Android phones seem to be all the rage right now. The global smartphone market is dominantly Android populated and there are a couple of reasons why. They are far easier to operate due to their extremely simple user interface, they cost less to run and maintain and they have been known to enhance day-to-day productivity more than phones running on any other operating system out there. However, it’s not just enough to own operate an Android phone; most of the work is done by the apps. Apps are the engine on which your productivity runs. They are the major catalysts that determine how much you get done (for those who use their Android phones strictly for business) or how much you enjoy having fun with it (for those who use phones mainly for social messaging, music, etc). In general, the complexity and usability of your apps go a long way in determining how much you enjoy your user experience.

Today, the market for Android apps is flooded. A lot of them are virtually useless, as they contain meaningless ads and links to other websites, wasting your time, energy and data. Some, though not bad, are under-developed and actually reduce your productivity. Very few of them are the crème de la creme; the best of the best. Having these apps will be greatly advantageous. The number of extremely useful apps is ever-increasing and can’t be fully explored in one list. However, I have come up with 10 awesome apps for Android users which I believe will put more than a smile on your face every time you decide to invest your time in them. These applications will change how you generally view your phone or at least provide something different from others in their genres. Take a look:

1. Evernote

Evernote lets you keep track of stuff happening in your life. It does basically everything to help you get organized, including jotting notes, taking pictures, adding voice recordings, drawing up to-do lists, inserting web links, you name it. To be honest, I found Evernote to be a little too bulky when I first started using it. Since then, however, I’ve become an insane fan of it and all its features. It’s free and incredibly fun to use. The latest version also comes with an Optical Character Recognition feature that makes various texts in an image searchable on all your devices, and on the internet.

2. Alto

Alto is a newbie app that’s gradually taking over the email community. It’s free and was recently developed by AOL as an email client that allows you to keep track of all your email accounts (if you have multiple accounts) under a merged inbox. Currently, it has support features for POP3, IMAP, iCloud, Outlook, and MS Exchange. If you’re looking to effectively manage multiple email accounts, Alto is an awesome way to do just that.

3. Netflix

Netflix is the undisputed champion in the movie streaming world. Netflix features an enormous library of movies and TV shows, giving you first had entertainment at your fingertips. It’s free for a trial period and after that, you begin to choose subscription plans at your discretion and convenience, with the lowest plan being $7.99 per month. It has evolved from just another past time into a platform you can rely on to keep you updated on the latest (and your favorite)Tv shows. Another huge selling point of Netflix is the fact that it lets you download movies and shows while offline. For movie downloads and streaming, however, there are many other movies apps which are very advantageous and pocket-friendly.

4. Zedge

Zedge is your first stop for personalizing tools such as wallpapers, ringtones, and themes. It provides a variety of awesome personalizing options with genres such as comedy or mainstream, and content is uploaded by the community of Zedge users which broadens it even more. The only downside is a barrage of ads. It’s free and extremely fun to use.

5. NordVPN

Leading telecommunications companies have played their part in keeping your device free of any malware. However, when connected to public WiFi, some individuals may be looking to manually infect your phone with viruses or steal some of your vital information. This is where NordVPN comes in handy. It is the leading security application of all virtual private networks. It comes with impressive features such as the ability to hide your private network, it’s hard to beat. It’s free for a while, with a subscription fee of $8 per month.

6. Feedly

Feedly is an awesome news app that includes an RSS reader, which means that you can subscribe to multiple websites and get updates from them simultaneously. It also supports podcasts and YouTube videos. It’s free and has an amazingly user-friendly interface.

7. Google Drive Suite

This is an incorporation of apps developed by Google Inc. and synchronized with Google Drive itself. It includes Google drive and all of its subsequent apps like Google Docs, and Google Photos. Their primary use is office stuff; processing documents and spreadsheets. They can also be used for backing up photos and taking side notes. You can’t beat the fact that they’re free.

8. LastPass

LastPass is an awesome password manager. Most of the time, people forget their passwords, often due to having too many passwords for their multiple accounts. To guard against this, you’ll need LastPass. This app backs up every password you initialize, from apps to websites, and stores them in a secure file behind your one master password. It can also give you password suggestions or auto-fill your details and information (relieving the stress of having to do that again). It’s very nifty and free on mobile devices, although you’ll have to pay to sync it with other devices.

9. PicsArt Photo Studio

PicsArt is awesome when it comes to picture editing. It’s a free and handy photo editor which provides more effects, tools, and filters than any other photo editor out there and is extremely easy to use. It also has a share option for you to post your edits and creations on different social media platforms.

10. MyFitnessPal

This is one of the leading fitness-oriented apps on the Android market today. It provides a wide range of features, most notably a calorie counter, which helps you keep track of your food intake. Other features include a cookbook where you can record and import daily recipes, an exercise regime, and it also synchronizes with hardware and other services. It’s free with in-app purchases on the Play Store.