Essential apps for your Android phone and tablet
With Google Play Store as the main source for downloading applications, you can easily find and install the right apps for your phone or tablet according to your preferences and needs.
Below, you will find a list of essential applications for your device, free and grouped by their purposes. For each category, I have selected the most popular application to appear first.
In addition to these, there are, of course, other useful applications such as those for internet banking, local news, or antivirus.
Web Browsing Apps
- Chrome - A fast and user-friendly web browser that provides a good browsing experience and syncs with other devices.
- Firefox - A popular alternative to Chrome, with a strong emphasis on privacy and customization.
- Opera - A browser that allows for optimizing browsing speed and reducing data consumption.
- Brave Browser - A browser focused on privacy and security, offering users full control of their personal data.
- DuckDuckGo - A browser and search engine that focuses on privacy and anonymity, providing users with a secure browsing experience.
Manufacturer-installed apps:
- Samsung Internet Browser
- Xiaomi Browser
- Vivo Browser
Office and Productivity Apps
- Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint - A collection of essential office applications that provide powerful tools for common work tasks.
- WPS Office - An alternative to Microsoft Office, offering similar functionality for editing and viewing documents.
- Google Drive - A cloud storage and sharing service that allows users to access and share documents, photos, and other files from their devices.
- Dropbox - A popular cloud storage service that enables users to store and share files securely and conveniently.
- Evernote - A versatile note-taking app that allows users to create, organize, and share notes and to-do lists.
Email Apps
- Gmail - A secure and user-friendly email application that automatically integrates with your Google account and allows for the configuration of various email services.
- Outlook - A robust email and calendar application that facilitates efficient management of emails and other Microsoft services.
- Yahoo Mail - A popular email service that offers a simple interface and a good user experience.
- ProtonMail - A secure email service that emphasizes user privacy and data protection.
- Thunderbird - An open-source email client that provides extensive features for efficient email management.
Manufacturer-installed apps:
- Samsung Email - An email application preinstalled on Samsung devices, offering integration with other Samsung services and a user-friendly interface for managing email correspondence.
- Xiaomi Email - An email application developed for Xiaomi devices, providing an intuitive interface and advanced options for efficient email message management.
- Vivo Email - An email application preinstalled on Vivo devices, allowing users to manage email conveniently and simply.
Music and Entertainment Apps
- Youtube - The primary internet video distribution platform, with a vast collection of various content such as entertainment, music, education, and more.
- Deezer - A music streaming service that provides access to a vast library of songs in multiple languages and music genres.
- Spotify - One of the most popular music streaming services, offering access to millions of songs and podcasts.
- Apple Music - A popular music streaming service that provides access to an extensive library of songs and albums.
- Tidal - A high-fidelity music streaming service that offers users access to high-quality content and superior audio experiences.
Social Networking Apps
- Facebook - A popular social network that allows users to stay connected with friends and family and share content in various languages.
- Instagram - A social networking platform focused on sharing photos and videos, offering a simple and attractive interface.
- X (Twitter) - A microblogging platform that allows users to post and interact with messages known as “tweets” in multiple languages.
- LinkedIn - A professional social network that facilitates connections among professionals from different fields and sectors.
- Snapchat - A messaging and social media platform that allows users to send messages, share photos and videos, using filters and creative effects.
Internet Messaging Apps
- WhatsApp - A popular messaging app that allows users to send text messages, media files, and make real-time video calls.
- Telegram - A secure messaging platform that offers a wide range of features, including chat groups, channels, and secret messages.
- Signal - A messaging app focused on security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for all conversations.
- Viber - A messaging and video calling service that allows users to communicate conveniently and free with other people around the world.
- WeChat - A Chinese messaging app that offers extensive features, including mobile payments, games, and social networking services.
Text and Website Translation Apps
- Google Translate - The most powerful translation app that allows users to translate text, images, PDF documents, and websites into multiple languages.
- Microsoft Translator - Another popular translation app that offers advanced features, including voice and offline translation in multiple languages.
- iTranslate - A versatile translation app that facilitates conversations and interactions in multiple foreign languages.
- Translate All - A simple and easy-to-use app that provides quick and accurate translations for short texts and phrases.
- Bing Translator - A translation app developed by Microsoft, providing fast and accurate translations for texts and web pages.
Apps for Maps and GPS Navigation
- Google Maps - A comprehensive mapping and navigation app that provides traffic information, navigation directions, and nearby points of interest.
- Waze - A social navigation app that provides real-time updates on traffic, road incidents, and other obstacles on the selected route.
- HERE WeGo - An offline mapping and navigation app that offers voice guidance instructions and route planning options in advance.
- Maps.Me - Another popular offline maps app that allows users to access and navigate maps even without an internet connection.
- Sygic - A premium navigation app that offers high-quality offline maps, voice guidance, and advanced route planning options.
Real-Time News Reception Apps
- Google News - A comprehensive news app that provides a wide range of sources and news categories from around the world.
- Flipboard - A personalized news app that offers users relevant and interesting content from various news sources.
- Feedly - A news aggregator that allows users to create customized lists of news sources and access real-time updated content.
- BBC News - An official news app developed by BBC, offering breaking news updates and high-quality content from around the world.
- CNN - Another popular news app that provides real-time updates, videos, and editorial content from CNN.
Weather Forecast Apps
- AccuWeather - A reliable weather forecast app that provides real-time weather alerts and precise details about temperature, wind, and precipitation.
- The Weather Channel - Another weather app that provides detailed information about current weather conditions and accurate forecasts for various locations.
- Weather Underground - An interactive weather forecasting platform that offers detailed data and informative maps to help users prepare for weather changes.
- Dark Sky - An intuitive weather app that provides information about extreme weather, including rain, storms, and snow, accurately and in real time.
Apps for Identifying a Song
- Shazam - A popular app for identifying songs that uses audio recognition to find information about favorite songs.
- SoundHound - Another efficient app for identifying songs that provides quick and accurate results to discover and save songs.
- Musixmatch - A versatile app for identifying songs that offers synchronized lyrics and translations to enjoy your favorite music even more.
- SoundCloud - A popular music streaming platform that offers a song identification feature to discover and listen to new and interesting music.
- Genius - An app that provides detailed information about song lyrics and interpretations, allowing users to better understand their favorite creations.
TV and Online Series Streaming Apps
- Netflix - The primary video streaming platform with a vast collection of movies and series.
- Disney+ - A streaming platform that hosts Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content.
- Amazon Prime Video - A streaming service with an extensive collection of movies, series, and original content.
- Hulu - A streaming platform that provides access to popular TV series and exclusive content.
- HBO Max - A streaming service hosting HBO content, including top series and movies.
PDF Document Reading Apps
- Adobe Acrobat Reader - A popular and reliable app for reading PDF documents.
- Foxit PDF Reader - A reliable alternative for handling PDF documents, with advanced features.
- Xodo PDF Reader & Editor - A versatile app for reading and editing PDF documents.
- PDF Viewer Pro - A fast and user-friendly app for reading PDF documents.
- WPS Office - An office suite with extended features, including reading and editing PDF documents.
Online Recruitment Apps
- LinkedIn - A top professional network for job search and career development.
- Indeed Job Search - A popular app for finding job opportunities in various fields.
- Glassdoor - A platform offering company reviews, salary information, and available positions.
- Monster Job Search - A reliable app for finding jobs and career opportunities.
- ZipRecruiter Job Search - An app that connects candidates to job opportunities in different fields.
Health Monitoring Apps
- Google Fit - A popular health and fitness tracking app.
- MyFitnessPal - An essential app for tracking diet and physical activity.
- Samsung Health - An app integrated into Samsung devices for monitoring physical activity.
- Fitbit - An app compatible with Fitbit devices for monitoring activity and sleep.
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Regardless of your individual needs and preferences, the Play Store offers you access to a wide range of Android applications.
In addition to the applications listed above, there are also plenty of other apps available, some of which are already preinstalled by the phone or tablet manufacturer, in which case you will find them automatically on your device.
