Smartphone culture has constantly kept the world busy with the thousands of apps available on Android. As long as your data signal is good enough, there is enough video, audio, editorial and gaming content to last a lifetime. The best thing about many of the most satisfying entertainment apps available on the Play Store is that they work with different levels of mobile phone, from the best high-end Android phones to the best budget Android handsets in 2022.
To help you clear up the clutter, here are some of the most entertaining apps you can download right now from the Google Play Store.
hulu
Hulu is one of the most diverse video streaming services available and is known for its mix of on-demand releases of recently aired television shows, various movies and original content. At a basic subscription level of $7.99 per month, users get access to a wide variety of television series in addition to various ad-supported movies. For a monthly fee of $14, users get everything without intrusive ads. One of the best deals is the $69.99 Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN that offers everything in the basic tiers in addition to access to live television and access to Disney+ and ESPN.
Microsoft Xbox Game Pass
Views on the usefulness of streaming video games over the Internet are still polarizing at this point. However, this doesn’t stop Microsoft from pushing its xCloud initiative through Xbox Game Pass. While it’s not recommended to play faster shooters or racing games unless you have a really fast and strong connection, there are still plenty of games available with a slower pace, and thanks to a new PWA 1080p streams and more stability are here even more improving services. Most importantly, xCloud has a library of games that work great with a touchscreen or controller, making it easy to play on the go or at home.
TikTok
TikTok is one of the largest growing social media platforms and hosts several 15 second short videos. With over 1 billion daily users, viral video content usually ranges from funny memes to music-inspired challenges. TikTok’s music functionality is so popular that many artists use the platform as a serious promotional tool, including Lil Nas X and Priscilla Block. Creating videos on the platform is intuitive, despite the sheer amount of tools available.
Audible
The Amazon subsidiary boasts an incredibly large library of audiobooks and podcasts that can be listened to via purchase or subscription. Then there are Audible Originals featuring celebrities, including Kevin Hart and Kerry Washington. With the $7.95 per month Audible Premium subscription, users get a large selection of audiobooks and podcasts, in addition to other useful audio features such as meditation and sleep tracks. The higher $14.95 Audible Premium Plus offers everything included in the basic subscription, in addition to the choice of a select audiobook.
Kindle
Amazon’s e-book service offers nearly three million titles, spanning everything from novels and mangas to magazines. For $9.99 per month, users can subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, which allows users to borrow up to 20 titles in addition to full magazine subscriptions that don’t count against the loan limits. Amazon Prime members also have free access to about a thousand titles.
Pluto TV
Individuals who just want to watch television on their Android devices without worrying about subscription fees will definitely enjoy Pluto TV. The free streaming service offers more than 250 channels in addition to movies and television shows that can be watched on demand. Some of these changes include Newsmax, CNN, CBS News, People TV, and many more. Of course, Pluto TV’s free nature involves a heavy reliance on intrusive advertisements.
Spotify
Spotify is undoubtedly the largest and most popular music streaming service in the world. In addition to offering music and podcasts, there’s a really cool aspect of social media that gives insight into what your friends and family are up to. On the free side of things, expect lower music quality in addition to a smaller music library. Meanwhile, the $9.99 Spotify Premium subscription removes ads and offers higher quality music.
Netflix
Netflix on mobile is more than just watching a mix of movies, TV shows and original content. There is also a nice selection of mobile games available to subscribers. These titles include Stranger Things 3: The Game, Moonlighter, Xtreme Asphalt and many, many more. When it comes to video content, users of the app have the option to download movies and shows to watch them later without an internet connection, which is undoubtedly useful when traveling.
HBO Max
Before the eventual merger of HBO Max and Discovery+, HBO Max is still definitely one of the best subscription-based video streaming services out there. The service includes content from HBO and Warner Bros. libraries in addition to various content from DC Entertainment. HBO Max also offers some movies that may be showing in theaters for the price of $9.99 per month so that everyone can watch these movies early for a low price.
YouTube
YouTube is the largest video streaming service based on user-submitted content. There are millions of videos with a wide range of different interests. Android users already anchored in the Google ecosystem can enjoy other services associated with YouTube, including YouTube Premium, YouTube Kids, YouTube Music, and YouTube TV. It’s a versatile service that offers many different levels and features, so there’s a good chance that whatever your needs, you’ll find content that fits your interests.
What you need to know about the best entertainment apps
Many of these apps listed today can potentially take a huge bite out of your data, so use these apps sparingly if you have a limited data plan. To be on the safe side, it might be helpful to download the necessary content from their respective services before you hit the road, such as videos, audio, and e-books. Those who may be traveling can also mirror their favorite content from these services on hotel televisions, meaning you always have your content in your pocket, ready to go.