Most Popular Free Android Apps

This list of the most popular free Android apps runs the whole gamut, showing free Android apps’ range and power. These apps can turn your Android phone into a stronger, more helpful device. Surely, you wouldn’t want to miss that opportunity? Here are ten of the most popular free Android apps available:

Compass

In a way, it would be shocking if a run-of-the-mill compass app was on this list. Well, it’s not, and this Android app is far more than a tool to tell you which way is north. To name a few of the features this app brings to the table enough to sell most on the idea that it’s a practical, handy app to have on their Android phone. Essentially this is a half compass, half GPS Android app. It tells you the direction, but it also means you the speed at which you’re traveling, the exact coordinates of your location, and more things that can be used for fun or to save your life if you’re potentially trapped somewhere.

Handcent SMS

Do you want to send SMS and MMS messages through your Android phone? Don’t get what I’m asking? More simply: do you text? If you do, you need to get Handcent SMS for Android. It takes your phone to an entirely new level and texting dimension. Trust me; when you’ve used this app for a while, you’ll wonder how you lived without it for so long!

Facebook

I really shouldn’t have to say a single word about this app. I feel it’s necessary to say that it’s the *Official Facebook App for Android*. Enough said!

Ringdroid

Perhaps one of the most hands-on free Android apps, Ringdroid allows you to edit audio files to create ringtones and alarms. Tired of editing songs to make your ringtone? Well, they’ve thought of that too! You can also create ring tones for your Android phone from scratch (using the Ringdroid app on your phone).

Places Directory

This Android app does exactly what it sounds like. It allows you to find the nearest gas station, shopping mall, shoe store, movie theater, or even a great place for a burger. It is simple yet very efficient and effective: a must-have Android application!

Backgrounds

Do you want to keep your phone looking new and fresh occasionally? Get Backgrounds, one of the most popular free Android apps, with more than 10,000 wallpapers for free. With this app, your phone will never look drab again.

Google Sky Map

Probably not the most useful on this list, but it’s one of the most interesting. The Google Sky Map is exactly like a planetarium inside your Android phone. What’s more? No need to say more than it’s a Google program!

Astro File Manager

You wouldn’t know it from this app’s name, but Astro File Manager is among the most popular free Android apps. It is a task manager and among Android’s best ones at that. With this amazing app, you will be able to manage files, read and open.zip files, send files, backup applications, and much more.

Barcode Scanner

Perhaps one of the most ingenious free Android apps on this list, this barcode scanner app lets you access prices, reviews, and other related files by scanning the barcodes on various items in stores and elsewhere. Most importantly for Android phone users, it will easily decode the QR Codes attached to Android apps you find all over many Android websites online. Download this free app, click the icon, and take a quick snapshot of an app’s QR Code. Next thing you know, you’ll be at the Android Market again, but this time at that app’s info and download page!

Shazam

Everyone loves music; well, most of us love it. If you haven’t heard of Shazam and what it does by now, you’re probably part of the minority. If that’s the case, this app will nearly instantly identify songs playing, even in noisy environments. That’s the core of Shazam, but luckily for all of us, it’s spawned into much more than that! You’ll have to download it (for free) to see all the possibilities!