Tools
12 reviews
Nothing in this lane is meant to be noticed. Gboard, Files by Google and Google Authenticator do one job and get out of the way. Google Translate and Google Lens are stranger, since both lean on a connection, and both are covered here on what is left when there is not one. The two VPNs, NordVPN and ExpressVPN, live or die on claims a phone cannot verify, so those two reviews spend their words on what each app can and cannot show you.
Verdicts at a glance
- Phone by Google The ratings say well liked: 4.4 out of 5, with 5 billion+ installs behind the listing.
- Gboard - the Google Keyboard 9.2/10 Gboard is the most capable general-purpose Android keyboard available, provided you're comfortable with the data sharing that comes with anything built into Google's ecosystem.
- Google Translate 8.5/10 The indispensable travel and everyday translation tool, with the important caveat that it's a tool for communication, not a substitute for a translator.
- Files by Google 8.0/10 The best free storage manager for most Android users, purpose-built for cleanup and local sharing rather than power file management.
- QR & Barcode Scanner A well rated, feature-rich scanner, though the cluttered listing says little about ads or monetization.
- CCleaner, Phone Cleaner The ratings say well liked: 4.5 out of 5, with 100 million+ installs behind the listing.
- Google Lens 8.5/10 One of the most genuinely useful tools on Android, leveraging Google's visual search infrastructure in a way no competitor comes close to matching.
- NordVPN – fast VPN for privacy 7.8/10 One of the better-maintained VPN apps on Android with genuine speed and privacy credentials, though the breach history and high price deserve honest consideration.
- McAfee: Stay Secure & Private The ratings say very well liked: 4.7 out of 5, with 50 million+ installs behind the listing.
- Canon PRINT A practical companion for Canon printer owners with a 4.5 rating, but of no use without a supported Canon model.
- Google Authenticator 6.5/10 A reliable 2FA app that finally has account backup, but better-organized alternatives exist for users willing to look.
- ExpressVPN: VPN Fast & Secure 7.3/10 A technically excellent VPN at a premium price that is hard to justify unless you specifically need its speed and server breadth.