering a well-designed interface and excellent photo and video editing tools, Flickr is more valuable than ever. Plus, the app connects you to the vibrant community of photographers on the service. Best of all, it can automatically back up photos from your phone. Free users can upload up to 1,000 photos and a $50 per year subscription gets you unlimited online photo storage.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Flickr (for Android) Review
Google Photos Image
Google Photos
4.0
Google Photos puts the search giant’s powerful (and sometimes creepy) image magic into your phone. It can identify faces, even as they age over the decades, as well as animals, places, or objects. You can also search for photos from specific dates or locations. The impressive built-in Assistant can detect clutter or even create collages or animations on its own. The app is rounded out with editing tools and unlimited cloud storage if you make some minor compromises on upload quality. Google Photos also extends to photo prints; you can digitize physical photos with the built-in Photo Scan or even order a custom photo book. The companion Google Lens app can even report back information related to your images or photos by scanning them.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Photos
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Google Photos Review
Instagram Image
Instagram
4.5
It seems like just yesterday that Facebook-owned Instagram was adding video. Then direct messaging. Then advanced photo editing put it on par with Photoshop Express for image correction and manipulation. Instagram Stories is now far more popular than Snapchat’s similar feature. And anti-bullying features should make it more palatable for some. With a clean, minimalist interface, Instagram is the current king of social photo apps.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Instagram (for Android) Review
PicsArt Photo Studio Image
PicsArt Photo Studio
4.0
With tons of effects, controls over layers, drawing tools, and collages, PicsArt Photo Studio can contend with Photoshop and is one of the best photo editing apps for Android. If you think it’s just a lowly Instagram clone, you’re wrong. When you’re looking to take your smartphone snapshots to the next level, seek out this app.

Per Month, Starts at $8.99
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
PicsArt Photo Studio (for Android) Review
Snapseed Image
Snapseed
4.0
Don’t get us wrong, some of us love Instagram. But if you want more control than Instagram affords, try Google-owned Snapseed. This app straddles the line between full-fledged image editor and 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 non-destructible edits to raw camera files and make adjustments to exposure and detail levels.

$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Snapseed (for Android) Review
PRODUCTIVITY
Asana Image
Asana
4.5
Asana is the 800-pound gorilla of task management for teams, dwarfing other popular services like the capable Trello. Asana is all about workflows and checkbox tasks that can be assigned to individuals. The Android app lets you take your tasks on the go and offline, syncing your progress when you’re back on the network. It’s a powerful tool with an excellent interface, and new features are added regularly.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Asana
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Asana Review
Doodle Image
Doodle
4.5
The hardest part of scheduling a meeting is getting everyone to agree. Jeff is free Monday and Wednesday. Jill is available Monday, but not Tuesday. And the other dozen people have their own schedules to contend with. Doodle lets you suggest times, and then see which work best for everyone. It’s an invaluable planning tool.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Doodle (for Android) Review
Evernote Image
Evernote
4.0
Once you start using Evernote, this note-taking app becomes a powerful tool for organizing just about everything. Notes can be anything—text, images, audio, or a mix—and are organized into notebooks. One of its killer features is optical character recognition, which makes the text in images searchable. Cloud-storage makes it the perfect tool for organizing the little pieces of a project into a finished draft.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Evernote
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Evernote Review
Fax.Plus Image
Fax.Plus
Faxing isn’t dead quite yet, but fax machines can safely be left behind thanks to online fax services. Fax.Plus’s app is well designed and easy to use. It notably offers a digital signature tool and a contact manager. We like how mobile fax apps allow users to snap a picture of an attachment, attach a fax cover sheet, and send a fax off to a recipient in a few quick actions. Fax.Plus makes this process seamless.

Per Month, Starts at $5.99
$5.99 Per Month
at FAX.PLUS
See It
(Opens in a new window)
IFTTT Image
IFTTT
4.0
IFTTT, which stands for “if this, then that,” helps you create custom automations between various online services and devices without any coding experience. The mobile app makes it simple to set up these Applets (previously called recipes) on your own or implement any of the community-created ones. IFTTT is particularly great for controlling smart home devices.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
IFTTT Review
Khan Academy Image
Khan Academy
Avoid paying for expensive textbooks and use Khan Academy instead. With lessons and videos for Arts & Humanities, Computing, Economics & Finance, Math, and more, there’s no shortage of topics you can learn or review. The app is easy to use, and you can resume lessons wherever you sign in to your account.

MSRP Free
Microsoft Word Image
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is, simply put, the alpha and omega of word processing, and one of the key apps in Microsoft Office 365. You’ll find it on every kind of computer in every kind of setting, and now it’s available for free on Android. Word plugs into Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to keep your documents in order, but its main selling point is that this really is Word. What you make on your phone will look exactly the same on the desktop. For the worker on the go, it’s essential.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Mint Image
Mint
5.0
Mint is a fantastic online service to keep track of your finances, and it really shines on Android. Once you’ve entered all your information, you can easily check up on your finances on the fly. Mint keeps you on track for your goals and a new bill paying feature makes sure that you never miss a payment. Be sure to try out the app’s excellent widgets, too.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Mint.com
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Mint Review
Nine Email Image
Nine Email
Nine is a very reliable email client designed to work with all of your accounts. The clean interface and the optional conversation view make reading and replying to email intuitive. One of the coolest features is the ability to customize the notification actions, including an incredibly useful “Mark as read” option. It isn’t cheap, but it’s only a one-time $14.99 charge for a much-improved email experience that also integrates calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks functionality.

$0.00
at Google Play
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Slack Image
Slack
4.5
Slack has gone from the new hotness, to controversial productivity tool, to essential office tool faster than you can say “hot take.” With a familiar, instant messenger feel, it’s easy to get started with Slack. But the service became popular because of its wealth of advanced features, like customizable alerts and a Do Not Disturb function. You can even host VoIP calls through Slack with your coworkers. A free account will get you started, but a monthly fee unlocks even better search tools. And be sure to install the Giphy plugin for maximum productivity.

MSRP $8.00
Visit Site
at Slack
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Slack Review
Spike Image
Spike
Reading email can be a slog, as they just don’t feel as natural or accessible as, say, text messages. Until now. Spike is an app that transforms your email inbox into a messenger platform, giving it a WhatsApp-style conversation flow. You can perform traditional email tasks, such as forwarding or scheduling messages, but the radically different inbox appearance will change your email perspective. A personal account is free, so give Spike a shot. Once you switch you may never go back to traditional emails inboxes again.

Visit Site
at Spike
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Todoist Image
Todoist
5.0
If you like to keep your life organized with various to-do lists, then you definitely need to download Todoist. This app lets you keep track of the tasks you need to get done; you can assign them different priorities based on their overall importance or organize them across different projects. It also has a functional, clean design and works across many different platforms. Anyone can get started for free, but seriously organized individuals should upgrade to the $28.99 per year premium plan to set up task labels and reminders, upload files, and view productivity charts.

Per Month, Starts at $4.00
$3 Per Month
at Todoist
See It
(Opens in a new window)
Todoist Review
TurboTax Tax Return App Image
TurboTax Tax Return App
Everyone needs to file their taxes every year. Most people will probably have an easier time using dedicated tax software (and some might still enjoy preparing them by hand), but more ambitions filers or those with simple tax returns can get away with using a mobile app. Intuit’s TurboTax Tax Return App is the best one we reviewed this year. Among its top features are an excellent user interface, support for all major tax forms, and innovative help options. If you get stuck at any point, you can just open up the Virtual Assistant, which keeps a running dialogue of the help topics you searched for, or use SmartLook to connect to a tax expert via video chat.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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READING & NEWS
Calibre Companion Image
Calibre Companion
Calibre is the giant of ebook management, and this app is the perfect (ahem) companion for it. With just a few clicks, you can add any book from your computer to your eReader over USB or Wi-Fi. You can also store your ebooks on the cloud for easy access from wherever you are. What’s so surprising is how well it works, and how easy it is to use. If you’ve got a lot of ebooks and are ready to cast off the shackles of Amazon, this is the app for you.

$4.99
at Google Play
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ComiXology Image
ComiXology
4.5
The Amazon-owned ComiXology—the iTunes of digital comics—offers a near-perfect combination of store and comic book reader in its wonderful Comics app. The free app transforms your Android smartphone or tablet into a digital long box that houses and syncs your purchases across multiple devices. Even better, the new Comixology Unlimited service lets you devour an ever-expanding catalog of titles for just $5.99 per month.

MSRP Free
5.99 Per Month for Subscription
at ComiXology
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Comixology Review
ESPN Image
ESPN
What is most impressive about the ESPN Android app is the sheer number of sports it covers. Everything from American football to Brazilian soccer to Indy 500 is available. For those unmissable games, you can set alerts and follow specific matches as they unfold. It also connects you to videos and news headlines, courtesy of the popular sports cable network. Also, check out ESPN’s streaming service, ESPN+.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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Feedly Image
Feedly
4.0
Feedly takes the RSS feed into the modern age, and it’s the easiest way to stay on top of all your favorites sources of news. You can view everything all at once if you want, but Feedly also lets you categorize your sources for focused reading or use its Today tab, which shows you the top stories from each category. Additionally, you can make Feedly look as simple as you wish, with minimalist text-only layouts. It’s a great way to keep informed with the days’ headlines and it offers useful integrations with other services as well.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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Feedly Review
Flipboard Image
Flipboard
4.5
With its slick, streamlined interface, Flipboard is one of the best apps for reading the news. With it, you browse the articles, videos, podcasts, and other media that matter most to you. The app’s signature magazine-style interface lets you explore the day’s headlines in a gorgeous environment. The Daily Edition feature gives you the most important news along with themed stories for each day of the week. Flipboard has been one of our top picks for years, and it’s easy to see why.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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Flipboard (for Android) Review
Kindle Image
Kindle
The official Amazon Kindle app puts all of your existing Amazon ebook purchases at the tips of your fingers, and it gives you mobile access to the Kindle ebook store for impulse purchasing. Best of all, it syncs your notes, bookmarks, and where you left off among all your devices.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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Libby by Overdrive
The library is an often-overlooked public resource (and some are modernizing quickly), but OverDrive brings it back into the fold with the newly redesigned, Libby. Supported by over 30,000 libraries worldwide, the app lets you access your local library’s array of available ebooks and audiobooks. Use it to download titles, place holds on titles not yet available, and consume your borrowed content. The only requirement is a library card (or its digital equivalent).

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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Pocket Image
Pocket
Your bag of holding for internet content, Pocket saves articles, images, and videos for later reading. We especially like how it reformats articles for more comfortable reading on a mobile device, and how it syncs content to your tablet, phone, and online account. With the close integration between Pocket and the Android sharing tools, you can pocket just about anything from your phone.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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reddit is fun
There’s no shortage of Reddit apps on the Google Play store and choosing one over another ultimately comes down to preference, but reddit is fun (RIF) is a great option to try. The default view features a dense, text-heavy layout that puts the best (and worst) of Reddit front and center. There’s both a light and dark theme and tons of layout content customization options to try out, even if you don’t opt for the paid version. Better yet, there are no ads in either version or RIF and its overall performance is extremely quick.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Google Play
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SECURITY
Bitdefender Mobile Security Image
Bitdefender Mobile Security
4.5
Need Android antivirus? It’s hard to do better than Bitdefender. This app has received perfect scores from two independent research labs and scans your phone in mere seconds. It also includes excellent phishing protection, powerful antitheft tools, and Android Wear integration.

MSRP $14.95
$14.99
at Bitdefender
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Bitdefender Mobile Security and Antivirus (for Android) Review
Bitwarden Image
Bitwarden
4.0
As far as password managers go, Bitwarden checks all the right boxes. For instance, it supports two-factor authentication and secure password sharing. Bitwarden also implements a password generator and can help you import passwords from other services. Best of all, it’s free and open-source.

MSRP Free
$0.00
at Bitwarden
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Bitwarden Review
Dashlane Image
Dashlane
3.5
You’re terrible at passwords. Don’t take it personally! Everyone is terrible at passwords. That’s why we all need apps like Dashlane, which generate, save, and replay login credentials wherever they’re needed. This smart, cross-platform service makes sure that your passwords, payment information, and other vital information is stored securely but never out of reach.

Per Month, Starts at $3.99
$59.99
at Dashlane
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Dashlane Review
LastPass Image
LastPass
4.0
After a major overhaul to this powerful password manager, its appearance finally matches its performance. With LastPass, you can access your saved passwords, secure notes, and filled forms from your Android, and you can also create new ones that sync to all your devices. The new version of the app ingeniously melds the password manager with a built-in browser, putting the app’s auto-login features at the forefront. Staying safe has never been easier.

MSRP Free
Free 30-Day Premium Trial
at LastPass
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top 10 must have android apps

With millions of apps on the Play Store, searching for the best among them is daunting. Whether you need a great weather app or a new tool to speed up your productivity, there are always dozens available. We’ve spent hours curating the best Android apps for every purpose and compiled only the best of them into one list.

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Note that we have separated these must-have Android apps into several categories and selected one app – which we think is the best – for each app category. You will also find links to separate best lists for apps where you can also look for alternatives to the best Android apps already listed here. Note that this list is US-centric and some of the apps listed here may not be relevant/ available elsewhere.

Jump to
Indispensable Android apps
Best Everyday life apps
Best photography apps
Best fitness and lifestyle apps
Best multimedia apps
Best productivity apps
Indispensable Android apps
Indispensable apps are the ones that most Android users will almost certainly need to install for the smooth functioning of their smartphones. These primarily include key apps like keyboards, browsers, security, and personalization apps. While most of these come pre-installed on Android phones, at times, it is always a good idea to switch to another app that (usually) offers a lot more features than the default ones.

Best keyboard app: Microsoft Swiftkey
androidpit android keyboards swiftkey 2
Microsoft SwifKey is still quite popular!/ © NextPit
Download SwiftKey from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.3
Price: Free
While Gboard is definitely the most popular keyboard app on the Android platform, this is largely the case because it comes preinstalled on most Android devices. Before Gboard’s arrival in 2016, SwiftKey was arguably among the most popular third-party keyboard app for Android devices. With over 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store, SwiftKey continues to remain hugely popular. It is also loaded with features and is definitely a great alternative to Gboard.

Best file manager app: Solid Explorer
Solid Explorer
Solid Explorer is NextPit’s app of choice for the best file explorer / © NextPit
Download Solid Explorer from the Google Play Store
Rating 4.3
Price: Free with in-app purchase
File managers or file explorers have been common on smartphones for several decades now. While initially used only by power users, File managers have risen in popularity thanks to the open nature of Android. While Google offers its own File Manager within the ‘Files’ app, there are several feature-packed, third-party file manager apps currently available for download. Among these, the one that made the cut to become the chosen one is Solid Explorer.

Best browser: Opera
opera android
Opera is an awesome, feature-packed browser that is definitely worth a try!/ © Opera
Download Opera from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.5
Price: Free
Before we talk about Opera, let us address the elephant in the room. Yes, Google Chrome for Android is by far the most popular browser for Android users. But it has become so ubiquitous, it is almost not necessary to add it to a list. So consider this one as our pick for the best browser for Android other than Google Chrome. As for Opera, well, they have been in the browser space for a really long time and Opera for Android is a really solid, feature-packed offering.

Best Launcher: Nova Launcher
androidpit nova launcher
Nova Launcher is our pick for the best launcher in town / © Nextpit
Download Nova Launcher from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.4
Price: Free (Paid version available with more features)
One of the easiest ways to customize your Android phone is to install a third-party launcher. And among launchers, our favorite happens to be Nova Launcher. This app has been a hot favorite among Android users for ages now – and it continues to be the launcher of choice for millions of users. While the main reasons for Nova Launcher’s possibility are its versatility and simplicity, most people we know love it for the sheer number of features it offers.

Best security/antivirus app: Sophos Intercept X
sophos 2018
Sophos Intercept X may not be as famous as it should be / © Nextpit
Download Sophos Intercept X from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.3
Price: Free
Sophos Intercept X is an award-winning antivirus and anti-malware tool that has managed to consistently achieve a 100% protection score in AV-TEST’s comparison of the top Android security and antivirus apps. It is a free app that offers a comprehensive set of features that range from Malware protection, Web Filtering, and link checking to app protection, WiFisecurty, and Privacy advisories. And it claims to do all this without adversely affecting your phone’s battery life.

Best Everyday Life Apps
The apps listed in this section are the ones that aren’t essential – but do make our lives easier. As you shall see, this category typically consists of shopping, weather, messenger, and mapping-related tools. Let’s check which of these apps made it to our best list?

Best messenger app: WhatsApp
Update WhatsApp
More than 2 billion people use WhatsApp! Are you among them? / © BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock.com
Download WhatsApp from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.1
Price: Free
WhatsApp has its share of issues and continues to remain ‘not-so popular’ in the USA. However, with a user base of over 2 billion, it is – by far – the most popular messaging app on planet earth. Considering the international nature of this website, we have no option but to award the title of the best messenger app to WhatsApp. But hey, if you do not really like WhatsApp, there are several alternatives to choose from.

Best weather app: Accuweather
Weather app
Accuweather looks nice and works pretty well too! / © Irina Shatilova / Shutterstock.com
Download Accuweather from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.1
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Accuweather is by far, the most popular weather app available for Android handsets. And in our dedicated article on the best weather apps that was recently updated, it topped the list. It is no surprise, therefore, that we have chosen Accuweather to be our choice for the best weather app for Android handsets.

Best restaurant app: GrubHub
AndroidPIT food ordering 5
Yup. GrubHub wins this one! / © Nextpit
Download GrubHub from the Google Play Store
Rating:4.5
Price: Free
Grubhub is our choice for the best ‘restaurant’ apps category primarily because it is excellent at what it does. Apart from having a number of reviews for restaurants and detailed descriptions, the food ordering part is a quick and simple process. No wonder it is the most popular food ordering app in the US- even ahead of DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Best shopping list app: Out of Milk
Outofmilk
OutOfMilk can be used for a lot of things other than tracking your diary supplies / © OutOfMilk
Download Out of Milk from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.4
Price: Free
With over 5 million downloads, Out of Milk is about as popular a grocery list app could get. Claimed to be a must-have companion for an easy shopping experience, Out of Milk is an extremely polished app that categorizes products into individual sections – as opposed to making a haphazard list. We also found the app to be quite intuitive.

Best (offline) maps app: Google Maps
Google Maps Dark Mode
Google Maps / © Bihlmayer Fotografie / Shutterstock.com
Download Google Maps from the Google Play Store
Rating:3.8
Price: Free
You may love it or hate it – but there is no denying that Google Maps – by far – is the world’s most popular, and widely-used maps app. While not promoted as an offline maps app, Google Maps does have a very useful offline feature wherein you can download data for a specific region well in advance using your WiFi connection. Of course, there are other offline map apps that do offer several features.

Best Photography Apps
Smartphones have more or less taken over the photography space and have been responsible for the dipping sales figures of most camera-only brands. High-end smartphones sold today boast excellent image and video quality and can satiate the needs of even the most demanding of photographers.

The added advantage with phones is that users not only get the option to play around with different camera apps, but they can also use capable image editing tools to make their photos look even better!

Best camera app: Google Camera
Google Camera
Looking for the best camera app, you can’t go wrong with Google Camera! / © NextPit
Download Google Camera from the Google Play Store
Rating: 3.2
Price: Free
As you might have guessed by now, Google Camera is the official camera app made by Google for Android smartphones. While not as feature-packed as other downloadable camera apps, this app is more than capable of catering to the needs of the average smartphone user. Extra features that you will get with Google Camera include lens blur mode, photospheres, and on some versions – the excellent Night Sight mode. Note that the list of supported features really depends on what handset you use.

Best photo editing app: Snapseed
androidpit snapseed google
Snapseed is an easy pick. It is a comprehensive photo editing app / © Nextpit
Download Snapseed from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.4
Price: Free
Snapseed is a powerful and pro-grade photo editing tool developed by Google. It routinely finds itself topping best lists centered around photography apps – and for good reason. It is loaded with features that include 29 tools and filters and has countless other features that both amateur and professional photographers love. The best part about Snapseed is that it offers all these features for free! Let us hope Google keeps Snapseed as it is for the foreseeable future!

Best photo gallery app: Simple Gallery Pro
Simple Gallery Pro
Simple Gallery Pro does what it’s supposed to do pretty well/ © Simple Mobile Tools
Download Simple Gallery Pro from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.7
Price: $1.09
As evident from the name, Simple Gallery Pro is a very simple Gallery app that literally has to do one job – to display images stored in your phone. What makes it special is its support for a bunch of additional, ancillary features that range from a photo editing tool and a file manager to having the ability to recover deleted photos and to protect and hide sensitive media stored on your device from prying eyes.

Best Cloud Photo Storage app (Google Photos alternatives): Degoo
Degoo
Degoo seems to offer great value for money / © Nextpit
Download Degoo from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.4
Price: Free (Paid plans available)
With Google Photos going paid, there seems to be a void in the market for a good photo backup app with decent pricing. Going by the reviews and personal experiences of others, Degoo is turning out to be a great Google Photos alternative. It offers 100GB of free storage for its basic users and offers plans of up 10 TB on unlimited devices for $9.99 a month.

Best Fitness & Lifestyle Apps
As evident from the impressive growth of the fitness tracker and smartwatch segment, health and fitness have become key aspects in the lives of most smartphone owners. This has led to the proliferation of several fitness-themed apps that promise a lot. Which of these is the best for your needs? Let’s find out in the list below!

Best fitness app: Strava
Strava
Strava is perhaps the most feature-packed, popular fitness app/ © NextPit
Download Strava from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.4
Price: Free (Pro version available)
Strava has been around for a long time now and is easily among the most popular fitness app currently used by Android smartphone users. The app supports most activities you could possibly think of – including running, cycling, and swimming and also supports essential features like distance, pace, speed, elevation, and calorie tracking. Another key Strava feature is its supports for a wide variety of Android and WearOS devices. Strava is also famous for having a very vocal and vibrant community within its ecosystem.

Best step counting app: Pacer Pedometer
Pacer 2021
Pacer Pedometer / © NextPit
Download Pacer Pedometer from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.7
Price: Free with in-app purchases
For those of you looking for a no-frills step counting app, Pacer pedometer seems to be a great choice. Apart from being free, it supports a lot of features and works without the need for a synced fitness tracker. Apart from counting the number of steps, you can use the app to track other aspects like distance covered and calories burned. The app also has a separate tab where you can track your complete activity history. Pacer Pedometer also has a small community where you can throw and accept challenges.

Best calorie counting apps: Yazio
Yazio
This is Yazio. And it’s quite popular! / © Nextpit
Download Yazio from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.6
Price: Free
Perhaps the most popular calorie counter and food tracker app, Yazio is a great app even though it is free. It is loaded with features and supports a huge database of foods and also includes recipes and meal plans. The app also supports automatic activity tracking and even has a water tracker with notification support. Lastly, the app remains ad-free even though it is free!

Best dating app: Tinder
Photo Verification Standard Screens
Tinder has the most people and that’s the only reason it is our choice! / © Tinder
Download Tinder from the Google Play Store
Rating: 3.3
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Tinder claims to have made over 30 billion matches to date. An insane number considering there are only around 8 billion of us here on planet earth. But hey, with more than 100 million downloads, this is by far, the most popular dating app. And with dating apps, it is important that it needs to have a considerable userbase for them to work effectively. And going by sheer numbers alone, we feel Tinder is your best bet here.

Best Multimedia Apps
The modern smartphone is a multimedia powerhouse. It is more than capable of being a wholesome entertainment device thanks to a plethora of apps that let you watch movies, listen to music and even read books. Even though there are dedicated devices for all these activities, the fact that your smartphone can do these all without breaking a sweat is a testament to how far we have come from the days of the first cellphone which was merely an extension of your landline.

Best music streaming app: Spotify
Spotify
Everyone loves Spotify! / © NextPit
Download Spotify from the Google Play Store
Rating:
Price: Subscription rates depend on which country you live
Spotify is the most popular music streaming app on the planet for a very good reason. Apart from having a large library of music, it is a very good all-rounder that combines a large library, features and has really fair pricing to boot. Spotify is also available across a wide variety of platforms and there is very little going against it, frankly.

Best movie streaming app: Netflix
pexels cottonbro Netflix TV
Netflix and Chill! / © Cottonbro/Pexels
Download Netflix from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.3
Price: Subscription rates depend on which country you live
Our editor Antoine recently chose Netflix as the best movie streaming article in our detailed article on SVOD platforms and really, I do not have anything more to add here. If you were given the option to install only one movie streaming app on your phone, it has to be Netflix.

Best ebook reader app: Amazon Kindle
androidpit kindl store app
Love reading e-books but don’t have an e-reader? Well, you don’t need one! / © Nextpit
Download Amazon Kindle from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.3
Price: Free to download
Kindle is an obvious choice thanks to the name it has in the world of eReaders. The Android app for Amazon Kindle lets you access millions of books and magazines without the need to buy separate Kinde hardware. The app is feature-packed and offers free samples to thousands of books. It lets you choose your preferred font for reading and has add-ons like the ability to view magazines in color images.

Best free music download app: Jamendo
jamendo music app
The best app for free music! / © Jamendo
Download Jamendo from the Google Play Store
Rating: 2.7
Price: Free
Jamendo is a platform for independent artists and its USP is that it is completely free to use. It boasts of more than 40,000 independent artists from across the world. Access to all content is free with the only condition being to signup for an account. We also found Jamendo quite easy to use and completely recommend it because it offers free downloads of royalty-free music for commercial use!

Best Productivity Apps
Even though smartphones have been blamed for causing people to be hooked to them for hours, there is no denying that they can also be used as tools for increasing productivity. The Google Play Store is filled with several apps that let you be more organized and productive. But how do we separate the best from the rest? Well, that’s what we are here for! Listed below are the best productivity-centric apps across various categories

Best calendar app: Google Calendar
google calendar app
Google makes the best calendar app for Android / © Nextpit
Download Google Calendar from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.3
Price: Free
This one wasn’t a hard choice. Google Calendar is a great app and even people who do not really like Google sort of agree to this. The main advantage of Google Calendar – especially if you are deeply entrenched into the Google ecosystem is that you need to do very few manual entries to set your schedule. Google Calendar syncs information and data across several Google apps and does it all in a seamless manner. We can not, therefore, help but recommend Google Calendar over the other options available in the market.

Best email app: Blue Mail
BlueMail
Blue Mail is a comprehensive email app / © Nextpit
Download Blue Mail from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.6
Price: Free
Blue Mail is a universal email app that has received wide acclaim for being user-friendly and for having a clean UI. It supports several email services including Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, iCloud, and Office 365 and gives you the ability to view all your emails in a single, integrated inbox. It also gets its own integrated calendar that syncs with data from across your email accounts allowing for the ability to access your Calendar events right within Blue Mail.

Best note-taking app: Evernote
Evernote
Evernote has been around for ages and is still preferred by many/ © Nextpit
Download Evernote from the Google Play Store
Rating: 3.7
Price: Depends on your country. Comes with a free trial
Evernote has been the hot favorite among fans of note-taking apps for a really really long time now. Its popularity stems from the fact that it has a very simple, clean, and easy-to-use interface despite offering a large number of functions.

Best to-do apps: Todoist
todoist androidpit
Over 20 million people use Todoist on a daily basis / © Nextpit
Download Todoist from the Google Play Store
Rating: 4.5
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Todoist is arguably among the most popular to-do apps on the Google Play Store and claims to have a user base of over 20 million. The app has a lot of features that appeal to those of you who take your to-do list very seriously. It has several additional features like the ability to remind you about deadlines and recurring tasks. You can also set priority levels for each to do and even have it sync up with your email accounts.

Google Play Store alternatives
Well, that sums up our article about the best Android apps across several categories. You will notice that all these apps can be downloaded from the Play Store. But did you know that there are Google Play Store alternatives from where you can download apps as well? Among the most important ones I can think of are the following:

Amazon App Store
APKMirror
Samsung Galaxy Store

Conclusion

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