Google Play Store is a vast ocean filled with millions of apps. Away from the trending charts and massive download counts lie some underrated apps waiting to be discovered. We’re diving deeper to explore the top underrated Android apps that deserve a spot on your phone. Get ready to explore a handpicked list of underrated apps on the Play Store that might change how you use your Android device.
Table of Contents
1. MacroDroid – Device Automation
If you want to make your phone smarter without getting too technical, check out the MacroDroid app. It lets you automate things like turning on Wi-Fi when you get home or silencing notifications at work. You can also think of it like a Shortcut app on an iPhone.
While some automation apps can be tricky, MacroDroid is surprisingly easy to use. It’s packed with cool things it can do to make your Android smarter, and honestly, it deserves way more attention than it gets.”
Pricing: Free (Ad-free base functionality). Pro upgrade available via in-app purchase unlocks some advanced features.
2. Image Toolbox – Edit & Convert
You can do more with your photos than just slap on a filter. There’s a fantastic app called Image Toolbox – Edit & Convert that’s like having a mini Photoshop right on your phone. What’s really cool is how much it can do – from drawing pixel by pixel to resizing in weird shapes and even removing backgrounds like magic. Also, you can change metadata of single image without compression and a lot more customization options.
It can also handle tons of different image types. For an app that’s completely free and doesn’t bug you with ads, it’s seriously powerful and feels like an all-rounder app for anyone who works with images on their phone.
Pricing: Free
3. Cineswipe
Love watching movies and TV? It can be hard to remember what you’ve seen or what’s new. There’s a cool app called Cineswipe that helps with this. It’s a simple way to keep track of all your shows and movies in one place. You can look things up easily and make lists of what you want to watch later. You also get recommendations with categories like popular, top rated, and more.
It even tells you when new episodes or movies you care about are coming out. Plus, it shows fun facts about what you’re watching, like how much time you spend watching (whoops!), and also shows short clips of TV shows and movies.. If you just want a simple and nice-looking way to keep track of all the entertainment you love, Cineswipe is worth checking out.
4. Buckwheat
Want to be smarter with your money? There’s a simple app called Buckwheat that can help. It basically asks you to write down every time you spend money with a tag to mention what thing you have spent on. It’s a simple budget maintenance app where you just provide the budget you have and for how many days you want to survive with that amount.
It helps see how much you’re spending and maybe find ways to spend better. You also get the analytics of your expenditure with the option to export it to CSV. If you’re looking for an easy way to get a handle on your money, Buckwheat is worth a try.
5. Adima – AI Image Upscaler
If you have images that are blurry or noisy and want to enhance them, there’s a cool app called Adima AI Image Upscaler Lite that can help fix that. It uses smart AI to make your pictures look clearer and even upscale them to 4K quality right on your phone. Best part – no internet is required!
So, if you have old photos or artwork that you want to make look their best, this app is a simple way to do it. It’s easy to use and shows you the before and after, so you can see the difference. If you want to upscale your photos using AI without spending any money, Adima AI is worth checking out.
6. Moises: The Musician’s App
If you’re into music, there’s a cool app called Moises that uses smart AI to do some amazing things with songs. You will be able to split a song into just the vocals, or just the drums, or the guitar. This is super helpful for learning songs, making your backing tracks, or just messing around with music.
It also has a smart metronome that follows the song, shows you the chords as it plays, and even lets you change the speed and key. If you’re a musician looking for a bit of AI magic to help you practice and play, Moises is worth checking out. Also, you can use it to create ringtones of your favorite music.
Pricing: Free plan (offers basic stem separation for vocals, drums, bass, and core practice tools). Premium and Pro subscription plans unlock unlimited/advanced stem separation (more instruments), full tool access, higher quality models, and more features.
7. CurioMate
If you wish to have a bunch of useful tools all in one app, that’s what CurioMate is! It’s like a Swiss Army knife for your phone, packed with over 25 different things you can use every day. It has a QR code scanner, a way to change inches to centimeters, a tip calculator for when you’re eating out, and even a tool to make strong passwords.
The app looks clean and is easy to use, and you can even save your favorite tools for quick access right on your home screen. Plus, a lot of it works even when you don’t have internet. If you’re tired of downloading a bunch of separate little apps for everyday stuff, CurioMate puts a whole toolbox right in your pocket.
Price: $1.99
8. EdgeSeek
For a faster way to control your phone, take a look at Edge Seek. This free and open-source app introduces simple swipe gestures from the edges of your screen for quick actions. Imagine swiping from the top left to adjust volume, or the top right for a slider. A double-tap on either side can even bring down your notification shade.
The best part is that it works smoothly alongside your regular back gesture. Plus, you get full control to customize the gestures, sensitivity, and the actions they perform. If you’re looking to streamline how you interact with your phone’s controls, Edge Seek offers a handy and customizable solution.
9. Launcher95 and Launcher10
For a fun trip to the past, check out the Launcher95 and Launcher 10 apps. These app brings the retro desktop experience of Windows 95 and Windows 10 right to your Android phone. It essentially transforms your device’s interface to look and feel like you’re running Windows, with many of the options functioning just as they did back in the day.
Launcher 10 is styled similarly to Windows Mobile devices. It also has some premium (in-app purchase) features like Live tiles (to show notification content in tiles as well as contacts, calendar, clock, and gallery), and Tile badges (to show the number of missed calls, unread messages, etc)
You can operate your smartphone completely with this launcher without any external connection.
10. Shizuku
If you are looking to extend the capabilities of certain apps without rooting your Android device, Shizuku offers a unique solution. This app acts as a bridge, enabling other applications to access system-level APIs with higher privileges, similar to root access.
By using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), Shizuku allows apps to interact directly with system functions, unlocking features and functionalities that are typically unavailable to regular, unrooted apps. This can lead to enhanced control over system settings and more direct file management for compatible applications.
Here are some examples of apps that leverage Shizuku with examples:
Canta
- Function: Uninstall system and user apps without root.
- Use Case: Debloat your device by removing pre-installed apps.
Blocker
- Function: Manage activities, services, receivers, and providers on Android without root.
- Use Case: Fine-tune app behaviors and background processes.
aBattery
- Function: Provides detailed battery information, including health, capacity, and charge cycles.
- Use Case: Monitor battery health and usage statistics.
You can check out how to uninstall bloatware or preinstalled apps using Shizuku (No Root)
11. Delta
Android’s regular hotspot is okay, but if you want more control, check out Delta. This free app makes your phone’s hotspot way better. It lets you do things like limit how many friends can connect, tell it to turn off automatically if no one’s using it, and even hide your hotspot name so only people you tell can join.
It’s also free to use!
Note: You’ll need to use the Shizuku app to get it working.
12. Overdrop – Weather and Widgets
If you want a weather app that not only tells you what’s going on outside but also looks really beautiful on your phone, then check out Overdrop. It has tons of cool-looking widgets that show you the weather in a nice way, and you can even change the colors and themes to match your style.
It gives you all the important info like the hour-by-hour forecast, a radar to see if storms are coming, and even things like air quality. You can track the weather in different cities and get alerts for bad weather. If you’re tired of boring weather apps and want one that’s both useful and a treat for the eyes, Overdrop is worth a look.
You can download the pro version from the Play Store if you want all the features of this app.
13. KineStop: Car Sickness Aid
The KineStop Car Sickness app is built to reduce motion or travel sickness when traveling. Just like iOS 18’s Vehicle Motion Cues, it displays floating dots on your Android phone’s screen that move along with the car’s motion.
Apart from dots, you can also place different themes on your screen, including landscape, monochrome, horizon, sea, space, and more, based on your liking. There is an option to autostart when you’re in a vehicle; it does so by requiring permission to access physical activity. You can also add it to the quick settings panel.
It works in controlling kinetosis or motion sickness, especially on hilly roads with lots of twists and turns. You can use your phone, read posts on it, and watch movies without experiencing a headache or becoming nauseous.
You can check out more Vehicle Cues apps on Android to control motion sickness.
Your Favorite Underrated Android Apps
So, there you have it – some truly cool apps hiding in the Play Store that deserve more love. Give them a try and you might just find your new favorite. Which is your underrated Android app? Share with us on X/Twitter.
