5 free Android apps I at all times set up

Key Takeaways

The Google Play Retailer is full of high-quality apps, a few of that are fully free.
Subscription and commercial fatigue is an actual factor, and so I cherish the instances after I stumble throughout an incredible free app.
These apps are excessive on my listing for set up as quickly as I arrange any new Android-based machine.

Nothing feels fairly as satisfying as getting one thing free of charge, 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, actually free software program seems like an absolute breath of recent air.

There are a selection of apps on the market that I take into account to be non-negotiable each time I arrange a new Android phone, and, fortunately, a few of them come for free of charge in any respect. Listed here are 5 apps that I personally at all times set up on day one.

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1 KineStop

The go-to app for decreasing movement illness

KineStop: Automotive illness help

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

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 car movement to scale back automotive illness in these bothered with the problem.

Fortunately, Android customers are capable of 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. If you happen to’re susceptible to feeling movement illness when utilizing your Android cellphone within the passenger seat of a automotive, KineStop is just a must-download.

Apple Carplay showing Apple Maps in a car.

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2 Feeder

A beautiful 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 techniques for viewing information articles throughout your favourite publications. Within the age of social media, these apps aren’t as widespread as they as soon as had been, however they’re nonetheless a great tool for whenever 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 attractive, 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 grievance total.

Someone holding an iPhone with the Notes app open

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3 AntennaPod

A superb 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 totally free and open-source Android utility — 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.

Necessary inclusions like shownotes, casting assist, and a sleep timer are all current, which makes this a reasonably full-featured expertise. If you happen to 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 would extremely advocate.

Android all apps page displayed on a Google Pixel

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4 VLC

The notorious Home windows program can be at dwelling on Android

VLC for Android

A widely known native media participant that is suitable with all kinds of file varieties.

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

VLC on Android is equally open-source and highly effective. If you happen to’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.

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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 affords a local cloud backup resolution for its Android working system, however many app builders additionally supply an ‘choose out’ selection. Sadly, it could actually get considerably complicated to maintain observe of which apps are backed up and which of them aren’t.

The place Google would not supply an incredible 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 whenever you improve to a brand new Android cellphone, it is price downloading this app so you are not left blindsided.