The Best Android Apps of 2014

Thu, 04 Dec 2014

The Best Android Apps of 2014

(According to /r/Android.)

Google recently came out with a "Best Apps of 2014" list. It was not well received, with many people feeling that the majority of apps present were there because Google was making money from them, not because they actually deserved to be on such a list. Consequently, the Android subreddit attempted to compile its own list. This post is my attempt to collect the most highly-voted submissions on that /r/Android post.

What follows are the 35 top apps, based on Reddit's "best" sorting algorithm. If I have time, I'll add more to the list later.

SuperSU

Gives you root on your system.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: SuperSU - Free, IAP. IAP is only for donations; you have to buy the Pro version if you want its extra features.

Google Play: SuperSU Pro - Paid.

JuiceSSH

SSH client with optional cloud syncing and other features.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: JuiceSSH - Free, IAP. IAP is for upgrade to Pro version with extra features. There are also plugins available on Google Play. Some plugins are free; others are paid.

SeriesGuide

TV episode (and movie) watching management. Tracks things you've seen, tells you about upcoming things. Syncs with trakt or tvtag.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: SeriesGuide - Free, IAP. IAP is for a yearly subscription to unlock paid features.

Google Play: SeriesGuide X Pass - Paid. A one-time purchase of this app will unlock the paid features in SeriesGuide. It's equivalent to the yearly subscription.

Pocket Casts

Podcasting app. "Buy it for the hilarious changelogs, stay for the awesome Podcast App."

QuickPic

Album app. Browse, display, and select images on your device.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: QuickPic - Free

Nova Launcher

Alternate home screen. Very customizable.

AirDroid

Manage your device from your desktop or laptop web browser over the network. You can transfer files, send and receive SMS messages, see notifications, and generally fully control your Android device.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: AirDroid - Android on Computer - Free. If you create an AirDroid account, which is not required but makes some things more convenient, you can get access to more features with the account by paying a monthly or annual subscription fee.

Pushbullet

Easily send information between your device and desktop computer. Serves as both a cross-device notification system (e.g. see your Android notifications on your desktop) and a data sharing system (e.g. send a URL from your laptop to your phone).

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Pushbullet - Free. Currently no profit model(!) Will probably add premium accounts in the future.

CamScanner

Take photos of documents with your phone and turn them into PDFs.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: CamScanner -Phone PDF Creator - Free, Ads, IAP. IAP is for a monthly or annual subscription that removes ads and adds a number of features.

Google Play: CamScanner (License) - Paid. Removes ads from the free app and unlocks some features, but not everything that the subscription gives. (The subscription unlocks everything the license does, though.)

Google Play: CamScanner HD - Scanner, Fax - Free. I think this is the same as the basic CamScanner but with a tablet UI. It doesn't seem to have the IAP subscription option, though.

Tasker

General-purpose automation for your Android device.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Tasker - Paid

Moon+ Reader

Ebook reader.

Strava

Fitness app for tracking your running and bicycling.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Strava Running and Cycling GPS - Free, IAP. IAP is for unlocking premium features.

Today Calendar

Material-designed calendar app.

Textra

Material-designed SMS app.

ES File Explorer

File management app.

Duet

Game. The gameplay's a little difficult to describe. You control two objects that rotate in sync around the same point and you have to move them to avoid obstacles.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Duet - Free, Ads, IAP. The IAP removes ads and unlocks a few features.

Humble Bundle: Duet was part of Humble Moble Bundle 6. The version in the bundle was the Premium version, with no ads and all features unlocked.

Sleep as Android

Sleep tracker and sleep-cycle-aware alarm clock.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Sleep as Android - Free, Ads, IAP. Functions fully for two weeks as a trial, then disables sleep tracking on particular weekdays (though the other functionality continues to work). IAP is an alternative to purchasing the unlocker app.

Google Play: Sleep as Android Unlock - Paid. Unlocks sleep tracking and turns off ads in the Sleep as Android app.

Nine

Synchronizes device data with a Microsoft Exchange Server.

Discussion

Google Play: Nine - Exchange ActiveSync - Free, IAP. Works for two weeks then disables itself. IAP activates the app permanently.

Timely

Very customizable, multi-featured, and good looking clock app. Has a clock, alarm clock, timer, and stopwatch.

Reddit Sync

Reddit client with a card UI.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: reddit sync - Free, Ads, IAP. IAP removes ads and is an alternative to purchasing Reddit Sync Pro.

Google Play: reddit sync pro - Paid. Ad-free version of Reddit Sync.

TextSecure

Encrypted messaging app.

Cerberus

Security program. Lets you track, manage, and even wipe your device remotely in case it's lost or stolen.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: Cerberus anti theft - Free, IAP. App is functional for a week. After that, you have to buy a license via the IAP.

Waze

Traffic-aware GPS routing and navigation.

FolderSync

Sync local folders to various cloud storage providers.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: FolderSync Lite - Free. Limits you to two cloud storage accounts and you can't filter your files to be synced.

Google Play: FolderSync - Paid. No account limits, sync filtering, and Tasker support.

IFTTT

Short for "If This Then That". Android client for the IFTTT web service. IFTTT hooks into a lot of other sites (and your Android device) and lets you set up triggers so if something happens in one place, it causes something else to happen in another. (e.g. if it's going to rain, it can have your phone pop up a notification to take an umbrella when you leave the house.)

Discussion Thread

Google Play: IFTTT - Free. Some companies pay IFTTT to promote recipes that use their sites.

TeamViewer

Kind of the reverse of AirDroid. Lets you manage your desktop computer from your phone.

Discussion Thread

Google Play: TeamViewer for Remote Control - Free. The desktop software is free for noncommercial use, but businesses and the like have to buy licenses.

Llama

Android device automation, similar to Tasker. (Or Tasker is similar to Llama. Plugins for either will work with both.)

Here

Offline maps. Not available in the Play Store, so you have to sideload it.

Plex

Client for the Plex Media Server.

AcDisplay

Shows notifications while the phone is locked. Detects when you pull your phone out of your pocket and turns on the screen to show your notifications. Similar in concept to the Moto X's Active Display.

Discussion Thread

F-Droid: AcDisplay

Google Play: AcDisplay - Free, IAP. IAP is only for donations; app is fully-featured as-is.

RedReader

Reddit client.

Morning Routine

Alarm clock that lets you define a sequence of steps necessary to turn off the alarm. The idea is that you encode your entire morning routine into it, which makes sure you're awake by the end and makes sure you do everything you're supposed to.

Citymapper

Journey planning app, including transit, auto, foot, bike, and taxi. Only for specifically-supported cities.

Sunrise Calendar

Calendar app.

Xposed Framework

Framework for installing Xposed modules. Each module patches some aspect of the running system in order to change it. There are modules for all sorts of things, from working around Android bugs to adding cosmetic tweaks to making stock Android behave like a custom ROM. Root required. Must be sideloaded, since it's not in the Play store.

Solid Explorer

File manager.