Best Apps for Android: Eight Everyday Essentials
Nov 4, 2026
This collection covers eight Android apps that many people install first on a new phone. Each entry notes what the app does, who it suits and the facts that matter before downloading, such as required Android version, download size and whether ads or in-app purchases are involved.
What this collection covers
The apps below span several everyday jobs: looking things up, typing quickly, keeping in touch with friends and family, sharing on social networks, watching and uploading video, browsing shows across streaming services, and storing files in the cloud. They come from different developers and differ in size, system requirements and pricing model. Rather than ranking them against each other, this collection groups them by purpose so you can decide which ones fit your phone and habits. Every figure here comes from the app details: required Android version, download size, rating, install count and whether the app shows ads or sells extra features. Check your Android version and free storage before installing anything.
Google: search, Lens and Circle to Search
Google is the search app for people who want fast answers, help with schoolwork or a way to look things up by typing, speaking or pointing the camera. It is free and needs Android 6.0 or newer, with a download size of about 156 MB. Lens, Circle to Search and AI Mode are included, and basic searches work without signing in. Optional privacy controls let you delete search history. Its 4.03 rating comes from more than 29 million reviews, and it has been installed over 10 billion times.
Gboard: a lightweight keyboard
Gboard - the Google Keyboard is aimed at anyone who wants faster text entry, using Glide Typing, voice dictation and handwriting to reduce keystrokes. It costs nothing, shows no ads and has no in-app purchases, and it runs on Android 4.4 and newer. At 9.4 MB it is by far the smallest app in this collection, which makes it a sensible pick for phones with limited space. Its 4.49 rating is based on nearly 19 million ratings.
WhatsApp Messenger: encrypted chats and calls
WhatsApp Messenger handles end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice and video calls for up to 32 people, and group chats. The app is 142 MB, requires Android 6.0 or higher and contains in-app purchases, although no ads are displayed. With a 4.62 rating from more than 246 million ratings, it is the highest-rated app in this set, and it has passed 10 billion installs.
Facebook: feed, groups and messaging
Facebook lets you tailor your Feed, join groups, message friends and create content with AI tools. It is free to download, needs Android 11 or newer and takes up 147 MB. The app reports over 10 billion installs and a 4.56 rating from roughly 187 million ratings, making it a fit for people who want to stay connected with friends and communities.
YouTube: watch, subscribe and upload
YouTube provides personalized recommendations and subscriptions, and it lets you upload your own videos or go live. It is free with ads and in-app purchases, requires Android 10 or higher and is 199 MB, the largest download in this collection. Its 3.83 rating comes from more than 172 million ratings, and installs exceed 10 billion. The app is described as suitable for teens.
Google TV: one place for movies and shows
Google TV, formerly Play Movies & TV, brings together more than 700,000 movies and TV episodes from your streaming apps, sorted by topic and genre, with personalized recommendations. It adds a built-in remote, a Watchlist shared across devices, and the option to buy or rent new releases. The app is 40 MB, has a 3.92 rating from about 2.9 million ratings and has been installed over 10 billion times.
Google Drive: files in one place
Google Drive is a free productivity app for keeping documents, photos and videos together and reaching them from a phone or tablet. It is 124 MB and needs Android 8.0 or newer. The app shows no ads and offers in-app purchases; its 4.27 rating is drawn from 10.8 million ratings, and installs have passed 10 billion.
Choosing what to install first
Start with the jobs you do most. Search and a keyboard are small, broadly compatible starting points, while messaging and social apps bring larger downloads and, in most cases, in-app purchases. Video and TV apps take up the most space, so check free storage beforehand. The requirements listed here range from Android 4.4 for Gboard to Android 11 for Facebook, so confirm your version before you begin, then add apps as you need them.