Android Apps
The Google Play app store is a little bit like a galaxy of software. From a distance, the sheer number of apps is staggering, and it's hard to take them all in at once. But zoom in on any one of those apps, and the distance between them, in terms of features and quality, is vast. Consider: If you looked at an app from Google Play every second, without stopping, it would take more than 40 days to see all 3.5 million of its apps. That's hardly a good use of time. Instead, you can study our list of the 100 essential apps that you need for every Android phone.
Our apps are divided into 14 categories and then sorted alphabetically, so it's easy to browse through all of the entries. You'll find a little bit of everything from productivity and utilities to food and travel, though we didn't include any games in this hallowed hall of Android excellence. That's not because we don't like fun. In fact, we love mobile games so much that we've made a separate list of the best Android games.
If this is your first time with an Android device, 100 apps might be too much to deal with right off the bat. In that case, you can start small with our list of 10 must-have Android apps. These are the perfect way to get started with Android and will cover the basics. Or, if your wallet is feeling a little light, you might prefer the best free Android apps.
When we look for apps to add to this list, we're after those that excel in two areas: uniqueness and elegance. A unique app provides something that no other app can. Take a look at Tasker, which gives you incredible control over your Android device, if you can master its numerous tools. An elegant app may not be the most original app, but the way it accomplishes something makes it a joy to use. Lots of apps let you browse the news, but few do it as stylishly as Flipboard.
We also consider timeliness, design, price, security, and popularity when putting the list together. Each and every app in the list is excellent in its own way. Android 8.0 Oreo is advancing quickly, so the best apps also take advantage of its underlying capabilities. Taken together, they are like a snapshot of the best of the Google Play store at the time of writing. If we missed something, or you have a recommendation, be sure to drop us a line in the comment section below. We update this list periodically throughout the year, so your suggestions may make it into the next update.
Dolphin
Free
A clean, tabbed browser, Dolphin delivers an excellent user experience on Android, almost making you forget that you're on a mobile device. Dolphin also supports tight integration with services like Evernote and LastPass, as well as robust settings. Our favorite feature is gestures, which might not always be efficient but are definitely cool to use. Dolphin also has integrated ad-blocking and support for Flash. Yes, Flash!
Firefox
Free
What's incredible about the Android version of Firefox is that it feels just as mature, if not more so, than the desktop version. It's also lickety-split fast and has a clean design that is a joy on mobile. However, once some of the Quantum goodness makes its way over, it should be even more impressive. Mozilla also 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 selection of plug-ins, excellent tab management, and a dynamic start page for bookmarks and the latest headlines.
Firefox Focus
Free
Firefox Focus doesn't track your browsing and deletes your history when you leave the app. It even strips away all the ads and trackers on a site, so pages load very quickly and you can often get around most paywalls and article limits. The minimalist landing page and bright color scheme also make it enjoyable to use. Do yourself a favor and set it as your default if you care about your privacy.
Opera
Free
Although it's not as popular as Chrome and Firefox, Opera is just as capable a browser on Android. With a slick design, it aims to be your gateway to web content with features like a built-in news portal and the Opera mobile apps store. Opera also takes it easy on your data plan with special compression tools and ad-blocking software. If you want to keep your browsing discreet, Opera offers a private browsing mode.
The Google Play app store is a little bit like a galaxy of software. From a distance, the sheer number of apps is staggering, and it's hard to take them all in at once. But zoom in on any one of those apps, and the distance between them, in terms of features and quality, is vast. Consider: If you looked at an app from Google Play every second, without stopping, it would take more than 40 days to see all 3.5 million of its apps. That's hardly a good use of time. Instead, you can study our list of the 100 essential apps that you need for every Android phone.
Our apps are divided into 14 categories and then sorted alphabetically, so it's easy to browse through all of the entries. You'll find a little bit of everything from productivity and utilities to food and travel, though we didn't include any games in this hallowed hall of Android excellence. That's not because we don't like fun. In fact, we love mobile games so much that we've made a separate list of the best Android games.
If this is your first time with an Android device, 100 apps might be too much to deal with right off the bat. In that case, you can start small with our list of 10 must-have Android apps. These are the perfect way to get started with Android and will cover the basics. Or, if your wallet is feeling a little light, you might prefer the best free Android apps.
When we look for apps to add to this list, we're after those that excel in two areas: uniqueness and elegance. A unique app provides something that no other app can. Take a look at Tasker, which gives you incredible control over your Android device, if you can master its numerous tools. An elegant app may not be the most original app, but the way it accomplishes something makes it a joy to use. Lots of apps let you browse the news, but few do it as stylishly as Flipboard.
We also consider timeliness, design, price, security, and popularity when putting the list together. Each and every app in the list is excellent in its own way. Android 8.0 Oreo is advancing quickly, so the best apps also take advantage of its underlying capabilities. Taken together, they are like a snapshot of the best of the Google Play store at the time of writing. If we missed something, or you have a recommendation, be sure to drop us a line in the comment section below. We update this list periodically throughout the year, so your suggestions may make it into the next update.
Dolphin
Free
A clean, tabbed browser, Dolphin delivers an excellent user experience on Android, almost making you forget that you're on a mobile device. Dolphin also supports tight integration with services like Evernote and LastPass, as well as robust settings. Our favorite feature is gestures, which might not always be efficient but are definitely cool to use. Dolphin also has integrated ad-blocking and support for Flash. Yes, Flash!
Firefox
Free
What's incredible about the Android version of Firefox is that it feels just as mature, if not more so, than the desktop version. It's also lickety-split fast and has a clean design that is a joy on mobile. However, once some of the Quantum goodness makes its way over, it should be even more impressive. Mozilla also 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 selection of plug-ins, excellent tab management, and a dynamic start page for bookmarks and the latest headlines.
Firefox Focus
Free
Firefox Focus doesn't track your browsing and deletes your history when you leave the app. It even strips away all the ads and trackers on a site, so pages load very quickly and you can often get around most paywalls and article limits. The minimalist landing page and bright color scheme also make it enjoyable to use. Do yourself a favor and set it as your default if you care about your privacy.
Opera
Free
Although it's not as popular as Chrome and Firefox, Opera is just as capable a browser on Android. With a slick design, it aims to be your gateway to web content with features like a built-in news portal and the Opera mobile apps store. Opera also takes it easy on your data plan with special compression tools and ad-blocking software. If you want to keep your browsing discreet, Opera offers a private browsing mode.
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