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Our best Android apps provide something that no other apps 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 Android app in the list is excellent in its own way.
1. Firefox
Firefox is for Android (free) sports, it’s most appealing, minimalist interface yet. It also boasts some neat features up its e-sleeve, like smart taps, single-click bookmarks, and a Do Not Track plug-in like its desktop sibling. Despite performing well in speed tests, basic browsing and swiping simply don’t feel as buttery-smooth as they do on other alternate Android browsers.Firefox doesn’t support embedded mobile video, an omission made all the more glaring by the fact that websites identify its user agent as a desktop and serve full-size, media-rich content.Firefox for mobile has a robust selection of plug-ins.
2. Yelp
Yelp’s core service of providing detailed information and reviews of businesses is rather remarkable, and its free mobile apps, including the Android app reviewed here, put exactly the right details into your hands when you’re on the go. You can quickly search for shops and restaurants, find out if a business is currently open or closed, get directions to the site, see photos of what’s inside, and read reviews and tips about the business.
3. Runtastic PRO
Runtastic is tracked your route, pace, speed, and heart rate if you’re wearing a connected monitor. Finish your run, and you can mark your mood, whether it was sunny, what kind of terrain you treading, and more. The app even adds the temperature based on your location. You can turn the app on before jumping on my bike, switch it to cycling mode, and watch as it collects my route, speed, and all that other great data. It works just as well for walking, hiking, and other activities, too (the ability to track multiple sports isn’t unique to Runtastic, however; other fitness apps do it). Runtastic has audio feedback, music integration with a power song option, and so many great features that are all easy to find and explore due to a pretty simple interface.
4. Apple Music
Apple Music for Android, Cupertino’s first real Android app, Apple crossed the enemy lines and opened up its music streaming service to Google partisans. Recently emerged from a lengthy beta, Apple Music boasts a new home screen widget and an equalizer, but some flaws I noted in the beta have carried over, too. Furthermore, without the support of the Apple ecosystem, Apple Music is less appealing on Android than it is on Apple’s mobile devices.
5. Bandcamp
Bandcamp has emerged as the premiere service for independent creators to sell their music online. The Bandcamp app uses a slick interface to keep things very simple, even when you fire it up for the first time. You can jump directly to the most recent purchase from here, or view every purchase on a separate screen.Devoted Bandcamp users will enjoy fast access to their songs.
6. Pocket Casts
Pocket casts have excellent features and rich options in a good interface and lets you sync your listening experience across multiple devices. Pocket Casts is PCMag’s Editors’ Choice for Android podcast catchers and players.With the Pocket Casts app on your Android phone, you can search for your favorite podcasts, or by importing an OPML file if you’re migrating from another podcast catcher and player app. It’s easy to start loading up your app right away with shows you like, as there are no sign-up barriers whatsoever.
7. Slacker Radio
Slacker Radio continues its dominance as one of the best streaming music apps. The service and its complementary Android app have undergone many changes in recent months to help it compete with the likes of Spotify and Tidal.Slacker Radio lacks a few minor features found in competing products, such as track crossfading and gapless playback, but it has enough great features and content of its own to be worthy of an Editors’ Choice award.
8. Songkick
Hardcore music fans have their beloved bands’ tour schedules seemingly imprinted on their souls, but those of us with more casual devotions may have trouble keeping tabs on our favorite artists’ performance dates. Enter Songkick Concerts, a slick Android app (free) (also available on iOS) that notifies you when an artist plans to come to your town. Concertgoers, consider Songkick Concerts a must-have download.
9. Spotify
Spotify, one of the shining stars of streaming music, continues to improve. The app (free, with an optional $9.99 per month Premium service) opens the door to collaborative playlists, on-demand music playback, commercial-free listening, and cool new features for runners. On Android, Spotify lacks the ability to upload your own MP3 files (a feature found in the desktop version) and Slacker Radio’s informative DJs, but it’s still an excellent, Editors’ Choice award-winning mobile music app.
10. Any.DO
Any.do is a sophisticated task-management app that includes time and date reminders and a lovely design.The real signature feature for Any.do, though, is called Any.do moment. It’s basically just a setting that reminds you at the same time of day for whichever days you set, to review your upcoming to-dos.
11. EasilyDo
If you’re the forgetful type, EasilyDo is your savior. Once you hook the app up to a slew of supported social and calendar services, it suggests simple actions from a unified dashboard. Did you know it’s Susie’s birthday? EasilyDo will remind you and suggest you send her a message or a gift. It makes the little things easier and proves its worth with saved time. It covers everything from to-do lists to tracking packages to storing your travel information.
12. Evernote
Once you start using it, 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.
13. Mint
Mint is a fantastic online service for keeping track of your finances, and it really shines on Android. Once you’ve entered all your information, you can easily see where your money is going. And Mint’s budgets help you make spending decisions on the fly. Another great feature is the Mint widget, which helps you keep your finances in mind by keeping your account balances in sight. Mint can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s well worth the effort to learn.
14. Pushbullet
If you’ve ever had to email a link or a picture to yourself because that seemed like the easiest way to get it off your phone, Pushbullet is for you. Simply put, it’s the missing link between your PC and your Android. This handy service lets you send notes, URLs, files, addresses, and even lists among your devices. You can even push all these things to your friends, too.
15. Adobe Photoshop Express 2.0
Photoshop Express is a svelte app, with powerful tools to make the most of your mobile snapshots. Sure, it’ll do the Instagram-ish filters, but it also lets you make fine adjustments to images with a beautiful, simple interface. It even seamlessly connects to various other services for sharing.
16. Flickr
17. Google Photos
18. Instagram
19. PicsArt Photo Studio
20. Snapseed
21. Comics
22. Flipboard
23. Pocket
24. Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus
25. Bitdefender Mobile Security
