The best free Android Apps of 2016

With so many apps for Android out there, choosing can be difficult. Today we highlight a couple of stunning free Android apps that will make your life a little easier. If you don’t already have one, it is most definitely time to browse through the available smartphones for sale on Junk Mail.

Remember, there will probably be some choices on this list that you disagree with. If you’ve found some awesome apps this year, feel free to tell us about it in the comment section below. This list won’t contain the apps most of us already use – like WhatsApp, Google Maps or Instagram – but rather a couple of Android apps you might not have heard of before.

This list is no particular ranking order and contains only free Android apps, but some of the apps do have in-app purchases.

With all the disclaimers out of the way, let’s get started on that list 😛

10 Android Apps you have to try out

1. Google Keep

There is no doubt that Google really delivers some great apps, think Google Maps or Google Calendar, so it should be no surprise that at least one Google Android app makes our list as one of the best Android apps out there.

Google Keep is quite a nifty app allowing you to add notes, voice notes, photos and lists, this app also syncs across all your devices as well as your pc (it is Google after all). Organising your notes is done through colour labels, but search functionality is also available.

Another awesome feature of this app is location based reminders.

Quick info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.4
• Category: Productivity
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 567 959
• Installs range: 100 million – 500 million
• Android Requirements: Varies from device to device.

It is a free app available for both Android and iOS, so why not check it out for yourself?

Download Google Keep from the Play Store.

2. Pocket

If you are that person constantly saving links, thinking that you will read that article later, this is the app for you. Pocket allows you to save, recommend and read your stories on the go.

One of the top Android apps in its category, you can save links (from articles to videos) to Pocket from just about anywhere – via email, Safari, Feedly, Flipboard and even social apps like Twitter and Facebook. With a browser extension and bookmarklets available (for Chrome, Firefox and Safari), you are genuinely able to save content from anywhere, including over 1 500 different apps.

These apps for Android phones also allow for syncing, meaning that you can finally sit down to read that article whether you are online or not. The interface is clean and the app easy to use, even allowing for customisation options that will make your reading preferences and experience best suited to you.

Some cool plus features of this app is that it allows for unlimited storage, organisation via tags and even the benefit of listening to your article with Text-to-Speech.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: News and Magazines
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 247 848
• Installs range: 10 million – 50 million
• Android Requirements: 4.0.3 and up

Check out Pocket on the Google Play Store.

3. Chrome Remote Desktop

Making the list as one of the best Android apps, Chrome Remote Desktop allows you securely to setup remote access to any one of your computers. On your computer’s Chrome browser you will need to add Chrome Remote Desktop extension available from the Chrome Web Store.

Totally cross platform, Chrome Remote Desktop allows remote access to Mac, Linux and Windows users from a Chrome browser on almost any device. If you’ve been looking for a solution in this department, this is definitely something worth checking out.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.3
• Category: Tools
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 158 414
• Installs range: 5 million – 10 million
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

Download Chrome Remote Desktop from the Play Store.

4. Office Mobile

An app from Microsoft, Office Mobile is great for the user on-the-go. For phones with an operating system older than 4.4, you can view and edit PowerPoint, Word and Excel documents. As an added bonus, these documents look like the original documents and, when making changes from your device, the formatting and style is kept.

Save your documents in OneDrive – this will allow you to access documents from your device – and even read and edit other documents you received via email.

For those of you that has a newer Android OS, you can check out the individual apps for Android phones designed to replace this one. This includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint – all apps with great ratings on the Google Play Store.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.0
• Category: Productivity
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 484 760
• Installs range: 10 million – 50 million
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

See Office Mobile on the Play Store.

Have you come across some epic free Android apps lately? Tell us about them in the comment section below!

5. Podcast Republic

If you are a podcast junky, Podcast Republic is definitely worth looking into. Allowing you to manage and play everything from podcasts and YouTube favourites, to audio books, this free Android app also allows for live streaming (recently added to its features).

Supporting audio and visual, you can download or stream your podcasts. Other cool features include customisable options, a built-in media player, automatic downloads for new episodes, live radio streaming, multiple playlist support for organising your playlists better and support for Android Auto, Android Wear and Chromecast.

Like other free apps for Android, this app is supported by advertising, but it can be removed by making use of in-app purchases.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.4
• Category: News & Magazines
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 44 942
• Installs range: 1 million – 5 million
• Android Requirements: Varies from device to device.

Podcast Republic on Google Play.

6. Feedly

One of the popular free Android apps out there, Feedly allows you to organise all your YouTube channels, news publications and even podcasts, updating you when new videos and stories are available. The app itself also allows you to discover new content, catering to a variety of interests.

Powered by RSS, it means that you can add any RSS to Feedly and, with social platform integration, you can easily share the cool stuff you find and read on Twitter, OneNote, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Buffer and Evernote.

The search panel is great for inspiration, allowing you to search through some of the most popular content – be it tech or cooking.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: News & Magazines
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 277 130
• Installs range: 1 million – 5 million
• Android Requirements: 4.1 and up.

Check out Feedly for yourself on Google Play.

7. Camera Zoom FX

With a paid version also available, Camera Zoom FX is a photography app that really allows you to play around. Including a number of great photo effects, some of the features you can look forward to include burst mode, manual controls (such as ISO and shutter speed), an HDR mode, live effects and a collage maker.

Packed with a number of features, it makes the list as one of the best Android apps boasting RAW capture mode (on supported devices), Stable Shot, grid overlays and a number of free download packs for even more pic fun.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: Photography
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 84 974
• Installs range: 5 million – 10 million
• Android Requirements: 2.3 and up.

Learn more about Camera Zoom FX on Google Play.

8. CamScanner

One of the best Android apps on my phone at the moment, the CamScanner Phone PDF Creator enables you to scan, optimise the quality of your scan and share your scans as PDFs or JPEGs.

A pretty straight forward app for Android, with the paid version adding a range of features, the fact that I am able to scan, attach and either print or email my scans with the free version, makes life so much easier. Definitely a useful app to have, check it out for yourself and tell us what you think.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: Productivity
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 905 710
• Installs range: 50 million – 100 million
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

Download CamScanner from the Google Play Store.

10. Wunderlist

In essence a to-do app, Wunderlist allows you to not only create to-do lists, but organize these under different categories as well. A well-organised list after all, is a well-used list 😛

These apps for Android also allow you to share lists, add attachments like photos and PDFs, create reminders and even access your lists from your other Android devices and your computer. Personally, I have installed this app and, so far, I am loving it. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: Productivity
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 302 667
• Installs range: 5 million – 10 million
• Android Requirements: Varies from device to device.

Try out it out for yourself by downloading Wunderlist from the Google Play Store.

Junk Mail Classifieds apps for Android

No we get to the fun part! Junk Mail Classifieds also has a suite of apps for Android to help make your experience on our group of sites fun, easy and unforgettable. Best of all – these are free Android apps, so no reason not to check them out.

1. Junk Mail

If you are an avid user of Junk Mail, or want to check out what Junk Mail can offer you, the app is perfect. From allowing you to search or browse through our extensive range of categories, to responding to sellers and placing your own free ads, the app is perfect for the user on-the-go.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 3.6
• Category: Shopping
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 1 282
• Installs range: 100 000 – 500 000
• Android Requirements: 2.3 and up.

Download the Junk Mail Android App from Google Play.

2. Job Mail

Looking for a job? Why not use the Job Mail app? One of the top Android apps if you are looking for job vacancies, the app allows you to register as a Job Seeker and, if you are already registered, simply log in to your account. The app also allows you to browse, search and apply for jobs, all from the comfort of you Android device.

If you can’t find a vacancy that quite suits you, you can also set up job alerts using the app. Specifying everything from location to job industry, you will receive updates on vacancies that matches you and your set requirements.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.1
• Category: Business
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 201
• Installs range: 50 000 – 100 000
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

Try the free Job Mail Android App by downloading it from the Google Play Store.

3. Auto Mart App

Whether you are looking for some new wheels or want to sell, Auto Mart is the perfect place to do it. One of the best apps for Android phones if you are looking for or selling your ride, the app allows you to browse through top brands – from Volvo and Toyota to Opel and BMW – and sort searches according to price range and location.

A cool feature available is signing up for alerts. Allowing you to specify everything from brand, model and price, to year, body shape and fuel type, your alerts are extremely specific, resulting in notifications that are truly relevant.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 3.8
• Category: Shopping
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 209
• Installs range: 10 000 – 50 000
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

Check out the Auto Mart App on Google Play.

4. Truck & Trailer

Designed with the Truck & Trailer user in mind, this app from Junk Mail Classifieds is perfect if you are looking for commercial vehicles and machinery. With huge brands like Volvo, JCB, Bell and New Holland (to name just a few), you can get everything from TLBs and buses, to trucks and excavators on Truck & Trailer.

Like with Auto Mart, you can create alerts for machinery and other commercial vehicles, resulting in notifications according to your set requirements – year, make, location and so much more.

Available for free from the Play Store, download it today and start exploring.

Quick Info:

• Rating on the Google Play Store: 4.5
• Category: Shopping
• Number of Reviews and Ratings: 51
• Installs range: 5 000 – 10 000
• Android Requirements: 4.0 and up.

Discover the Truck & Trailer App on Google Play.

Have these apps for Android phones convinced you to start looking for affordable smartphones for sale? Check out the awesome deals on Junk Mail and find your ideal Android device today. Upgrading? Sell your old phone and make a couple of extra bucks by placing your free ad on www.junkmail.co.za.