Miguel ParedesApplicationsShare

These applications for Android are essential: try them out and get more out of your mobile or tablet.

The best paid apps you can buy on Android, treat yourself!

Applications< p>Our smartphone would be nothing without its applications and it is they that allow us to do many different things. Do you want to edit videos? Do you want to book a flight? You will be able to do almost anything you can think of.

Although we can find a huge catalog in the Google Play Store, we all have some applications that we need in our day to day, those essential ones that we cannot miss. Today you can meet mine. These are the applications that I always install on my Android mobile.

Applications for Android on a Samsung mobile.

Apps by categories

Instant messaging

WhatsApp and Telegram

One of the main functions of our phones is to be able to communicate with friends, family, people from the work... Currently there are two queen applications as far as instant messaging is concerned, Telegram and WhatsApp. WhatsApp is the most widely used in the world, although Telegram can boast of offering endless possibilities beyond those of a chat app.

Google Play | WhatsApp (free)Google Play | Telegram (free)

Two essentials on any phone, totally free and with a fairly high rate of updates. If you dare to try Telegram further, you can try Telegram X, available on Google Play, with a better design, animations and functionalities.

We recommend: What are the differences between Telegram and Telegram X?

Although most of my contacts use WhatsApp, Telegram is essential on my Android for several reasons, but above all, for its channels. There are all kinds of them: news, offers, music, videos, cryptocurrencies... In fact, at Andro4all we have our own, a main one, in which you will find out about the most important news and publications, and another bargains, where you will find offers on mobile phones and other technological products.

In addition, during the last months I have been able to see how more and more people are joining, so the use that I give it is greater.

More about WhatsApp on Andro4all:

More about Telegram on Andro4all:

Keyboards

Gboard

Many manufacturers include their own keyboard. This can be useful and have a friendly interface, although we have our preferences. The Google Keyboard is our number one, with a derisory consumption of energy and resources, compatibility with GIFs, stickers, customizable themes...

Google Play | Gboard, the Google keyboard (free)

If the simplicity of Gboard doesn't convince you, you can opt for Swiftkey, also on Google Play, a heavier and more complete keyboard, which focuses on customization and predictions. More than 100 million downloads support it, and even some OEMs have agreements to incorporate it as a native keyboard.

Cloud Storage

Google Photos

Gone are the days when we had to transfer the photos to a microSD card, or connect the cable to the mobile to save them on the PC. Currently, thanks to Google Photos, all our photos are automatically saved in the cloud. The loss of quality is minimal, but the storage is unlimited, so you can save everything you need. We recommend our article on the best tricks for Google Photos, to get the most out of it.

Google Play | Google Photos (free)

Google Drive

On the other hand, we have services like Google Drive, to store our files in the cloud for free, with certain limitations in terms of GB, but with storage expansion plans quite cheap. Some alternatives are Dropbox and Mega.

Google Play | Google Drive (free)

Customization

Nova Launcher

I have used many other launchers, but in the end I always end up going back to Nova Launcher. It works really well and its options allow me to modify all the aspects that I want. I'm not looking for thousands of possibilities, transitions and spectacular effects, I just want to be able to customize some sections and for the system to move smoothly.

You can download the prime version for a small fee, and believe me, it's worth it. From the moment you buy it, you can install it on your device and all those that come after it, so there are few things more profitable.

Google Play | Nova Launcher (free)

Cygnus

One of the advantages of using a custom launcher is the ability to use custom icon packs. In my case, I use Cygnus, a series of icons with a very flat and minimalist appearance, very much in keeping with the wallpaper app that we have just discussed.

Google Play | Cygnus (free)

More customization in Andro4all:

Music

Spotify

If you listen to music on public transport or turn your speakers to maximum when you're at home, it's well worth subscribing to Spotify Premium. Using the app without paying is frustrating, jumping between songs you don't want to hear until you can't get past it. I have no doubt, it is the best application to enjoy music.

With the subscription, of course, you will have the possibility to choose any song you can think of, in addition to creating your own playlists and listening to them without the need for internet.

Google Play | Gboard, the Google keyboard (free)

Photography

Google Camera

There are many users who ask us about the best camera applications for Android, and our recommendation is that there are none in the Play Store. The only application that really improves the quality of the camera is the GCam ported to the Google Pixel, an APK that can only be found on XDA, and which, depending on each terminal, requires one installation method or another.

The cameras of the terminals, currently, come with custom modes, optimized for them, and although a third-party app can give us more control, it is difficult for them to process the images better. Google Camera adds portrait mode even if you have only one camera, and it usually improves post-processing, so give it a try if you want to improve the quality of your camera.

TouchRetouch

TouchRetouch is one of my favorite applications, as it allows me to do something in a matter of seconds that would take a few minutes in PhotoShop. It is an application to remove elements from photos without leaving a trace. It is striking that such a simple application has such high precision, since if you do the editing with care, it will not be noticeable that you have removed any element from the photo.

The application is priced at 1.99 euros, a very tight figure considering the potential it has, and how much it can save photos ruined by someone or something that appears and we don't want it to be present.

Google Play | TouchRetouch (1.99 euros)

The weather

Accuweather

Although current terminals usually come with their own weather applications, you may want to use a third-party application for more information. Accuweather is one of the classics among Android classics, with plenty of customizable widgets and accurate weather information.

Google Play | Accuweather (free)

1Weather is another of our favourites, with an extremely neat interface and accurate forecasts. For the more traditional, the El Tiempo application is another of the classics, and it cannot fail if what you want is to check the weather in a simple way.

File Explorer

It's time to talk about file management in Android. The stock versions have a very poor browser, so it may be necessary to purchase a third-party browser. Luckily, knowing this shortcoming, Google launched Google Files some time ago, a file explorer and manager that we have already analyzed in depth.

Google Play | Google Files (free)

Some interesting alternatives are Solid Explorer, ASTRO and FX File Explorer; simple, free and with access to all folders on the device.

News

Pocket

We have already told you about Pocket on other occasions, because it is one of the best platforms for storing content that we have seen, since it is used precisely for save the articles you want from a website to read them offline later.

Without a doubt, it is a very good resource to be able to read later all those interesting articles that you read in passing, but for which you do not have time at the precise moment in which you see them. It has a premium mode, but the truth is that you will be able to access almost all the functions with the free version.

In addition, saving content is as simple as pressing the "Share" button in Google Chrome, and later selecting "Add to Pocket". And just like that, the page you're on will stay saved in Pocket so you can read it offline whenever you want.

Google Play | Pocket (free)

SofaScore

One of the best apps if you like sports. You can follow the matches of your favorite teams or players. The best thing is that it has a wide variety of modalities, soccer, tennis, basketball, hockey, volleyball, handball, futsal, motor sports, darts... There will be no sport whose results you cannot follow live.

Its design is nice and simple, with some ads, but it stays at the bottom of the screen and doesn't bother you at all. In addition, you will have the option to mark players or teams as favorites so that SofaScore takes care of notifying you about everything that happens with them.

Google Play | SofaScore (free)

Productivity

Google Keep

Google Keep is one of the best note apps, if not the best. If the only thing you want is to write things down easily and always have them at hand, without getting in the way, this is an essential app for you. Write with the keyboard, by hand, take a photo or even attach a file from Drive, you have a multitude of possibilities.

You can group your notes by categories, archive them, create reminders... etc. In addition, thanks to the synchronization with your Google account, you can check your notes on any device.

Google Play | Google Keep (free)

If you want to take notes further, we recommend Evernote, an application that allows you to create notes in a more advanced way, add documents, modify text fonts, add reminders... and with an interface that is more reminiscent of a productivity calendar .

Gmail

To manage our email we recommend Gmail, Google's native app for our emails. We can introduce practically all types of accounts -Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Exchange, institutional...- The organization of the app is clear, the push notification system is simply perfect, hardly draining the battery, and with an interface ready to update with Android 9.

Google Play | Gmail (free)

IFTT

Productivity also lies in automating tasks that take up time, and nothing better than IFTTT for that. This app allows us to automate practically any task on our device, through comfortable recipes that we can configure to our liking.

Google Play | IFTT (free)

Month and Google Calendar

Finally, we recommend Month, a calendar widget with Material design, which integrates perfectly with Google Calendar, in which we can add our events, trips, tasks ...

Google Play | Month (free)Google Play | Google Calendar (free)

Finances

Fintonic

Keeping personal or company accounting can be a very laborious task. Thanks to Fintonic you will be able to see all your expenses and income in a simple way, favoring a better control of your economy. It can be linked to your cards and accounts to check your available money, and it also notifies you if something strange happens to them. The app creates graphs and displays predictive alerts based on your regular movements.

Google Play | Fintonic (free)

A great alternative to Fintonic is Spendee. It allows to monitor in detail the expense that we have made on a monthly basis, as well as the income received. You can also establish the categories you want, in addition to all those that are already coming -food, entertainment, health...- So you will know what you spend and where you spend it.

The application is completely free, but if you want it to be synchronized with your bank account you must go through the box. Personally, I recommend using the free version even if you have to enter the expenses by hand, it's worth it.

Google Pay

Once you get used to paying with your mobile, it's hard to stop. It is very comfortable to take your mobile out of your pocket while you unlock it and pass it over the dataphone. You do not have to do anything else.

It is true that the Google platform is not compatible with all banks, but luckily most of them have their own application to pay with their mobile phones. The only requirement is that your smartphone has NFC, an increasingly common technology.

Google Play | Google Pay (free)

Wallet

Continuing precisely with the theme of payments, we come to my last essential application. Wallet will help you control all your expenses in a simple way. It has a beautiful design and a large amount of data with which you can be aware of all your finances.

Add your accounts and update them with all your expenses and income. At the end of the month you will be able to know what you have spent your money on, how to save, where your income has come from, what your spending forecast is... etc. It is a great application if you want to improve the relationship with your money.

Google Play | Wallet (free)

Extra: other apps that may be essential if you start using them

Unified Remote

A very interesting app if you are one of those who likes to watch a movie on your computer from the bed or the armchair, since it is a server that allows you to control the computer from the mobile screen.

And no, we are not referring to making a screen duplicate, but to being able to control the entire computer from the mobile, using it as a mouse or keyboard, in addition to all the additional buttons it has, such as the power off button, the of volume and practically everything you can imagine.

It has a paid version that is quite worthwhile, but, without a doubt, with the free version we can already enjoy the most interesting sections that the application has.

Google Play | Unified Remote (free)

One + Gestures

There is a complete tutorial on this application on our page, as it is used to install the OnePlus 6 gestures on your Android. These are practically the same as the iPhone X, so we can give up the virtual keypad to have our full screen.

The app is very cheap, and it only costs 1.59 euros. An app that will serve you for years, and that will be very useful if your phone does not have gestures by default, or you don't like the ones that come, as it happens to me with Android P.

Google Play | One + Gestures (1.59 euros)

Hide Navigation Bar

If you want to use One + Gestures and do away with the navigation bar, you need Hide NavBar. As its name suggests, it is an application that is used to end the navbar on your mobile. The operation is simple, since all it does is change the security permissions by ADB, so that we can hide this bar permanently.

This means that even if we restart the mobile, the bar will remain hidden, something that is appreciated. The app does not consume battery or resources, since all it does is change certain parameters of your smartphone so that the bar does not appear.

Google Play | Hide Navigation Bar (free)

Controlling Habits

It is important to have habits to be a productive person, but if you are a bit of a mess, it may be useful to monitor what you are doing and what you are not. Control Habits, (you can also find it by HabitsBull), is a perfect application to measure exactly when you fulfill and when you don't what you propose. You can add the habits, days you want to fulfill them or times a week, set yourself challenges...

A complete and free application -with a single payment if you want to unlock all the functions-, which will allow you to be more disciplined and efficient with what you propose on a day-to-day basis.

Google Play | Control Habits (free)

Reminder to drink water

But what! Yes, we are not going to give you the talk about the importance of drinking two liters of water a day, even more so if you are an athlete. Personally, I have a hell of a time drinking water "just because"*, but if my phone bombards me with notifications to drink water, I just do it, if only to get him to stop texting me.

Well, configure how often you want the reminders. In my case, I have it set to two hours. Once you have drunk what you should, the application will stop notifying you until the next day.

Google Play | Reminder to drink water (free)

Runtastic Balance

If anyone knows how to create apps for athletes, it's the guys at Runtastic. Balance is a very complete application and, in my opinion, the best application to control what you eat, and how you eat it. We can make personalized plans to lose weight, gain weight, or simply stay healthy. The app recommends recipes, lifestyles and more, but the most interesting thing is how we can monitor what we eat.

Introducing our age, weight and height, the app calculates the calories we should eat. From here, we only have to enter the food that we have eaten for breakfast, appetizers, lunch, dinner... You don't have to weigh the food or get obsessed, the application allows you to enter approximately what you have eaten -a cup, a plate, a handful of something...-, to give you an idea of ​​the calories you have obtained.

In addition, it shows you the nutritional properties of each food. Carbohydrates, protein and fat, as well as their micronutrients -sodium, potassium, calcium, vitamin-... It is an excellent way to know what you are eating, and to control the way in which you do it. The app is free, and you will only have to pay if you want personalized plans.

Google Play | Runtastic Balance (free)

Buffer

If you are an active person in your social networks, automating certain processes can be of great importance to you. Buffer is a free application that will mainly help us schedule posts from different social networks. Thanks to it, we can know the best times to publish, since it will automatically leave us the publications distributed according to the best times.

The app is completely free, so you can enjoy it right away. As you can see, these are applications not too well known by many, but essential for an organized and productive lifestyle.

Google Play | Buffer (free)

Snapdrop

Snapdrop is a tool that allows unlimited file transfer between devices.

If you often transfer files between your devices, you need Snapdrop. It is a completely free and open source tool, whose operation is reminiscent of Apple's AirDrop function.

Allows you to send files between devices, without limit of size and at maximum speed. They just need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Also, thanks to its web version, it is not even necessary to download the application on your devices if you prefer to save space.

Google Play | Snapdrop

And for you, which apps are essential?

This is the end of our collection of essential apps for Android. Some of the ones listed here probably match the ones you have installed on your device, but many others don't. And it is that there is no objective and definitive compilation of applications that must be installed yes or yes. This will depend on the particular use that each user makes to their mobile.

Just as there are people who need photo retouching apps in their day to day, or reading apps, for others it will be essential to have apps to organize themselves in their studies, or apps to watch TV. In any case, we trust that our list has served you well, and that you have found a new app that has become essential for you.

Related Topics: Apps, Free Apps

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