5 free Android apps I all the time set up

Key Takeaways

The Google Play Retailer is crammed with high-quality apps, a few of that are fully free.
Subscription and commercial fatigue is an actual factor, and so I cherish the occasions once I stumble throughout a fantastic free app.
These apps are excessive on my checklist for set up as quickly as I arrange any new Android-based system.

Nothing feels fairly as satisfying as getting one thing at no cost, and the identical feeling can actually be utilized to smartphone apps. In a world saturated with in-app purchases, subscriptions, microtransactions, and ‘freemium’ enterprise fashions, really free software program seems like an absolute breath of contemporary air.

There are a selection of apps on the market that I contemplate to be non-negotiable every time I arrange a new Android phone, and, fortunately, a few of them come without charge in any way. Listed here are 5 apps that I personally all the time set up on day one.

Associated

7 preloaded Samsung Galaxy apps I can’t live without

There isn’t any have to obtain alternate options as a result of these 7 preinstalled Samsung Galaxy apps are one of the best at what they do.

1 KineStop

The go-to app for decreasing movement illness

KineStop: Automobile illness help

A well-built app for decreasing movement illness when in a automobile.

Again in Might, Apple announced plans to include a brand new ‘Car Movement Cues’ characteristic into each iOS and iPadOS. The characteristic embeds a wide range of animated dots onto your display screen, which shift in accordance with automobile movement to scale back automotive illness in these troubled with the difficulty.

Fortunately, Android customers are in a position to expertise a really related characteristic utilizing the fully free KineStop app from the Play Retailer. The idea is roughly the identical, and the interface is straightforward and simple to arrange. For those who’re susceptible to feeling movement illness when utilizing your Android telephone within the passenger seat of a automotive, KineStop is solely a must-download.

Apple Carplay showing Apple Maps in a car.

Associated

How to add and install apps to Apple CarPlay for your next road trip

Whereas it is easy and intuitive sufficient, you have to be conscious of those specific steps.

2 Feeder

An exquisite and open supply RSS reader

Feeder

A free and open-source RSS reader app that works with out fuss.

Actually easy syndication readers, normally acronymized as RSS readers, are streamlined programs for viewing information articles throughout your favourite publications. Within the age of social media, these apps aren’t as common as they as soon as have been, however they’re nonetheless a great tool for once you wish to cut back distractions whereas nonetheless maintaining with present occasions.

Feeder is one such RSS reader out there on Android, and it is fully free and open-source. For an open-source app, the interface is genuinely beautiful, and the consumer expertise is equally intuitive. The one caveat right here is that it forces you to manually enter RSS feed hyperlinks to get began, however that is a reasonably small criticism general.

Someone holding an iPhone with the Notes app open

Associated

7 note-taking apps I use to stay organized

In case your thoughts runs at a mile a minute like mine, you most likely have 1,000,000 lists mendacity round. These are the apps I exploit as a substitute to remain organized.

3 AntennaPod

A wonderful resolution for streaming your favourite podcasts

AntennaPod

A free and open resolution for all of your podcast streaming wants.

In the identical vein as Feeder, AntennaPod is a very free and open-source Android software — however as a substitute of aggregating information articles, it is designed with podcast streaming in thoughts. The interface is clear, easy, and efficient, and I’ve no usability complaints.

Vital inclusions like shownotes, casting help, and a sleep timer are all current, which makes this a reasonably full-featured expertise. For those who love listening to podcasts however wish to keep away from main gamers like Spotify, Apple, and Google, then AntennaPod is a wonderful selection that I might extremely suggest.

Android all apps page displayed on a Google Pixel

Associated

How to quickly find and manage all the apps on your Pixel phone

For those who’ve misplaced rely of all of the Android apps put in in your Pixel telephone, this is find out how to simply flick through your assortment.

4 VLC

The notorious Home windows program can be at house on Android

VLC for Android

A well known native media participant that is appropriate with all kinds of file varieties.

VLC requires no introduction — the long-lasting media participant is a favourite amongst Home windows desktop customers, on account of its open-source nature and its spectacular file format help. If there’s ever an audio or video file in your laptop that merely refuses to open, you possibly can rely on VLC to play the file with out skipping a beat.

VLC on Android is equally open-source and highly effective. For those who’re searching for a no-nonsense multimedia participant for native playback, then it is a must-download.

The interface lacks among the refinement of another rivals available on the market, however it’s nice sufficient and makes up for this in its sheer flexibility.

Associated

Can Samsung DeX replace your Windows desktop?

I examined Samsung’s desktop platform on varied gadgets to study extra about its efficiency and limitations.

5 Cloud Backup Checker

A useful utility for confirming whether or not apps are backed up

Cloud Backup Checker

A easy device for checking which apps are being backed as much as your Google Account.

Google gives a local cloud backup resolution for its Android working system, however many app builders additionally supply an ‘decide out’ selection. Sadly, it will possibly get considerably complicated to maintain monitor of which apps are backed up and which of them aren’t.

The place Google does not supply a fantastic native device for checking the standing of backups, the free Cloud Backup Checker app steps as much as the plate. The software program is light-weight, speedy, and does precisely what it says on the tin. If and once you improve to a brand new Android telephone, it is value downloading this app so you are not left blindsided.