The Best Android Apps For 2022

The newest smartphones on the market come loaded with a slew of features right off the shelf, but to get the most out of your new device you’ll have to dive into the vast marketplace of third-party apps. Since the launch of the Google Play Store (previously Android Market) at the start of Android, apps have been steadily deepening and improving the smartphone experience. There are apps for daily tasks like balancing a checkbook or calculating a tip, as well as crucial work-related apps bringing business communication platforms, all of the top names in social media, and many more to your Android device.

With nearly 3 million apps on the Google Play Store, users are spoiled for choice and it can be a bit overwhelming. We’ve done the work of putting together a list of the best Android apps across several categories to help you pick the best apps for your daily life. And if you’re looking for games, check out our list of the best Android games.

Facebook

The biggest social network on the planet has a decent official app. Keep up with your friends and family, jump into instant chats, and stay informed with push notifications. Best of all, Facebook isn’t just a place to share content stolen from Reddit and Twitter, as the world’s biggest social media site has also been pushed out into sections for dating, shopping, and videos. Pair it with Messenger for the ultimate double-act.

YouTube

It’s probably the Android app, so it’s likely you have YouTube already — but that doesn’t make it any less essential. YouTube’s mobile app is sleek and intuitive, bringing the entirety of the video-sharing site to the palm of your hand. For those subscribed to YouTube Premium, you’ll have access to all the premium content, as well as special features like audio playback while the screen is off. But even when used as a free app, YouTube is essential.

Netflix

Netflix isn’t just one of the best video-streaming services; it’s the video-streaming service. There’s a huge selection of Netflix movies and TV shows for subscribers and the performance is silky smooth. It’s not just restricted to old favorites either, as Netflix has produced a huge amount of excellent exclusive content — though if you’re anything like us, you’ll just put The Office on again. This is as entertained as you can get from just $9 a month, or $16 a month if you want access to 4K content.

Amazon Prime Video

The content wars have been raging for well over a decade, and every platform brings something to the table. Amazon Prime offers some fantastic originals on its streaming platform, which also serves as a great home base for its extensive catalog. Prime Video also allows you to add all your favorite subscription channels to your feed. We’ve also found the best movies on Amazon Prime to start watching today if you’re interested.

BBC News

Whether you’re trying to follow international news, have friends or family in the U.K., or are just trying to stay in touch with newsworthy events stateside, BBC News has you covered. The BBC, an English government-funded news agency, has a long history of fair and moderate news coverage and is worth a look if you’re tired of American 24-hour news networks.

AP News

The Associated Press has a long-standing reputation for being one of the least-editorialized news sources around, as well as being consistently on the cutting edge of breaking news. So, if you’re looking for your daily dose of news without the added fluff, then AP News on Android is the perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee. AP’s self-ascribed description says it best — it’s “where the news gets its news.”

Instagram

Instagram is ubiquitous in photography now, so you might as well have it on your phone. Owned by Facebook, the social network centered on photos offers great filters and connectivity with others. Instagram has also been angling for a younger market share with its TikTok competitor called Reels.

Google Play Books

If you’re not a fan of Amazon, then Google’s Play Books is an excellent alternative. Google has a massive database of books to choose from, including all the classics — and you can even buy and play audiobooks too.

Audible

Audible is the premier place to consume audiobooks on your Android device. There are thousands of audiobooks on offer, from classics to the most recent hits, and you get your first audiobook for free. A $15-per-month subscription gets you a credit per month to spend on any audiobook, and options for playback speed and cross-device syncing make listening even easier. There’s even a car mode for listening on the go.

Weebly

Weebly is a powerful site and content creation app utilized by millions of users. This app lets you create and manage your online store straight from your Android device. Keep track of all the most important analytics for your e-commerce store from the Weebly app. Powered by Square, Weebly is a true workhorse in the mobile site development space.

Tumblr

The Tumblr app makes it easy for you to share anything from anywhere. You can post any kind of content to multiple blogs, save drafts for later, schedule posts, and then join in the discussion.

Wix

Wix offers a full-service web publishing suite from the domain name, to hosting, and web design. The Wix app can help you manage your websites right from your phone to keep track of your business or brand. You’ll be able to write and publish blog posts from within the mobile app. Wix offers a diverse set of features including payroll processing, online stores, and e-mail marketing campaigns. Wix aims to be a one-stop shop for your online business needs.

Steam

Steam is the biggest and most prolific community and storefront for PC gaming. Through the Android app, users can access the Steam community, browse the store, and purchase new games.

Google Stadia

Google Stadia is Google’s platform to play games you own across multiple devices. Any games you own on Stadia can be played, paused, and continued seamlessly across Android devices and laptops. With the ability to stream games across devices, you won’t have to download the game onto each device, saving space and time.