Fun fact: over 86% of the world’s population owns a smartphone. Let that sink in: seven billion people carry a smartphone in their pocket. That’s not counting the latest and greatest Android tablets or even smartwatches.

Nowadays, a phone is more than just a phone. It’s your connection to the rest of the world, your family, and your friends. With a fitness app installed, it could be your personal trainer. It could be your tour guide or translator; it could be the only device you need to get day-to-day work done.

Some of the best Android apps change your experience. These apps can expand your vocabulary, customize your Android’s layout for productivity, or even enhance its security. We’ve shortlisted the best tools and utility apps that every Android user should install on their device.

1 Bouncer – Temporary App Permissions

Don’t you hate giving apps permission? Permission to access your device’s camera or storage or even your exact location? Unfortunately, doing this has become unavoidable as most apps refuse to work unless you grant them access to what’s essentially your privacy.

Google automatically removes permissions for apps that you haven’t used for a while. But that’s the kicker. Going through each app’s settings just to remove permissions one by one is a chore. Bouncer does it much sooner. Immediately, in fact, the app only grants temporary permissions to the other apps that you install. Should you wish to, any permissions granted prior can be automatically removed. Bouncer retails for $1.99, but it’s a small sum to pay for making your device more private and secure.

2 Cast to TV

More often than not, the small screen of the phone doesn’t suffice for viewing content. Hence, casting said content to a bigger screen has become an indispensable feature. But by default, it’s not always available for every piece of content, or even every streaming service. That’s where third-party casting services come into play.

With Cast to TV, you can stream almost any kind of content to your big screen. Be it a video on a web browser, a set of photos on your device’s internal storage, or even content from your games console, Cast to TV can stream it to a TV screen. This app quickly identifies content formats and lets you arrange them in playlists for an organized playback experience.

3 Do It Now: RPG To-Do List

Wouldn’t life be more fun if it was like a video game? Imagine if you could earn experience points for almost any action, like going to work, doing the laundry, or just reading a book. On paper, Do It Now is a typical productivity and task management app, but it does things differently.

As you can probably tell by the RPG in the subtitle, Do It Now makes everyday tasks seem more rewarding. Do It Now provides you with a virtual hero that earns experience points, gains valuable skills, and even levels up. Use the app’s in-built calendar and task list and earn rewards for completing certain actions. Create tasks, organize them, tick them off and watch your hero grow from an apprentice into a master.

4 Google Find My Device

The idea of losing your phone is a dreadful one, as your device pretty much entails a lot of your daily life. Maybe you left it at a bar after a long night out. Perhaps, you were in transit and forgot your phone on a bus or a plane. Now your device is doing rounds across the country or possibly the world.

Google’s Find My Device allows you to access your handset remotely from another device. With this app installed, you can lock it remotely to prevent access or leave your contact details for anyone who’s stumbled upon your device. As a last resort, you can also completely wipe all information from your device.

5 Google Translate

Who do you turn to when you need a quick translation? Probably Google Translate. But opening it in your browser every time you need to translate something is tedious. Installing the Google Translate app, however, gives you translation tools in almost every app you use.

Just tap on the translation prompt, and it will translate text in almost every app, including messenger apps like Telegram and WhatsApp. Google Translate uses its vast directory of up to 108 languages and translates between many of them in real time. Even better, the app translates text in the real world by using your device’s camera. Simply point the camera at a sign or billboard, or anything that has text on it, and Google Translate will promptly translate it into your chosen language.

6 Grammarly – Grammar Keyboard

Do you tend to misspell or repeat words? Is your bestie constantly correcting you on “your” vs “you’re”? You might need Grammarly. This app highlights omissions or mistakes in your writing. It helps you find the right words and even synonyms for your chosen expression.

Grammarly can make your text more concise. The app analyzes whether your tone sounds confident, joyful, or overly formal. It works across a wide variety of apps, from e-mail clients and messengers to word processors and content management systems like WordPress.

It’s a must-have app for anyone who writes a lot.

Android comes with a decent amount of visual customization options by default. That said, most of them don’t offer much control over your device’s layout. If you want to personalize your device into something unique, you may want to look at additional apps, such as KWGT Kustom Widget Maker.

In a nutshell, KWGT allows you to customize the look of your launcher and lockscreen with unique widgets. It gives you access to over one thousand free widgets and provides you with near-limitless control over what appears on your device’s lock screen.

KWGT is ad-supported but offers a Pro version which also comes included with a Play Pass subscription.

For the most part, many turn to the Play Store to install an app on their Android device. That said, apps not officially offered by Google are still available for download in the form of APKs, or Android Package Kits. In essence, the APK contains everything to install and run the app on your phone or tablet.

ML Manager allows you to download apps as APKs and back them up for safekeeping. What if the app becomes delisted, or you need a particular version no longer published on the store? Perhaps you want to share that APK with someone you know via a messenger app like Telegram or WhatsApp. ML Manager lets you do that, too. ML Manager also offers a paid Pro version that gives you access to additional features, such as the ability to uninstall redundant system apps, along with their cache and data.

9 Niagara Launcher

If you’re constantly feeling distracted, you’re not alone. It’s easy to pick up your phone and then realize you’ve lost hours mindlessly scrolling.

That’s where Niagara Launcher comes into play. It reorganizes your phone by cleaning up your home screen. As a result, it makes your home screen easier to navigate with one finger, regardless of screen size. The app can also restrict access to anything that might cause you to lose focus.

This applies to apps like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Simply put, apps that have the potential to reel you in for hours. And best of all, even the free version of Niagara Launcher runs without ads.

10 Notewise

Phones and tablets have effectively replaced a multitude of conventional items, including notebooks. While a good old paper journal has its appeal, carrying it around isn’t always feasible. Not to mention that space is limited, and there’s always a chance that you might lose your notes.

When it comes to taking notes on a portable device, Notewise is among the best. With Notewise, you can sketch directly on the screen, jot down notes, and create presentations. Combine Notewise with an app like Grammarly, and you’ll have a dynamic duo that compliments each other.

11 Tor Browser

Social media and data collection associated with it have given rise to apps that focus on protecting your privacy. This includes VPNs, end-to-end encryption, and decentralized web browsers, among others.

One of these browsers is the well-known Tor Browser. Conveniently, Tor deletes browsing history and any associated data as soon as you close the app. This means that no one can spy on what you’re browsing for on the web. Unless, as Google used to say, they’re right behind your back.

On top of being open-source, Tor is community-powered. Volunteers across the globe provide servers for use as relays to power the browser’s end-to-end encryption and ensure your privacy.

12 Twilio Authy Authenticator

Unfortunately, being always connected means you’re simultaneously connected to potential hackers or scammers. Having a strong password is no longer enough, especially if you’re using the same password for multiple accounts. That’s why many services emphasize the importance of 2-factor authentication or 2FA. In addition to the password, with 2FA enabled, you also need to receive a code to your phone in order to access the account.

Authy makes this seemingly tedious process a breeze. All you need to do is get a prompt to enter the code. Authy then generates a temporary code. If any wrong-doer wanted to invade your account, they’d also need immediate action to your phone, in addition to the standard password.

13 Ultra Lock – App Lock & Vault

Ultra Lock improves your device’s security and privacy. First and foremost, Ultra Lock provides you with a dynamic device pin. You can set your pin to change along with the current time and date. In other words, your pin is whatever the clock on your device currently displays.

With Ultra Lock, you can also lock specific apps or folders with a password, or limit their use to specific time frames. To make your device even more secure, Ultra Lock utilizes the front camera to capture anyone who’s trying to gain access to your phone while you’re not looking.

Also, much like KWGT, Ultra Lock comes with an ad-free version via a Play Pass subscription.

14 Yuka – Food & Cosmetic Scanner

Have you ever considered the ingredients in your food? Probably. Have you ever considered the ingredients in your grooming products? Less likely. Googling those names alone is a chore, and reading up on their impact on health wouldn’t necessarily improve your understanding.

Thankfully, Yuka makes this process quick and informative. Yuka uses your device’s camera to scan a product’s barcode, and then provides you with details on its ingredients and their impact. If Yuka finds them harmful, it suggests better, healthier alternatives. This app is definitely worth it to keep handy during your next trip to the supermarket.

Apps that streamline your Android experience

Without a doubt, security is important, and installing apps like Authy and Tor goes a long way. On the other hand, apps like Do It Now and Niagara Launcher will ensure that you remain at your peak productivity. But there are many ways a phone can enhance your day-to-day activities.

How do you customize your Android? Tell us about your favorite apps and tools in the comments section below.