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 occasions after 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 gadget.
Nothing feels fairly as satisfying as getting one thing at no cost, and this will definitely be mentioned about smartphone apps. In a world saturated with in-app purchases, subscriptions, microtransactions, and ‘freemium’ enterprise fashions, free software program appears like an absolute breath of recent air.
There are a variety of apps on the market that I take into account to be non-negotiable at any time when I arrange a new Android phone, and, fortunately, a few of them come without charge by any means. Listed below are 5 apps that I personally all the time set up on day one.
1 KineStop
The go-to app for decreasing movement illness
KineStop: Automobile illness assist
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’ function into each iOS and iPadOS. The function embeds quite a lot of animated dots onto your display, which shift in accordance with car movement to scale back automobile illness in these bothered with the difficulty.
Fortunately, Android customers are capable of expertise a really related function utilizing the fully free KineStop app from the Play Retailer. The idea is roughly the identical, and the interface is easy and simple to arrange. When you’re susceptible to feeling movement illness when utilizing your Android cellphone within the passenger seat of a automobile, KineStop is just a must-download.
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, often 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 common as they as soon as had been, however they’re nonetheless a useful gizmo for whenever you wish to scale back distractions whereas nonetheless maintaining with present occasions.
Feeder is one such RSS reader obtainable on Android, and it is fully free and open-source. For an open-source app, the interface is genuinely beautiful, and the person 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.
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 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. When you love listening to podcasts however wish to avoid main gamers like Spotify, Apple, and Google, then AntennaPod is a superb alternative that I might extremely advocate.
4 VLC
The notorious Home windows program can be at residence 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 enduring media participant is a favourite amongst Home windows desktop customers, as a consequence 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 depend on VLC to play the file with out skipping a beat.
VLC on Android is equally open-source and highly effective. When you’re in search of a no-nonsense multimedia participant for native playback, then it is a must-download. The interface lacks among the refinement of another opponents available on the market, however it’s nice sufficient and makes up for this in its sheer flexibility.
5 Cloud Backup Checker
A useful utility for confirming whether or not apps are backed up
Cloud Backup Checker
A easy software 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’ alternative. Sadly, it could possibly get considerably complicated to maintain observe of which apps are backed up and which of them aren’t.
The place Google does not supply a fantastic native software 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 value downloading this app so you are not left blindsided.
Trending Merchandise
