Best free Android apps

Got a new Android phone or tablet? Then you may wonder which apps are worth installing. It really depends on how you want to use it. Are you big on messaging? Or do you love streaming music and movies?

There are a lot of apps to sort through so to make it easier, here's a list of the best free Android apps. The best thing about this app list is that all of them are compatible with any screen size and don't require the latest devices, unless it's a game that features high quality graphics.

We'll be updating this post regularly with new apps so be sure to come back to see what's new.

Google apps

If you buy an Android phone, you're going to have a lot of stock Android apps installed. While you may think that Google is forcing you to use their apps but you can actually disable most of the apps. But these included apps are actually great and you may want to keep them around.

Gmail

If you use Android, then you need a Google account. You sign into different accounts with your Gmail email. Now that Gmail also supports POP3 and IMAP accounts and not just Gmail, it is your all-in-one email client. The best thing is that the same functions that were supported in Gmail are now available for all other accounts like swipe to delete and starring emails. Gmail also replaces the Google Email app, which was definitely showing its age.

Chrome

If you use Chrome on your desktop, then having Chrome on Android is perfect. By signing into your account, you can sync bookmarks and different Chrome tabs on other devices. This means you can quickly pick up reading that article on your phone that you were reading on your desktop. You can also enable to option to reduce data usage which saves data when your're not using Wi-Fi.

Google Calendar

There are more visually attractive calendar apps, but there are few that are as seamlessly integrated with Gmail. The updates that Google has put in Gmail and Calendar and how they communicate with each other is great. If you have a plane ticket, Gmail will automatically add it to your Calendar.

The only weakness is that the layout of Calendar is better formatted for tablets for a general view while the schedule view is better for phones.

Google Authenticator

Having strong passwords is very important. Using two-factor authentication is an added level of security for your various online accounts. Authenticator supports more than your Google accounts and can be used to verify other important accounts if the service supports it.

Google Drive

Even though Google Drive only gives you 15 GB of storage (upgradable via subscription), it's more than enough for someone who just uses email or shares small files with friends. If you enable Auto-backup on your Android device, your photos are stored in Google's shared storage space automatically. This means that if you lose your device, photos you took are still available.

Drive is also supported by the different Google Doc apps like Docs (word processor),Sheets (spreadsheets), and more which are available within the browser version of Drive. Android has separate apps for Docs, Sheets, and Slides so you can edit on the go.

Hangouts

Previously known as Google talk,  Hangouts is now the default messaging app on Android and is used to chat with your contacts. You can also enable SMS integration to unify all your messages in one place or you can download the Messenger app, which just handles texting. Hangouts is a simple, but very useful app that supports photo uploads as well as animated GIFs.

Google Play Music

Android doesn't rely on a desktop app to sync music. Instead it uses Google Play Music for streaming. With support to upload 20,000 songs or use YouTube Music Key (which includes a subscription to Google Play Music's entire library) to stream or download for offline playback, Play Music is a simple music app that focuses on being simple while offering a lot of options.

If you upload your music to Google Play Music, you can listen on the web or up to ten different devices.

Google Maps

If you're looking for directions, Google Maps is still one of the best travel apps. With navigation "for driving, biking,and walking," Google Maps presents an easy to understand interface and easy to read maps. Maps is even better because you can search for places within the app and then tap on a business and get information about it like hours and a phone number.

There are apps that are better for a specific travel tasks, but Google Maps is one of the easiest to use, especially if you're traveling.

Android Device Manager

If you ever lose your device, you'll be able to locate it with Android Device Manager. Supported on the web and a mobile app, Device Manager contains all the devices registered on Google. So if you're missing your Android tablet, you'll be able to locate it if it's connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

The service lets you ring the device, lock the device, or erase the device so that whoever has it won't be able to access your personal data.

Best free apps

Amazon

Chances are, you've bought something from Amazon. The app is a gateway to Amazon's store where you can quickly purchase stuff. The smartphone app lets you access Amazon Instant Video too, but the feature is missing on the tablet version of the app. You can evendownload Android apps from inside the Amazon app if you find a better deal on an app you've been watching.

Netflix

Even though it's a battle between Netflix and Hulu, the fact that Netflix doesn't have ads makes it one of the best video binge services available. Even more, Netflix is available on any streaming device so you can stop and pick up from where you left off anywhere. The app is easy to use (though finding something to watch can be a challenge) and adapts to any screen video is being played.

Chromecast

The Chromecast app is only a utility to connect the device to your Wi-Fi network. It can also give access to photos so you're not stuck looking at the default Google images, but once you set up your Chromecast you will have support for a good number of apps that you can now watch on your TV.

MX Player/VLC for Android

The included video player in Android is basic and only plays videos. But what if you have a video file that has subtitles or want support for more formats? Then you need a video player like MX Player or VLC. The reason both are included is that MX Player has support for Android 5.0 Lollipop and VLC is in beta so it's not 100% stable. So if one player won't work, try downloading the other.

Bandcamp

It wouldn't be surprising if you haven't heard of Bandcamp before. It's a music service that allows musicians to sell digital music and merchandise directly to fans. One of the best features of Bandcamp is that artists decide prices and offer downloads in a variety of audio formats like MP3 320 kpbs to FLAC, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, and ALAC. Basically lossless fans will like using Bandcamp. The app lets you stream any releases in your collection and you'll find a lot of excellent musicians on the site.

Spotify

For a subscription service, Spotify is among the top. Offering a huge library of music and a free or paid option, if you want to explore all kinds of music then this is the way to do it. The premium subscription offers some great extras like no ads and saving music for offline playback, but even though Spotify has millions of tracks, you should give the free ad-supported subscription a try first and see if everything you want is available.

Feedly

If read a lot of different websites but don't want to directly visit each one every day, Feedlycan make life much easier. It's a RSS app that can aggregate websites, YouTube, and RSS feeds into one location. It updates when you open the app so you'll always have the latest content. You can also share through Facebook, Twitter, and Evernote so other people can see what you share. It's easy to use and since it can still pull updates from sites without an actual RSS feed.

Evernote

If you need to have your content synced everywhere, then Evernote is the best app to use. You can save notes, photos, and websites and have them available with any connected app. It's great for collaboration with people and can replace a physical notebook. The possibilities are really up to you.

Pushbullet

One of the biggest annoyances is getting files from one device to another. You can upload it to online storage or email it to yourself, but Pushbullet makes it easier by directlypushing content from device to device. It supports links, photos, files, and notes from Android devices and browsers with the plugin installed. You can also set up notifications on your computer so you don't miss phone calls or texts.

Pocket

While Feedly is great for getting the newest articles from your favorite websites, it requires a data connection to work. Pocket lets you save articles, videos, photos, and videos from the web and other apps to view offline. It's a great tool to keep your favorite content available really quickly.

My Data Manager

When you have a limited data plan, it's important to know how much data you're using on a daily basis. Streaming anything can eat data and you may not even notice how high it gets. Android does have a built-in data monitor, but it might not be as accurate as you need. My Data Manager monitor your data use and has options for family plans, monthly plans, and roaming. You set up your billing cycle in My Data Manager and you know exactly how much data you have left to use. It can also show which apps are using the most data which is important if apps are using a lot of background data.

IFTTT

IFTTT means "If This Then that." The app creates connection from that statement to perform different actions. That simple statement can be used for simple tasks like backing up photos or files or creating chains of actions by using the different commands. You are also able to browse different channels to get even more Recipes.

ES File Explorer

It's always helpful to have a file explorer on your device. It makes manually moving files from folders without a computer much easier. But ES File Explorer has another feature that is great. It recognizes USB drives plugged into the micro-USB port. If you own a small USB drive and connect it to your Android device, you can access and transfer files. Some Android devices don't support SD cards, you're stuck with limited storage. But you can manage unimportant files directly and even export them to an external USB stick with the app.

DashClock Widget

DashClock Widget isn't an app but a widget. But unlike a lot of crappy widgets, DashClock supports add-on widgets to give you more information about your device. By default you can get the time, unread emails, and missed calls. But search for compatible add-ons and you can get battery life and temperature,  detailed weather, and more useful information right on your home screen instead of opening an app.