The Ultimate List: My 20 Favorite Android Apps of All Time—A Series Finale Celebration
Written by Massa Medi
Welcome to what is both an end and a new beginning: the highly anticipated series finale of my Top Android App series. For those who might’ve missed the announcement, last month I posted what will be, at least for now, the final installment of my monthly regular “Top Android Apps” videos. Yes—after over eight years (can you believe it?) of highlighting the freshest, most useful, and occasionally wackiest Android apps, I decided the time had come for a pause. Why? Because after so many years, my hope is to bring you new kinds of tech content—fresher, even more helpful, and hopefully destined to help the channel grow to new heights.
Now, don’t panic—the app content isn’t disappearing altogether! I still plan to share app-related videos, but they’ll look a bit different and won’t be arriving every month like clockwork. As a tribute to what’s truly been an amazing chapter on the channel, I wanted to mark this series finale by sharing one special video—and now, article—highlighting my absolute 20 favorite apps of all time.
Not Your Average App List—Uniqueness Required!
If you were expecting a list filled with the likes of YouTube, Google Chrome, or Gmail, think again. This isn't about the built-in staples. These apps all bring something distinct to the table – they're unique, have stood the test of time, and yes, every single app here is something I still actively use on my devices, in some way or another. For a bit of added fun, I'm introducing each app in the order that I first featured it on my channel. Get ready for a nostalgic ride!
1. Nova Launcher (Featured September 2015)
It all starts with a classic: Nova Launcher. If you’re into home screen customization, Nova Launcher will already be a household name. While I don’t currently use it as my permanent launcher, it’s still my go-to for tinkering with new setups for my App Palette or for recreating configurations in my “Best Android Setups” videos. Its customization options are second to none and even after all these years, I’m still a huge fan.
2. Bring! (Featured December 2016)
Next up, another time-tested legend: Bring! This shopping list app has barely changed its look in eight years, which speaks volumes—it was ahead of its time. Bring! offers a beautiful tile-based interface to quickly add and remove groceries, but its killer feature is real-time sharing. My wife and I both have the same synced list, so, for example, if she adds bread while I’m contemplating cereal in the supermarket aisle, my list updates instantly. Couple goals, right?
3. KWGT (Featured April 2018)
For all custom widget aficionados: KWGT is an OG app that I've used for nearly a decade (yes, that long!) even though I never formally featured the app itself in a Top Apps episode. However, KWGT packs appeared on my channel frequently—such as the first one back in April 2018. I still use it constantly; for example, on basically every home screen I build, and my current favorite setup uses “Widget Three” from the Waffle for KWGT pack.
4. Solid Explorer (Featured April 2018)
While most Android phones now ship with built-in file managers, Solid Explorer remains my gold standard for navigating, organizing, and transferring files. I install it on every phone. Compared to many stock file explorers, Solid Explorer’s flexibility continues to win me over.
5. Frog Weather Shortcut (Featured after April 2018)
If you’re admiring the weather widget on my home screen, know that it links to a hidden gem: Frog Weather Shortcut. Unlike the main Google Weather app (which isn't independently downloadable), this app jumps you straight to the whimsical Google Weather page, complete with its iconic mascot frog. You get quick access from widgets or the app drawer, and I still prefer its playful interface over Google’s newer alternatives.
6. Screen Dimmer (Featured July 2019)
There are times when even your phone’s dimmest screen setting is still way too bright—especially at night! Screen Dimmer lowers your screen’s brightness beyond Android’s normal settings, and notably also dims the status and navigation bars, which similar apps neglect. I temporarily stopped using it when Android 12 introduced Extra Dim, but Android 15’s changes led me back—Screen Dimmer remains the best, especially on my S25 Ultra.
7. Memorigi (Featured Ongoing)
In the realm of to-do and reminder apps, Memorigi is the holy grail, at least for Android users. I’ve spent years searching for a replacement—no app matches its clean design or allows custom snooze durations right from the notification. It’s an absolute essential for every device I own. The only catch? No iOS support… so I’m quietly starting work on a cross-platform reminder app. Keep an eye out!
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9. BuzzKill (Featured January 2021)
BuzzKill changes the game for notification management—it lets you control how (and how often) your phone notifies you. While I didn’t use it much at first, I came back, and now it’s indispensable, especially for reigning in overzealous fitness and health apps. My Ultra Human ring sends a barrage of notifications, but BuzzKill lets me keep only the useful ones: training updates and battery alerts. No more "Stop drinking coffee!" nagging—thank you, BuzzKill!
10. Shizuku (Featured Mid-2021)
The unsung hero for Android tinkerers: Shizuku lets you grant ADB permissions directly from your phone, serving as a “permission middleman” for other apps. Back in mid-2021, only a handful of apps supported Shizuku, but that number has exploded. There’s even a curated list of compatible apps for extra nerd-cred (I’ll drop that in the description).
11. Notesnook (Featured Various Times)
Notesnook is my favorite cross-device, privacy-first note-taking app. Its clean interface, deep features, web access, and support for Android/iOS make it my top choice—plus it’s open source! Ideal for securely storing notes or brainstorming your next big idea.
12. Listy (Featured March 2022)
For cataloging books, movies, or anything list-worthy, Listy is my specialist pick. It not only stores your lists but automatically populates them with supplementary info, like book covers and movie posters, making them visually rich and easy to navigate. I use it primarily to track my reading year by year. Shame there’s no cross-device sync yet, but the aesthetic payoff keeps me hooked.
13. Palette (My Own App)
Time to indulge in a little self-promotion: Palette was my very first app and remains one of my proudest projects. Born from the struggle of managing community-shared home screen setups, Palette allows users to upload, share, and retrieve custom setups with all associated assets included. This transformed my workflow from a mess of Google Drive links to a one-stop, app-centric solution. To date: over 750,000 installs and 60,000 active users—mind-blowing!
14. SMS Backup & Restore (Featured Late 2022)
As someone who frequently hops between devices, SMS Backup & Restore is my savior for maintaining my message history—especially since Google’s own Messages app still lacks robust backup support. I was using this well before it ever got a feature on the channel.
15. Snipped (Podcast App)
I may not listen to as many podcasts as I’d like, but Snipped wins hands-down in design and features. Although sync between devices can be a bit flaky (it often forgets my podcast progress), unless a competitor matches its looks and reliability, it’ll remain my default audio companion.
16. Shelf (My Own App)
Next up is Shelf, another of my creations. Where Palette is for home screen setups, Shelf is for discovering and sharing app recommendations. I use it constantly myself, and our team is adding new app suggestions daily—making it ideal for anyone lamenting the end of this series but still eager to find new Android treasures.
17. Tasker (Featured 2023)
The ultimate automation app: Tasker. I’ve only really dived in recently, but already have three spot-on automations: one adds an intensity slider whenever I activate my phone’s torch (super practical!); another organizes the downloads folder automatically; and the last configures ADB Wi-Fi and Shizuku permissions on every reboot (no computer needed). Want to try these for yourself? There’s a full how-to video for those interested.
18. Dual Wallpaper
A problem every vibrant wallpaper lover knows: you don’t want to be blinded at night. Dual Wallpaper lets you set a vibrant design for daytime and a dimmer, eye-friendly image for nighttime or dark mode. The switch happens automatically as your system theme changes, keeping your eyes comfortable 24/7.
19. Drops (My Own Icon Pack)
If you’re eyeing the cute app icons on my home screen—yep, that’s Drops, my own rebooted icon pack! The original version died off in 2017, but my team and I brought it back with frequent updates and a growing number of supported icons. It’s on every phone I own now.
20. Lumina Walls (My Own Wallpaper App)
In my endless quest for the perfect wallpaper, I built Lumina Walls. Every wallpaper in the app is handpicked (by me), with fresh additions daily and plenty of free options (over 850 at the time of writing). There are also premium collections designed specifically to match my ever-changing tastes. Beyond the looks, Lumina Walls is a joy to use, with smooth animations and a polished interface that stands out from the dull, clunky competition. It's easily my most-used app of all.
21. LocalSend
One bonus for you: LocalSend is like an enhanced, universal version of Quick Share or AirDrop. Unlike those services, it works seamlessly across all platforms—even iOS and MacOS! The only snag is that it can't continuously run in the background on mobile, so you'll need to open it whenever you want to transfer files. Still, it's nearly flawless once running, and unless Apple or Google bring true universality, LocalSend is my everyday solution for quick device-to-device transfers.
Honorable Mention: Your Turn!
That’s the epic rundown—my 20 (plus one) favorite Android apps of all time, each with proven longevity and a special place on my devices and this channel. I’m curious: did any of your favorites make my list? If not, what are your personal top 20? Drop a comment below and let’s keep the exploration going!
Final Thanks & CyberGhost VPN Offer
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Thank you for coming on this journey with me—whether you've been following this series from the start or just discovered it now. Here’s to fresh beginnings, new videos, and more fantastic apps in the future. Until next time!