by: Joshua Roberts
There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps on the Play Store. Some of them are good, some are great, and some are just flat out horrible. I am curating this list because I want to separate the gold from the garbage. My list will not be a rating from best to worst, or a list from the worst to the best. It is the simply the best of the best as of January 2016. Additionally I will be including up to two screen shots per app.
I have always wanted to be able to speak Spanish. After all it’s in my blood lineage. With that being said I haven’t had a chance to learn because my mom passed away when I was young. My sister raised me as her own, and despite speaking Spanish herself, she always spoke English to me. With that being said I took it upon myself to learn, and to say it was difficult would be an understatement. After looking I found an app to make learning a new language rather simplistic and fun.
- Duolingo
Duolingo is by far the best app available on any platform to learn a new language. With that being said it is completely free, well designed, and follows material design guidelines. This app is also completely ad free. If you have ever wanted to learn a new language, be it Spanish, Russian, or many others please give this app a look, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
2. Apus Browser
I tend to browse the internet quite a bit. I used to rely on Google Chrome. Chrome was nice, but the app got bulky, and rather slow. Because of that I went through multiple browsers. Finally I came across Apus. It is an elegant, blazing fast, and feature filled piece of work. I would argue that it’s the most beautiful browser available on any operating system. With that being said I have used only one browser that is faster, however it is rather bulky, and it fails in design. If you desire a beautiful, yet functional browser then please look no further than Apus.
3. Piktures
I love taking pictures, but not only that I love to look at the pictures I have taken. After all is that not the point of taking photos and videos? With that being said I used to rely on QuickPik. It however was bought by a company known to distribute Adware. Because of that I looked elsewhere for a feature filled gallery, that was also well designed. I came across Piktures, and it is by far the best gallery app I have ever used. It is also the only gallery app that features gesture support, among many other useful features. It utilizes material design, and simply put can’t be beaten in this category of apps. Best of all it is completely free without ads.
4. Bring! Shopping List
I love to shop. I really do. What I don’t like is going somewhere, especially grocery shopping, and forgetting something. In consideration of that I had to find an app to help with this issue. I came across Bring! and it is fantastic. It can create a list that syncs across multiple devices, and you can allow other people in your household to sync, add, and remove items from that list. Like all the other apps on this list it follows material design guidelines, and let me say it follows them very well. To say it makes life easier would not do this app justice. What’s more this app is also free, not only that it is also ad free. If your forgetful, or you desire a list that your family can dynamically create, then by all means give this app a chance.
5. Alt-C
I used to use Pushbullet to sync my clipboard between my computer and phone. Then Pushbullet went to an outrageous pricing scheme. Alt-C is a simple in design and function, but it does that function well. With that being said it has not been designed to copy 100% of the time, however it can be used in this manner so long as one uses the hotkeys. Finally I would like to mention that the developer is considering adding 100% syncing, and I do believe they will do so. At which point using the hotkeys will not be necessary. Given time Alt-C will definitely be just as good, if not better than the function that used to be provide by Pushbullet. With that being said Alt-C is also 100% free without ads.
6. Parrot- Voice Recorder
Ok so I don’t always record for fun. Being Hispanic I don’t always trust people. If I’m in any setting that could quickly turn bad, I usually record simply for evidence. Such as if I am called to human resources, or any other event such as an encounter with police. Having a recording of such events is never a bad thing, even if nothing goes wrong I lose nothing, but in the event it does then I have that as my backup plan. With that being said I like to have an app that is reliable, functional, and yes as always beautiful. This app is the best in this category, and what makes it even better is that it’s price is free and ad free.
7. Zedge
I like ringtones, actually I love them. I’m OCD, and everything has to be perfect. I like contacts to have a custom ringtone both for text messages and phone calls. What’s more Zedge also offers wallpapers, and live wallpapers. It is well designed and free. If you are like me, or just want some good ringtones or wallpapers give it a shot.
8.Pingpad
Pingpad is an app meant for centralizing a collaboration effort for just about anything, especially school, and group projects. It allows for one to assign, chat, communicate, and organize just about anything. It follows material design, and I would say it’s probably one of the best looking apps available. The ways in which this app could be utilized is endless. Anyone in college, or high school should definitely look at this app. However it can and should be used by any collaboration effort. Best of all its free without ads.
9. Mega V2
Mega is by far one of the best cloud services available. It offers more storage for free than any other cloud provider, in fact it offers a whopping 50 gigabytes. Not only that it is also the only one that encrypts your files. It is a little bit behind on material design, but is still designed well. It won’t win any awards in a beauty contest, but still it’s nice especially considering its safe and offers ample storage. If you like the idea of having plenty of storage, that encrypts your files then you should definitely give this app a look.
10. Unclouded
This app is useful for those that utilize multiple cloud providers, or if you just desire another method to access the cloud besides the apps designed by your cloud provider. Unclouded does have a free version that is very nice, but it limits you on the number of accounts you can have, doesn’t allow you to set a password that locks the app, and doesn’t allow you to use its theme engine. With that being said it is only 3.49 to unlock all of the features it has, and it unlocks all the features they add in the future. Additionally if you just desire a single extra feature such as unlimited accounts, then you have the option to just unlock that feature. My advice would be to get the ultimate version if you do the in-app-purchase because the developer has added a good many useful features, and paying for that version guarantees you access to all features added. If you use cloud services then you wouldn’t be disappointed if you gave this app a chance.
11. Play Newsstand
Newsstand consolidates an RSS feed, news articles, and magazines into a single feed of information. It does this rather well, and seamless. You can add what you like to read, and even keep it set to download when a new article is added to what you want to read. With that being said if you enjoy apps like Flipboard, or any other news aggregation app then this one should be at the top of your list. What’s more is you can use it completely free, and without ads.
12. Photos
Google out done itself with this app. It is probably the best app on the app store. Why? Well to begin with its very well designed. It backups all your photos and videos to Google Drive. What’s more is anything it backs up doesn’t count toward your available storage. If this app is used properly you will not have to worry about losing your photos, or videos, even if you lose access to your physical device. If you aren’t using it, then please download it.
13. Medium
Ok so you probably have this app if your reading this. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a place on this list. If anything it means that it should definitely be on this list. Medium is simply awesome. I love it. I love reading, and I love the platform medium. It’s probably one of the best designed apps, and it definitely pushes the note for those that have little to no voice through a major network. I downloaded it barely expecting anything from it, and gotta say I am glad I did. It should be on any avid readers list, especially if you want to read something of quality and variety.
14. Maps
Maps by Google has always done it’s intended function very well. I’m not good with directions, and while I can navigate well locally I am horrible when I go out of town. I use maps to get anywhere I need, and while it doesn’t always get me to the exact spot, it’s always really close. It’s well designed, in fact it’s awesome to use. I love it. Google is constantly making it better. Anyone that uses there phone for GPS, should definitely be using Google Maps.
15. SoundHound
Ok I love listening to music, and because of that I sometimes listen to the radio. Now that’s well and good, but sometimes I don’t know the song playing. So here’s where SoundHound becomes useful. It will listen to the song, identify it, give you the lyrics for it, let you pull it up on YouTube, direct you to where you can download it, and allows you to share identified songs. It will allow you to select where you want to purchase songs by default. I personally use the free version, but the offer SoundHound Infinite for 5.99 that has extra features. I advise it over Shazam because it identifies faster, and offers more features.
16. Lastpass
Let me start by saying people don’t take security of electronic devices, and services into consideration nearly as much as they should. Each day that passes there are more services constantly being hacked. For the most part this is caused by weak passwords. This should never be a problem. Why? Strong passwords are easy to come by, and what’s more you don’t have to remember any of them, except for your Master password used for last pass. Last pass can generate passwords on the fly, it can utilize symbols, uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and at almost any length you desire. Please I advise everyone, techies, security experts, Information Technology Specialists, all of them should be using Lastpass to secure there passwords. What’s best is you will never forget you passwords because you never have to remember them. Try Lastpass it’s free, although they do have a paid option.
17. Nova Launcher
I love a device that is fast, and smooth. What’s more is most Android devices come with a user interface that usually slows down over time, with a single exception of the Nexus line by Google. Still all android devices would benefit using Nova launcher, even the Nexus line. With that being said Nova offers more features than most launchers, is small, is fast, and really it can’t just be beaten in this category. I purchased the pro version for $4.99, however the free version is fantastic, it just offers fewer features. I have used Nova for several years, and it just gets better over time, and they only add features that are useful. Please if you want better experience with your android device give it a shot, and yes that includes if your using a tablet.
18. Inbox
Google continues to make great products. If you use Gmail, then you owe it to yourself to use Inbox. It’s design is great, and the features it offers is unparalleled in regards to email clients. I wouldn’t advise any anyone to use an app if I didn’t believe in it, so please download it and see what you think.
19. Lockdown Pro
I love this app. I can’t say that enough. It does a few different things, although most of them are done in a single manner. One thing it does is it allows you to put a password on specific apps. Out of those apps you can include your settings, and installer/ uninstaller. Why include those? Well preventing access to those settings means 1) they can’t uninstall Lockdown Pro 2) it means that if your phone is stolen, then a person can’t access your setting to do a factory reset and 3) you don’t have to worry about your kids going into your settings and messing things up. In fact if your kids play on your phone a lot, then blocking certain apps goes a long ways. This app allows a middle ground between secure and convenient. Now it offers a lot of features, and it makes all of them simple to use. I advise everyone I know to download this app, if nothing else one should lock out the settings, Play Store, and installer/ uninstaller. That way your at the very least taking the minimum security measures. Give it a shot, it offers a free ad free version with only certain limitations. Please try it, and I bet you will be grateful you did.
20. Timely
Alarm clocks are quite useful, but usually not very well designed. Timely changes that. It’s design is fantastic, and it’s features are all useful. It can add and sync alarms across devices so for example have kids. Add an account and sync them, and then you can be certain your kids have an alarm set for the proper times. Best of all this app is completely free, and that includes ad free.
21. Microsoft Word
Most everyone has heard of it, but not everyone knows we have it on Android now. Best part is it offers a feature set that is vast and broad, it’s completely free, and it actually follows material design guidelines set by Google.
22. Pocket
Again I browse the Internet all the time. What’s more is this app allows one to save webpages, and it does that well. Pocket is well designed, and we’ll thought out. I think most people could benefit from its use, and definitely advise most to use it, especially techies.
23. Signal
Signal is an app designed with security in mind. It is easily the most secure messaging app available on Android, or any platform for that matter. It incorporates features from iMessage, and adds the ability to make encrypted voice calls. I advise everyone to use this app with limited success. Why use it? Well I used to think that saying the government is watching you would be paranoia. Then Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA literally intercepts every text message, and all metadata pertaining to phone calls. Additionally he revealed Prism, a group of companies giving direct access to the NSA, and those companies included Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Because of that I believe we as consumers should take steps to prevent this. Some of those steps include using safe communication which is provided by Signal. This app is open source and completely free on Android and iOS.
24. ES File Explorer
Anyone that has had to use a file manager on Android should be using Es File Explorer. It is well designed, and it offers features that aren’t present in any other file manager. It’s free and there’s not an app that does this better.
25. SwiftKey
SwiftKey is the best keyboard available. I tried most of the ones on the play store, including Fleksy, and to put it bluntly this app crushes the others. Fleksy is slow, and constantly deleted multiple words or letters I had just typed. It quickly got annoying. SwiftKey is free, offers lots of features, although I wish they would add past support right into keyboard for instances such as clash of clans.
Ok, so that my list. I use plenty of apps, and this list could have been even larger. I didn’t include any apps not available on Google Play, but there are plenty of those as well. If anyone has question, or comments then please leave me a message. I will try to reply to each and everyone if I have time. I hope you feel this list is helpful in your search for apps.