Best Android apps 2021: Great apps in every category

From Assistant Routines in Google Clock to the vast expansion of Assistant-compatible smart home devices, it has been a busy year for Google Assistant to overhaul visual responses. It feels like a century ago when Android Auto added Google Assistant, but that simple addition made millions of drivers safer, especially during these long, frustrating holiday drives.

Tasker stagnated a bit in previous years, but since new owner João Dias — maker of the AutoApps plugin suite and Tasker's most ardent fan — took over, the automation app has seen a UI overhaul and major updates. With TaskerNet and improved export/import, it's never been easier to share, tweak, and create amazing profiles and tasks for Android (and beyond).

Amazon is no longer the top place to go for just your online shopping needs, as the company continues to expand its grasp on the world. With Alexa, you get a personalized assistant in your pocket, along with integration with Echo devices and the ability to stay connected wherever you go. You can even make calls or send messages to other Alexa-enabled devices without paying a dime.

Have you ever wanted to know the type of flower you see while on a hike? Well, with Google Lens, you can find out quickly just by holding your camera up to the flower. Lens will even translate foreign languages or save business cards to your contacts faster than ever before.

IFTTT gives you the power to create various automations between apps and services that are not already available. With more than 630 different integrations, you can create your own "recipe" and get an alert when that item on your Amazon wishlist finally goes on sale, for example. If you don't want to create your own, there is a community and library of different recipes to choose from and set up.

Whether you need to control your lights, smart plugs, thermostats, or Assistant speakers/displays from the farthest corners of the globe, the new Home View in the Google Home app makes it easy. Adding Home members to use what you've already set up is a huge step toward making smart homes more accessible for all skill levels.

Gboard's keyboard continues to dominate the market with an ever-expanding array of features on Android, iOS, and soon on Chromebooks. Some of this year's additions, including options like making your emoji pack or gifs, may seem trivial. Still, Gboard has also added support for dozens of new languages and the recent floating keyboard mode that makes filling out forms a breeze.

Instead of dealing with the basic stock themes on your keyboard, Chrooma gives you a keyboard with so many customization options that your head will spin. This is in addition to featuring smart AI to provide vastly improved contextual predictions compared to the competition. You'll also get the added benefits of the gestures that you already know and love.

SwiftKey is creeping on the four million download mile-marker, and for a good reason. This custom keyboard gives you complete control. The app itself sports more than 100 different themes, and you can even create your own theme with a picture that you took or downloaded as the background. SwiftKey also includes support for more than 300 languages, and you can enable up to five different languages at once.

Many keyboard apps just focus on whether your spelling is wrong. Grammarly takes things to the next level with smart predictions and can even pick from synonyms if you want to sound fancy. So not only can you expand your vocabulary, but your writing will sound professional.

While ads help keep the lights on for some, they can be a real nuisance when you're just trying to check out the latest article. With a browser like Brave, you are guaranteed to get the best Adblock browser while getting a fast and secure browsing experience. There's also the added benefit of Brave paying you to browse the web at your pace and how you want to.

Samsung's browser finally made its Play Store debut a few years back and is much more robust than almost anything else you'll find. In addition to built-in privacy features, Samsung allows you to download third-party applications that act as extensions. And if you already have a Samsung device and are using this browser, you'll get even more features not available elsewhere, such as integration with Gear VR and more.

Google Chrome is the de-facto choice for many, and for a good reason, it simply works. Google has worked tirelessly to bring new features to the app and keep a fresh and crisp design. As a result, when using Chrome, you'll get almost all the same features as the app on your computer, including sync capabilities so you can start reading something on your phone and pick it up on your PC.

Firefox is already a fan-favorite for desktop browsing, so why not check its mobile browser? There's built-in ad tracker blocking, enhanced privacy controls, and extensions to give you all the tools you'll need.

With over 3,000 different servers in more than 90 countries, it's easy to understand why ExpressVPN provides a great experience. It's easy to get started, and then all of your web browsing is encrypted, and you can surf safely. After signing up for the service, there is no cap on the number of devices that can be connected, and it will even protect your text and instant messages.

NordVPN is one of the best in the business due to the way that it handles your data. The data passes through the initial server and then sends the same encrypted data to a second server for an added layer of protection. Plus, there are more than 5,500 servers spread across more than 50 countries.

Surfshark excels with speed and because it can be used with an unlimited number of servers simultaneously. It will be great for just about everything that you would want to do with your devices, but you won't be able to use Surfshark with streaming apps since it is located outside of the U.S.

With IPVanish, you'll be provided with a secure environment to browse the web, watch videos, and manage your bills. The service provides access to more than 1,400 different servers across 75 countries, along with 24/7 support. If you don't want to stick with this service, you have 30 days to change your mind.

If you tend to download a boatload of files to your smartphone, you'll need Simple File Manager Pro to keep them organized. This app offers an intuitive experience to access your root files, along with microSD cards or USB devices. Plus, there are plenty of customization options to create a theme that suits your desires.

Some want a simplistic file manager, but for those who want something a bit more complex, X-Plore File Manager is perfect. This app has an "old-school" Windows look and feel while giving you all the features you could want. You can even set the app up to access and manage the files on your Android phone from your computer's web browser.

Files by Google started as an experimental app, but it's turned into a lightweight way to keep your storage from getting filled up. With features like Smart Recommendations, Files will suggest "junk files" that you can download and easily get rid of.

Astro has been available on the Play Store for more than 10 years, and it continues to be one of the best file manager options. The app makes it easy to access your files, along with opening those annoying Zip and RAR files right from your smartphone. Plus, you can manage your cloud storage services right from Astro, making it an all-in-one storage option.

I've been a third-party Reddit lurker for years, but this year the official Reddit app breezed past Relay, Boost, and the rest for the top app option. Reddit's new website look has been a source of a lot of small debate, but I've rather enjoyed both the new website look at the continued improvements on the Android app. If only /r/Writing Prompts didn't suck up all of my dinner breaks...

Instagram's popularity continues to rise, and it seems that there's simply nothing that any competitors can do to stop it. This app is one of the best and easiest ways to share your favorite photos, whether you're tracking your life or just editing goofy pictures. Plus, you'll get features like IGTV from some of your favorite creators, and the app makes it easy to find even more people/brands to follow.

Let's face it. There are a lot of Twitter apps on the Play Store, and while many of them are pretty good, none of them compete with Fenix 2. Fenix 2 aims to be the best Twitter client, thanks to multiple account support to a super-useful mute system. That doesn't even count the customization options that allow you to adjust your layout while making a theme that makes Twitter more enjoyable to use.

Just about everyone you know is on Snapchat, and for good reason since it makes sharing your life easier than before. You'll get private messaging, free cloud storage, and a slew of different ways to make your photos and videos absolutely perfect.

ProCam X unlocks the potential of what your smartphone camera is capable of, which is quite a lot nowadays. The app allows you to control various aspects of your image by providing professional controls like ISO, white balance, and even geo-tagging. With this app, you can even take RAW photos, which opens up even better image editing after the fact.

After you've taken a picture, chances are you'll want to edit it. With Adobe Lightroom, you can make easy edits or step things up a notch and edit like a pro, right from your smartphone. Adobe even has a built-in pro-level camera so that Lightroom becomes your all-in-one solution for your mobile photography needs.

For those who care more about backing up their photos and less about "pro-level editing," then the only real choice is Google Photos. The app gives users some basic photo editing capabilities while occasionally giving you "stylized" photos of how Google thinks your photo should look. Plus, you'll get Smart Automatic Albums, Photo Books, and can create shared albums in just seconds.

Our smartphone cameras are more powerful today than ever before, and we aren't just talking about taking pictures. With an app like FiLMiC Pro, you can take professional-level videos and get complete control over the editing process. Those already familiar with recording video on a DSLR will feel right at home without lugging around the camera bag.

If at the beginning of the year you told me that the launcher I'd use most was Smart Launcher, I would've laughed in your face. But then, Smart Launcher 5 arrived, and I fell in love. The flexibly-categorized app drawer is better than ever, and with the integration of Icon Pack Studio and a gridless widget system, SL5 makes building and switching themes a breeze.

If you've ever thought about using a third-party launcher, you've probably already installed Nova Launcher. However, the app has seen a rejuvenation of sorts in recent months, and the next big version is already in development.

The big brother of Kustom Widget maker KWGT, Kustom Live Wallpaper's one-stop theming has grown on me considerably this year. While SL5's gridless widgets are nice, nothing beats the pinpoint, edge-to-edge widget, and element placement in KLWP. The formulas and menus can be daunting, but KLWP's robust community, especially on Reddit, help make any theme possible.

It can be frustrating to find an icon pack that you love, but a few apps aren't included. Sure, you can submit a request to the developer and wait for the update to come, but there's a better solution. With Icon Pack Studio, you can create your own icon pack while customizing every icon to your liking, and it will work with just about any third-party launcher.

Changing wallpapers has been fun for as long as we've been able to do it, and Tapet has been right there with us for quite some time. With Tapet, you can either select a wallpaper on your own or set the app to automatically generate a new one for you every hour or once a day. Additionally, the app will automatically detect your smartphone's resolution so that the wallpaper looks crisp and won't stain your home screen.

Outline Icons moves away from the boring white outlines and adds a bit of color and flair to your home screen. These are best viewed when using dark wallpaper since they can otherwise get lost with more vibrant or colorful wallpapers.

1Weather is a fantastic weather app by itself, but if you're looking for an even more amazing widget, then this is it. Everything about the widget is customizable while still giving you the important information you need about what's going on in the weather world.

Calendar Widget has been a mainstay for many thanks to how clean it looks on your home screen once it's been set up. You can either create your own custom theme or download one from the community while making it easy to view your calendar at a glance.

When it comes to creating your own widget, there's no choice other than KWGT Kustom Widget Maker. This "app" gives you the ability to create an array of widgets for your phone, ranging from an analog clock to an astronomy widget and much more. That doesn't even cover the different themed widgets and widget packs that you can download from the Reddit community or Play Store.

Are you a fan of Google's "At a Glance" widget but don't like not being able to customize it? Then, take advantage of Another Widget and get the same great view with all the same pieces of information, but themed the way you want it to look.

1Password has not always been "the best" option on the Play Store, but recent updates have upped the ante and pushed it to the top of the charts. The service gives you a brief trial period before you need to sign up for a subscription. And your "vaults" will stay protected while giving you the ability to keep important personal information safe and at the ready.

LastPass does a fantastic job of keeping all of your passwords safe and secure, even if you want to stick to a free account. But there are also premium options for either a single user or if you can get your whole family protected. The service even offers "Security Challenges," which help to keep your passwords updated, secure, and out of the hands of the bad guys.

With Dashlane, you get access to up to 50 passwords saved on a single device with the free version, but Premium gives you even more. With the Premium subscription, users get access to a personalized VPN, along with credit monitoring and identity theft protection. This is all in addition to being a great place to keep your passwords safe and making it easy to update them.

Stop using the same password every time you create a new login on the web. Enpass is a simple password manager that works regardless of whether or not you are connected to the web since the data is stored on your device and not on the company's servers. But you can easily sync all your passwords across your devices with the help of popular cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.

Dark theme! Messages for the web! It's been a big year for Google's SMS app, and while I still miss Mood Messenger and Textra's themes, the only third-party SMS app that can compete with Messages for the web is Pulse's paid SMS-syncing service, which is compatible with more platforms and browsers. Messages' theming might be lacking, but the dark theme is a welcome addition.

Android Central has Slacked for years because Slack is one of the best chat apps on the market today, for either business or personal purposes. Threads allow us to get into minutiae without spamming the main chat, and everyone can upload custom slackmoji for added flair. All it needs now is a dark theme, so I don't blind my bosses when I ping them at 2 a.m.

SMS Organizer started as a "fun" project from the Microsoft Garage team but has turned into one of the smartest apps you can download. While you can still send SMS and MMS messages, SMS Organizer generates automatic reminders from your conversations and even makes it easy to pay your friend back for dinner, right from the app. You can even easily block spam messages, along with customizing notifications and setting specific ringtones for your contacts.

Telegram was already one of the fastest and most popular third-party messaging clients available, but Telegram X turns things up a notch. With the "X" version of the app, interacting with the app is even faster, and there are even more features, along with an improved interface and a multitude of gestures to use.

Discord is designed with gamers at heart, but more and more are switching to the messaging platform thanks to its integrations and ease of use. You can quickly build a community of users with easy community management while setting up member roles and having invite links at the ready.

If end-to-end encryption is the name of the game, then Signal Private Messenger is the best choice. This service guarantees that every message you send is secure, and you can even set the app up to act as the default SMS client on your Android device. You can even make audio and video calls that are guaranteed to stay private, no matter what.