The 100 Best Android Apps of 2015
There’s a good chance that you, like me, are mid-contract on your phone right now. And with the major gift-giving holidays a long way off, the hope of a new device to spruce up your digital life is little more than a dream. But thankfully, some new apps can make an old device feel shiny and new again.
Of course, finding new apps can be a pain. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of what we think are the best Android apps available on Google Play right now. Here you’ll find apps to help with a summertime vacation, keep your finances in order, or even indulge your creative side. What you won’t find is games, but we’ve got a separate list of the best Android games for that. You’re welcome.
The Best?
Well, maybe not the best. Android is such a vibrant, ever-changing place that there’s no way we could actually comb all of Google Play. Think of this as more of a snapshot, a look at what we think is the best right now based on our reviews and our hands-on experience with Android apps.
To my mind, the best Android apps excel in two areas: excellence and elegance. An excellent app provides something that no other app can. It’s the only way to search photos, or find out where your personal information is going. An elegant app may not be the most original app, but the way it accomplishes something makes it a joy to use.
This App Is Stale
While 100 apps is a reasonably manageable slice of the one million plus titles in the Google Play store, it’s still a challenge to keep current. We update the list frequently to keep it from becoming an ossified mess filled with broken and unhip apps. Hopefully, the next time you read this, there will be some new gems for you to discover.
With this list, we also strive to give you choice. There are, for example, at least three excellent services for storing your files on the cloud that we include in this list. But each has different pricing, features, and appearance. You’re sure to find something that works for you from our list.
Hey, You Missed Something!
Despite our best efforts, we’re only human and cannot comprehend the totality of the Google Play store.So we rely on our humble judgment and your feedback. If we missed something, or you have a recommendation, be sure to drop us a line in the comment section. If you’re looking for something more specific, we have other lists highlighting critical free Android apps, the best messaging apps, and the top Android antivirus apps.
And without further ado, our favorite Android apps!
Communication and Social
Plain ol’ SMS and voice calls just don’t cut it anymore. These apps help you keep in touch with the most important people in your life, all from your handy Android.
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Circle of 6
Free
This unique app is for those dangerous situations when you need to quickly (and discreetly) get help from your friends. Two quick taps sends one of three pre-written text messages to as many as six of your contacts. One message sends your GPS location and a request to be picked up, while another asks your friends to quickly get in touch with you. The app also includes links to the RAINN and Love is Respect hotlines. |
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Facebook Messenger
Free
The problem with most mobile messengers is convincing your friends to sign up. But odds are, most people you know are already on Facebook. Which is handy, because the Facebook Messenger app is fantastic. Simple, clean, and capable of sending video, it’s a great little messenger. And stickers. Don’t forget the amazing stickers. |
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Hangouts
Free
Google Talk is dead, long live Google Hangouts! This app can not only send instant messages to other Google users, but it can also do video chatting for free. Users lucky enough to have Android 4.4 can also use it manage their SMS messages, and Google+ users can enjoy video conference calls with up to 12 participants. |
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Plume for Twitter
Free
Sure, there are plenty of ways to fire off a 140-character Tweet, but users looking for more control should consider Plume. This powerful Android Twitter client lets you change all sorts of settings, right down to the LED color used to alert you of a message. My favorite feature is muting, which lets you suppress users, and even specific words, from your timeline. |
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RedPhone
Free
The companion to TextSecure, this handy app lets you make encrypted calls over the developer’s secure VoIP network to other TextSecure users. I particularly like that it works with your existing dialer and phone number, alerting you when another RedPhone user is on the line and the call can be encrypted. If all those PRISM and NSA headlines have you worried, be sure to give this app a try. |
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TextSecure
Free
If you’re worried about the NSA or anyone else peeking at your text messages, consider TextSecure. Messages sent to other TextSecure users are encrypted over the air, but the app will also encrypt all of your text messages when they’re at rest on your phone to keep them away from prying eyes. We first reviewed the app when it was in Beta, but it’s since had a full version release and is ready for prime time. |
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Tumblr
Free
Tumblr has grown in leaps and bounds since it first came onto the scene, letting users quickly share their creations and discoveries and—most importantly—re-blog things they find on Tumblr. The blogging platform’s slick new Android app shows just how far it’s come with a great new interface. |
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WhatsApp
99 cents per year
In a world of messenger apps WhatsApp is among the most successful, boasting an enormous and dedicated user base. Recently, this app got bolstered by encrypted messaging provided by the minds behind TextSecure. Could this be the secure, easy-to-use messenger we’ve been waiting for? We’ll have to bring it into the labs and find out. |
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Wickr
Free
Sometimes the most secure message is one that simply doesn’t exist. That’s the thinking behind Wickr, a fully encrypted, secure messaging service that even handles media messages. The twist is that you set a lifespan for each message, ensuring that your private messages stay private. And, if you doubt their security chops, here’s what the company’s founder told the FBI when they asked for a backdoor. |
Entertainment
Keeping your favorite movies, music, and everything else with you at all times.
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Bandcamp
Free
Filled with both up-and-coming and established acts, Bandcamp is one of the most exciting music marketplaces today. Their app is still a bit disappointing, shirking music discovery and purchasing but recently adding a weird social network-ish feature. But it does one cool thing—instant streaming of your Bandcamp purchases. That alone makes this app a keeper. |
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DeaDBeeF Player
Free
If you’re an audio nerd or just prefer to have a lot more control over your music collection, take a look at DeaDBeeF. This sprawling app supports mp3, ogg, aac/mp4, alac/mp4, flac, ape, wv, wav, tta, mpc, sid, mod, s3m, nsf and more. There’s also a 10-band equalizer so you can get your tunes sounding just so. Perfect for all of those live recordings of Steely Dan concerts you’ve been hoarding. |
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Hulu Plus
Free, subscription required
If you can’t wait for a TV show to end up on Netflix, Hulu Plus is the way to go. Search or browse through the available shows, or subscribe to on-air shows to see them right away. Many of the shows, like The Simpsons, are available online exclusively through Hulu. The service also features high-quality movies, like the entire Criterion Collection. |
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Netflix
Free, subscription fees for streaming
Netflix streaming has quickly become a staple of modern existence, and the premiere movie and TV watching service looks great on Android. Though the stable of content isn’t always, ah, stable, the selection is enormous. You can also stream video from the app to your TV throughGoogle Chromecast. |
Sling TV
$20
Have you ever needed (I mean, really needed) to catch your favorite show but found yourself nowhere near a TV? Technology is finally here to solve the problem with Sling TV, an inexpensive service that lets you watch live TV on any Android device. Get ready to cut the cord and kick cable out of your life.
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Slacker Radio
Free, optional subscription
Slacker takes a unique twist on the mobile streaming format by offering much more than just music and music discovery. It’ll connect you with your favorite tracks, but you can also browse its enormous collection of human-curated playlists for every occasion—like Yacht Rock. It also has an extensive catalog of radio talk shows, sports, and comedy series. Whatever you want to listen to, Slacker probably has it. |
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Songkick Concerts
Free
Songkick is the bridge between the music in your digital collection and concerts in your area. Once installed, Songkick scans your device and lets you see when and where your favorite artists are playing. If you see a show you’re interested in, you can also purchase tickets all from within the app. Add multiple locations to Songkick to catch concerts when you’re on the road. |
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Spotify
Free
With its huge inventory of music, Spotify has become a mainstay for free, legal music streaming. A recent pricing shuffle brings free mobile Pandora-esque streaming, and a paid subscription will nab you on-demand service and Led Zepplin. My favorite feature is close ties with artists who release new albums on the service the same day they hit the shelves in record shops. Those still exist, right? |
