Getting a brand new Android cellphone is all the time thrilling. Nevertheless, the actual enjoyable begins with personalization and the Play Retailer. After signing in with my Google ID, I instantly launch the Play Retailer and set up these eight apps on my Android phone. From password administration with 1Password and on-line privateness with ExpressVPN to seamless activity group utilizing Microsoft To-Do, I equip my cellphone with instruments that streamline my digital life.
8 1Password: The last word password supervisor
Whereas Google provides Chrome Password Supervisor by default, it is fundamental at finest. Nonetheless, there isn’t any scarcity of third-party password managers from the Play Retailer. Amongst them, 1Password stays my prime decide.
1Password helps military-grade encryption to guard your passwords and monetary knowledge. You’ll be able to create completely different vaults and classes and assign tags to prepare your passwords like a professional. Whenever you create a brand new entry, you may decide a safe word, bank card, doc, crypto pockets, medical document, driver’s license, passport, reward program, database particulars, and extra.
It helps Android’s auto-fill, has apps on all platforms, and comes with a useful Watchtower add-on to watch your saved logins for safety breaches.
7 OneDrive: My go-to cloud storage platform
Being a Microsoft 365 subscriber, I want OneDrive over different cloud storage platforms. My plan consists of 1TB of OneDrive storage, which is ample for storing private and work information, and a big media library. Microsoft hit it out of the park with the latest OneDrive makeover.
The gallery-focused OneDrive expertise seems neat and higher than its predecessor. OneDrive provides auto backup, enhancing instruments, the power to create albums, a useful PDF editor, and extra. Microsoft additionally provides Non-public Vault so as to add an additional layer of safety to your confidential information and media.
I’ve a Home windows laptop computer in my workflow. Being an official answer from Microsoft, OneDrive has a strong integration on Home windows the place I can again up the whole PC and native folders with out breaking a sweat.
6 Microsoft To-Do: Handle your duties like a professional
Microsoft To-Do is one other important app that I put in on Android from day one. The default activity administration (Google Duties) on Android is so unhealthy that even Google is considering of dumping it. Right here is the place third-party options are available in. Amongst them, Microsoft To-Do strikes a really perfect stability when it comes to options and customization.
Microsoft To-Do comes with customizable backgrounds, allows you to create subtasks, provides a helpful My Day choice to look over your duties due for as we speak, a house display widget, and extra. It has flawless integration with different Microsoft providers. For instance, I can flag an Outlook e-mail and entry it from the Flagged Emails record in To-Do.
5 ExpressVPN: Cover your IP deal with
Apple provides Non-public Relay (to iCloud subscribers) on iPhone to cover your IP deal with. Nevertheless, there isn’t any built-in answer for Android. It’s essential to discover VPN apps to create a really non-public shopping setup. ExpressVPN has been out there in the marketplace for ages and has a stable repute for conserving person knowledge non-public. It makes use of AES-256 encryption, the identical normal utilized by governments and militaries worldwide. This ensures your on-line exercise stays non-public from prying eyes.
ExpressVPN provides apps on all main platforms and browsers (by way of extensions). It has a whole bunch of servers worldwide, stable safety measures, and ample options to make sure a quick web connection.
4 Microsoft 365: The productiveness bundle
Microsoft used to supply standalone Phrase, PowerPoint, and Excel apps on Android. Nevertheless, the software program big changed them with Microsoft 365 on cellular and iPad. You’ll be able to look over your lately used Phrase, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote information from the house menu. It additionally has a built-in Lens-powered scanner to save lots of vital paperwork and visiting playing cards.
The most effective half about Microsoft 365 is PDF instruments. You’ll be able to signal a PDF, scan to PDF, create PDFs from footage, convert paperwork in PDF, merge PDFs, and extract pages from a PDF file. You now not want a separate PDF editor in your Android cellphone. Phrase, PowerPoint, and Excel are feature-rich and stay class-leading.
3 Obsidian: A private data administration hub
Obsidian is my go-to Private Information Administration (PKM) software on Android and Home windows. I can create completely different vaults and add folders and notes to them. Obsidian helps backlinks to determine a connection between your notes, a graph view to look over the larger image, and a canvas to brainstorm concepts on the go.
Obsidian shines when it comes to customization. You’ll be able to change the whole app look with a devoted theme retailer, use plugins to increase your vault’s performance, use each day notes to create a journal, and extra.
Obsidian is free to obtain and use. There’s a paid Sync add-on that you would be able to keep away from through the use of a cloud storage platform like OneDrive or Google Drive to sync your vaults. Being appropriate with Markdown, your notes stay future-proof with Obsidian.
2 Pockets by Budgetbackers: Hold your funds in test
Managing your funds generally is a problem. That is the place Pockets by BudgetBakers transforms your Android cellphone into a robust monetary command middle. This is not one other budgeting app. It is a complete software that empowers you to take management of your cash.
Pockets is a cross-platform answer. You’ll be able to join Pockets to your financial institution accounts for computerized transaction updates. You now not have to take care of guide transactions because the system categorizes your spending and offers you a transparent image of the place your cash goes.
The record of options continues with budgeting, insightful reviews, debt administration, shared wallets, planning instruments, and extra. The app has a customizable house display, and you’ll make the most of widgets to test your spending (and financial savings).
1 Thunderbird: Shiny new e-mail app on Android
Supply: Thunderbird.web
I’ve used Gmail on Android since day one. Nevertheless, Mozilla made Thunderbird out there on cellular, successful me over Gmail. There’s a simple import course of to maneuver your current Thunderbird desktop setup to cellular. The UI is simple and purposeful. It is not the shiniest, however it does the job simply high-quality.
It carries a strong options record with customizable swipe actions, fast search, customized notifications, house display widgets, and a trick to make use of quantity buttons to navigate emails. Thunderbird lacks calendar and activity administration, and I can not wait to see what Mozilla has in retailer for us in 2025.
I tried Windows’ best email app on Android and here’s my verdict
Uninterested in Gmail? Try this one
New Android cellphone app guidelines
Earlier than customizing a brand new Android cellphone with wallpapers and widgets, I concentrate on the necessities: the apps which are the spine of my digital life. These aren’t random downloads. They’re rigorously picked instruments and do beautiful jobs of their respective classes.
A really optimized cellphone is not solely in regards to the apps you put in. It’s equally important to replace your apps and gadget software program to the newest model. Talking of which, Google lately launched Android 15 on eligible gadgets. Try our full evaluate to study extra about it.
