There is no dearth of apps on either the PlayStore or iTunes. The real pain in the a** is when you have to find an app worth your time, isn’t it? We’ve been covering the best of 2016 in terms of movies, TV shows and games. So here is a list of the best apps that you might want have a look at from 2016. And it just so happens that all the 10 apps on this list are free and are available on both Android and iOS.
Venmo
A great way to split the bill if you’re out on a date with a feminist. Venmo is an easy and fun way to send and receive money between friends. This app really comes in handy when you’re out on a road trip with your buds as it tracks who is spending how much and who owes who money.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Signal
People these days are quite paranoid about how much personal information authorities have access to. If you want an app that keeps your texts secure, you should try Signal. It is an encrypted chat app used by politicians, business people and probably actors as well. This app offers complete end-to-end encryption, which means the company behind the app cannot see what you’re sending or receiving. However, it’ll only work if both parties have the app installed.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Although Pocket came out way back in 2007, this app continues to remain one of the most used apps till date. This is an app that allows you to save, discover and recommend some of the best stories online. Depending on the type of articles you save, Pocket recommends similar stories for you to read.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Google Duo
Duo is basically Google’s take on FaceTime by Apple. The simple interface allows you to have video chats with your friends instantly. There is a Knock Knock feature that allows you to see the caller before you pick up. The app itself doesn’t have too many features on it, making it fast which results in faster, clearer and more reliable calls.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Pokemon Go
There is really no two ways about this game, regardless of whether you love or hate it, this game swept across the globe like a plague and had large numbers of people running around town looking for that Ninetails. Even though it wasn’t officially released in India till like a week ago, people were glued to their phones trying to explore the real world around them while catching Pokemon, taking down gyms and finding Pokestops.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Google Trips
With Trips, Google hopes that it will be your go to app before you head out for any trip. The app scans your Gmail inbox for flight and hotel information so that all your travel details are in one place. The app also packs along a couple of itineraries for various cities which include attractions, restaurants etc. These guides can also be downloaded for offline use in case you don’t have a data plan when you go international.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Spotify
Amazon, Google and Apple have all tried taking a swing at this, but Spotify remains the king of music streaming apps. The interface is attractive and easy to navigate through. One of the best features of this app is the mood-based playlists, which comes in handy when you need music for a workout or something that helps you concentrate at work. Though not available in India, you can use the app by downloading a VPN.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Prisma
There are just so many photo-editing apps on iTunes and PlayStore on which you can do edits like film-style filters, crop and resize tools etc. Prisma first came out only for iPhone users but after seeing it’s popularity it got on to PlayStore. Prisma is one of those apps that stands out by using complex algorithms to transform your images into works of art. A recent update now allows you to do the same for video.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Snapchat
Snapchat has been around for a while but the app left a mark on 2016 when it came up with it’s Chat 2.0 revision in March 2016. With this update, the app laid the groundwork for all sorts of features like geofilters and facial lenses. This year Snapchat has not only become one of the most fun apps but it turning into a solid business.
Price: Free
Platform: Android | iOS
Google Allo
Google’s new messaging app is one of the first products to incorporate the company’s new artificially intelligent aide, Google Assistant. It is essentially Siri’s competitor and has it’s own pros and cons. At the moment it handles basic questions pretty well while showcasing recommendations within chats. This app can really pick on once the Google Assistant gets smarter.
Price: Free
Platforms: Android | iOS
Those were some of the best apps from 2016 that I found might interest you. If you came across any apps that you think are worth it, do let us know in the comments below.
Darren Rodrigues
Spotify is one of the most used apps for me. Since the type of music that I listen to is not usually available on most music streaming apps, Spotify delivers.
Joash Cornelius
Spotify is really good. It also suggests music based on you listen to. Great way to discover new artists.