The only Android apps you need to be productive

You’re an Android user. Makes sense, as nearly 85% of the global population have adopted Google’s platform as their mobile operating system of choice. There are plenty of reasons, but one of the main causes for this massive market share is that Android is one of the most user-friendly platforms out there.

It’s fast, efficient, reliable — and productive.

Yes, the “p” word, one that every mobile user understands, whether they are using their devices for business, educational, or personal use. Why? Because we’re all busy. With the rise of mobile devices, we are always connected, so we always have the possibility of being productive.

But what can you do to make Android even more productive? Make use of the right apps.

Some of these apps you’ll find already installed on your Android device. As long as you make use of the Google app ecosystem, you’re golden. Even if you don’t use Google apps, there are other alternatives you can install to make your experience more productive.

So no matter if you’re an account executive, and IT pro, if you work with IT Staffing services, are a student, or are trying to keep your home life as efficient and productive as possible, there’s an app for that.

Let’s take a look and see what Android apps you should be using to get the most out of your daily mobile life.

Google Drive

This one should be a no brainer. By design, Android is a very cloud-centric platform. This operating system was made to connect to Google Drive, and you should be taking advantage of that. By using Google Drive, you can store/sync your files, open those files to work on them, share them, collaborate on documents, and more. And because Google Drive comes pre-installed with every official Android device, there is nothing to do but start using the app.

And don’t forget, Google Drive can be used offline so that on the rare occasion that you don’t have a network connection, you can still work (so long as the document you want to work on as been made available to offline mode).

Google Docs

Google Drive is a must-have for anyone who uses Android’s cloud features. But the app wouldn’t be complete without Google Docs. This app isn’t included with the default Android installation but can be easily downloaded from the Google Play Store. Why install Google Docs, when you can use Google Drive to open and edit documents, spreadsheets, and more?

Because with Google Docs you can create documents from templates and even create new Word files. Considering you’ll probably wind up collaborating on Word documents, you’ll want this feature on your device.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is another pre-installed app that you should be using. If you need to keep a calendar, one that seamlessly integrates with the Android ecosystem, Google Calendar is the perfect choice.

Never miss an appointment or event and never get lost. Google Calendar allows you to share calendars, and add people to an event, so those involved with the meeting will receive a reminder of the meeting. The Google Calendar interface is also one of the best designed on the market.

One way to make Google Calendar even more productive is to always add an address in the location spot. Why? If the location of the meeting isn’t your office or home, tapping the address from within the calendar event will automatically open Google Maps, where you can get directions.

Keep

Google Keep isn’t just a note-taking app, it’s an app that allows you to create all sorts of notes (lists, images, audio notes), as well as share and label notes, create reminders, and more.

One very handy feature of Google Keep is the ability to share notes. With this option, you can create collaborative notes between fellow employees, IT staffing company team members, family, friends, etc. Create shared shopping lists, to-do lists, and more so that others can help you create productive lists for all types of needs.

Bitwarden

You surely have a hard time remembering all the passwords for the services and platforms you use. And with the constant deluge of attacks, hacks, and hijacks, the last thing you need is to use weak passwords. That’s why you should be using a password manager that helps you keep track of all the complex credentials you use on a daily basis.

One of the finest apps for this you’ll find in the market is the open-source Bitwarden. Not only it does a great job of protecting your passwords, but it also works with the new facial recognition feature found in the latest Pixel devices.

IFTTT

IFTTT stands for If This Then That and is an amazing (albeit complex) application that is capable of connecting apps, actions, locations, and so much more to create a seamless experience. With IFTTT you create recipes that instruct various applications to do things at specified times, locations, or when you carry out certain actions.

For example, you could create a recipe that will automatically turn on all of your smart lights as soon as you arrive home, or automatically save all of your Instagram photos to Google Drive or Dropbox. IFTTT also allows you to do things like setting your home thermostat based on your location, get alerts for apps that allow search criteria, notify you about what’s happening with certain publications, and so much more.

The best thing about IFTTT is that it’s almost limitless. However, there is a fairly steep learning curve with it, so you’ll want to devote plenty of time to get up to speed on how to create your own recipes.

Slack

If you work with teams, especially in a business environment, you’re going to want to have Slack on your phone. Slack is one of the most widely used collaboration and communication apps on the market.

But don’t think Slack is nothing more than another means to message people. It allows you to use handy slash commands, send/receive direct messages, call users, follow threads, star items, and much more. And because Slack can integrate with Google Drive, Salesforce, Dropbox, Asana, Twitter, Zendesk, and more, it’s as more an ecosystem than a single-minded tool.

Conclusion

There are thousands upon thousands of apps available to make your Android experience more productive. But this list will start you off on the right foot. Get these apps installed immediately, and you are sure to find yourself working more productively and efficiently.