The app store libraries on our favourite devices are absolutely stuffed with apps that can fit any need you can think – from gaming, to video, to music, and utility. But with so many options out there, how can you be sure that you’re using the best app for your needs? Well there are a number of things you can do before you ever download a new app, or even to make the most out of an app you already have installed.
User reviews – Before you ever download an app, make sure to read the reviews – it seems like an obvious thing to mention but you’d be surprised how often this gets overlooked, it may be that you simply click in and read the top 5-Star or to 1-Star review to see where the app succeeds and fails, but to get the most out of the app it may be worth taking a little deeper dive. If you look at a comprehensive review of Agent Spins, for example, it lists pros and cons for the game as well as the players thoughts, but relying on this one review alone may not be enough so be sure to look around – be sure to look at a mix of reviews too, simply looking at the top and bottom reviews may not accurately show where the flaws are or where the app shines.
Ads and paywalls – Many apps these days make their money by hiding certain features behind ads or paywalls – especially newer free apps, you may get an ad every few minutes and dropping a few dollars here and there may seem frustrating just to get rid of the ads or to access core features. Fortunately there is a way around that without spending money, the most popular is to use programs like Google’s reward surveys – you answer a few survey questions per week and get a balance that can go straight to your app store balance to be used on getting rid of ads or accessing features, essentially allowing you to upgrade the app to the premium version or getting rid of advertisements for free at the cost of just a few minutes per day in surveys – there will be other options available for non-android devices too, but if you’re looking to make the most out of a free app, there are options to keep it free whilst accessing all of the features.
Look for cross-platform – It’s also becoming increasingly common that apps are available cross platform, especially bigger apps. This is most common for security features such as password lockers, for example – if you’re looking at a utility application, see if it has any cross platform usability so it can also be used on your laptop or computer and you can benefit through more than just your mobile device – if you do happen to spend some money to access premium features, knowing it’s cross platform also allows you to benefit from these features across all of your devices.