Productivity

23 reviews

You open these to finish something, and that is the whole test. ChatGPT and Google Gemini now sit on the same home screen as Microsoft Word, Google Drive and Outlook, so we ask each of them the same questions: what works with the aeroplane mode on, what the free tier stops letting you do, and where your document travels once you hit save. Excel, Notion, Evernote and Trello are covered on a phone screen, not on the desktop versions they grew out of.

Verdicts at a glance

ChatGPT 9.3/10 The most capable and accessible AI assistant on Android, with a voice mode that genuinely works, let down by a free tier that's constrained enough to feel like a trial rather than a product.
Google Gemini 9.2/10 The best AI assistant for Android users invested in Google's ecosystem, though it lags behind the top alternatives on pure reasoning tasks.
Microsoft Word: Edit Documents 7.2/10 A polished, reliable word processor for Microsoft 365 subscribers — but the free tier is thin enough to frustrate anyone without an existing subscription.
Google Drive 7.2/10 An essential utility for anyone in Google's ecosystem — competent and reliable without being exceptional on any dimension beyond document scanning.
Microsoft Outlook 7.0/10 The best choice for Microsoft 365 users who need email, calendar, and contacts in one place, with a performance cost that casual users may not want to pay.
Microsoft Copilot A capable-sounding work assistant, but how much of it you can use depends on your license and your employer, so check that before relying on the listing.
Microsoft Excel: Spreadsheets 8.0/10 The most capable mobile spreadsheet app available, though heavy users will need a Microsoft 365 subscription to unlock its full potential.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF 7.5/10 The gold standard for PDF reading and signing on mobile, but check the subscription paywall carefully before committing to the full suite.
Microsoft OneDrive 7.0/10 The right choice for Microsoft 365 users who want their files and documents in one place, but not compelling enough to displace Google Drive for everyone else.
WPS Office-PDF, Word, Sheet A capable all-in-one document app with a big following, held back by a 1-star share near 12% and no clarity on what is free.
CamScanner- scanner, PDF maker The ratings say well liked: 4.6 out of 5, with 500 million+ installs behind the listing.
Google Calendar 8.3/10 The best calendar app for Google-ecosystem users and a strong default for everyone else, with minor rough edges outside that native context.