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Best apps that iOS users can't have

AndroidPIT android uis 4371
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I won't judge you whether you're here to celebrate Android or you're an iOS user curious about the other side. Let's just avoid eye contact and take a look at the best apps Android offers that you can't get on iOS.

AndroidPIT android uis 4372
While the two ecosystems share many apps, Android has its fair share of exclusives. / © ANDROIDPIT

Nova Launcher and Zooper Widget

Let's just dive right in there. Android offers greater customization than iOS, and there's no better way to begin taking advantage of this than by installing this pair of apps on your phone. Nova Launcher lets you set up the way your phone behaves with almost psychopathic nuance. Take a look at our Nova Launcher tips and tricks to learn more.

AndroidPIT nova launcher tips and tricks double tap to lock
Nova Launcher lets you do loads of cool stuff, like these hidden folders. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-com.teslacoilsw.launcher}

Widgets don't exist on iOS the way they do on Android. Where on iOS they are relegated to the notification center, on Android you can put them anywhere and make them do or show anything. Zooper Widget is where I, and I'm sure many others, began their widget journey. It lets you create your own widgets and place them wherever you feel fit to do so.

androidpit best apps not on ios zooper
Zooper comes with a library of adjustable widgets, but you can also make your own from the ground up. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-org.zooper.zwfree}

Gravity Screen

You won't have to worry about putting your phone on standby with this nifty app. Set it up right and it will know when you've put your phone in your pocket or down on a table and automatically turn the screen off. When you pick it up, the screen turns on again. It's almost magic, but it's not; it's just a very useful app.

You can set the angles manually if you like, which is useful if you have unusually angled pockets or your tables are poorly constructed. And there's a setting that detects small movements of your hand, so the screen won't turn off when you're reading or otherwise holding your phone at an angle that might be mistaken for a pocket or table.

androidpit best apps not on ios gravity screen
Gravity screen could render your power button obsolete, almost. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-com.plexnor.gravityscreenofffree}

Google Opinion Rewards

This app wouldn't work on iOS because it doesn't have the Play Store. But iOS doesn't even have an equivalent app for its App Store, which is shocking, truly. Opinion Rewards exchanges your time and personal information for credit that you can spend on apps, books, games, and more in the Play Store. You will be fed short surveys, which you complete, and Google gives you ten cents here, twenty cents there.

You can find out more about Google Opinion Rewards and how to get more surveys sent your way through our dedicated page.

androidpit oppinion rewards play store 1
Get some Play Store credit by completeing surveys. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-com.google.android.apps.paidtasks}

Tasker

This app alone could be considered reason enough to choose Android over iOS, if you're of the automation persuasion, anyway. Tasker lets you set up your phone to change settings or execute actions at certain times of day or when certain conditions are met. Some basic examples would be turning off mobile data between midnight and 6am, or turning off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when your battery is low. These are very basic examples, as it is a powerful app, offering a wealth of options; dive in and explore; it rewards creativity.

Pair this with IFTTT, and you'll find yourself on a course towards becoming the owner of the most time-effective smartphone on earth. Find out more about some useful IFTTT recipes, as they're called, here.

androidpit best apps not on ios tasker
Tasker is intimidating at first, but extremely rewarding. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-net.dinglisch.android.taskerm}

Reddit apps

The official Reddit app is available for iOS, but any Reddit geek knows it's awful. The best Reddit apps are all Android-only deals, and I'm not just saying that for the purposes of this list; it's actually true. There's Slide, Relay, Boost, Sync, Now; just trust me, okay? My personal preference is Slide, and I'm not saying it should be yours, either, but it's great, and you should try it.

androidpit best apps for killing time slide for reddit
Reddit apps is one area where Android is undoubetbly schooling Apple 6. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-me.ccrama.redditslide}

AcDisplay

A minor addition many flagships have seen this year is an always-on display, which uses a minimalist interface to display the time and unread notifications on the screen, even when your device is on standby. Little do many people know that this is (sort of) available on any device through an app called AcDisplay. 

While it's true that with AcDisplay the screen isn't always on, it looks and feels very similar. In fact, I hate always-on displays, so for me this app is even better than an actual always-on display. Whenever you get a new notification, your screen will gently illuminate to show the time, date and the new notification along with any old unread ones. Press on a notification to see an expanded window displaying the message contents or whatever it might be, and press on that to open the relevant app up directly from the lock screen.

androidpit best apps not on ios acdisplay
AcDisplay is a great third-party lock screen that Apple users are deprived of. / © ANDROIDPIT

Know any other great apps that iOS users can't have because Apple is mean to them? Leave a comment and let me know.

The current best Samsung phones to buy

  Editor's choice S23 with a bigger display 2023 flagship 2023 foldable flagship 2022 fodlable flagship 2023 compact foldable 2022 compact foldable Affordable flagship The popular mid-ranger
Product
Image Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23+ Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Product Image Samsung Galaxy A54 Product Image
Review
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23+
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Not yet tested
Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Review: Samsung Galaxy A54
Price
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Offer*
Go to comment (13)
Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall
Junior Editor

Chris is a graduate in English and Philosophy and habitual tamperer with technology. A recent convert to Android, through the marvel of the Samsung Galaxy S6, he looks to share the fruits of this technological honeymoon through AndroidPIT.

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13 comments
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  • 7
    Ram SIngh Jun 26, 2016 Link to comment

    ya that's an nice one that's why i love android over iPhone.


  • 3
    Arnaud BLANC Jun 11, 2016 Link to comment

    You should really stop recommanding Zooper. It hasn't been updated for more than a year now and it's full of bugs ! There are lots of alternatives (KLWP is the best imo).

    Deactivated Account


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Jun 9, 2016 Link to comment

    this was a fun article to read and it mentions some great apps, too
    I am not an Apple Fan, but I gather a majority of what this article mentions?
    an Apple Fan wouldn't care about (they'll have their reasons, brag about OS updates)

    I'm a proud Android User
    even though I think Google needs to step in and start making OS updates within 90
    days of acquiring mandatory (this means you manufacturers / service providers)

    this shouldn't exclusive to Nexus / have to root solution !


  • 1
    ROBERT BERTA Jun 8, 2016 Link to comment

    If any Android users are musicians like me....the absolute best app for having all your charts (music you play from) is Mobile Sheets Pro. There are a couple of Apple apps that try to do the same thing but they are vastlily inferior. THe app is the ultimate way to put all your music on a tablet (10" or larger best ) and it allows turning pages from a blue tooth pedal, linking WAV files to the music (so you have a backup as you play), lots of ways to organize your music too plus you can make notes on the music. You can bring in music as PDF or copy what music you have with a app like CamScanner which will auto convert into a PDF and bring it right into the Mobile Sheets Pro app. Many of my musician friends swear by the app.


  • GrimJimCrowley 14
    GrimJimCrowley Jun 7, 2016 Link to comment

    Yeah, but then again iPhones don't drain just because the phone is turned on. And you don't have to disable all of the smart features of the smartphone just to get your device to last through lunch.


    • Seán Quinn 1
      Seán Quinn Jun 7, 2016 Link to comment

      @GrimJimCrowley, you haven't used an Android recently, have you? I have a Xperia Z5 Premium and with Marshmallow, it goes into Doze mode whenever you aren't using it. From going to sleep at night to waking up in the morning, you lose maybe a couple percent of battery life.

      And no, you don't have to limit the performance at all. Max out everything and it still gives you a few days of battery life.


    • Mark G. 28
      Mark G. Jun 8, 2016 Link to comment

      I think you'll find that IPhone users suffer from those same problems especially when using older devices/software.

      My experience of Android over the last 5 years has been overwhelming positive.
      My excellent Samsung Galaxy S5 running Android 5.02 has excellent battery life and the OS is fast and slick.
      It's unfortunate that your experience isn't as good as ut should be.

      Peace ✌


    • 3
      Mike Jun 9, 2016 Link to comment

      Wrong, I get 2 days out of my Galaxy S7 without any power saving settings


  • rilo ariicho ariicho 3
    rilo ariicho ariicho Jun 7, 2016 Link to comment

    Tasker in India costs 199 rupee


  • Upton Nell 3
    Upton Nell Jun 6, 2016 Link to comment

    I recommend All-In-One Toolbox. It deletes useless files to make your phone run fast. And the plugins can help you manage your phone easily. The size is way smaller than other clean apps. But it's only available on Android now.

    Deactivated Account


  • 12
    lianne john Jun 6, 2016 Link to comment

    Good collection!

    Upton Nell


  • Marcus Geier 2
    Marcus Geier Jun 6, 2016 Link to comment

    Mightytext.

    Upton Nell


  • 24
    Deactivated Account Jun 6, 2016 Link to comment

    I would recommend KLWP (Kustom Live Wallpaper). Best app I have installed. Creating my own desktop and layout adding font icons menu's and music players easily available by just swiping from one screen to the next. You don't need to use some of the app's anymore by going into your app menu you can have news feeds, music player, calender feed etc. on your home screen. It's quick and easy and it saves time as you don't have to open and close all the apps anymore if they are built into your theme. You can create your own music player for example and build it into your home screen just to name a few options.

    Arnaud BLANCUpton Nell

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