5 Indian apps that made it to Google Play ‘Best of 2018’

Like every year, Google Play has come up with a meticulously compiled list of the top Android apps, games, movies, TV shows and books for 2018. For the first time, it featured “user’s choice winners” - PUBG Mobile and Google Pay (previously Tez) - the list went on to further categorise these apps as “Most Entertaining”, “Best Hidden Gems”, “Best Self Improvement”, and “Best Daily Helpers”.

While popular names like Tik Tok, Unfold, and language-learning app Drops instantly stood out, there are some lesser-known (or as Google says, “hidden gems”) as well.

Here’s a list of the five best Indian apps that found a place in the coveted Google Play’s list of 2018.

SonyLiv

Interestingly, three of the top five Indian apps were listed under the “most entertaining” category, with SonyLiv leading the pack. The Sony Pictures Networks-owned entertainment and video-on-demand service app has become a user-favourite over the years. After all, it is a one-stop destination for all movie lovers and sports enthusiasts. Aside from its vast collection of films, the app also allows users to watch their favourite TV series and ongoing matches – all of this for various subscription options.

LightX Photo Editor and Photo Effects

With a 4.6 star user-rating, this photo editor is the third Indian app to have secured a place in Google Play’s “Most Entertaining” apps list. Built by Andor Communications, the app offers the usual set of features like a wide range of filters, selfie editing tools, along with some not-so-ordinary functions like shape manipulation to create caricatures and fun stickers.

However, the most entertaining quality about the app comes from its advanced options that let even serious photographers edit their pictures using Curve, Levels, and Colour Balance on the go.

Playo

There are hundreds of apps that cater to sports fanatics but none like Playo. Built by Bengaluru-based TechMash Solutions, this app takes pride in creating a community platform for sports and fitness enthusiasts. Whether you need help with meeting ‘playpals’ or with booking courts, joining playgroups, finding trainers, and registering for marathons – Playo has an option for everything. It boasts of an extensive category of activities - Cricket, Badminton, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Basketball, Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, Kabaddi, Squash, Paddle Tennis, Yoga, Workouts, Running, Cycling, Adventure Sports, Trekking, Water Rafting and more.

In addition, users can gain what this app calls “Karma points” for their activities over time, and use it to redeem against bookings.

Wynk Music

It is not called the music app for every mood for no reason. From Rahman to Rihanna, this app from Airtel Music and Audio boasts an extensive selection of songs – a little over 3 million, to be precise – and across various categories, genres, artists, languages, and occasions. Even better, users can opt for either a free version or a subscribed one that allows listeners to stream ad-free music or listen to songs offline as well.

Recipe Book

Incubated at the Nasscom Warehouse in Kochi, RecipeBook was hatched by three young techies facing the archetypal “kitchen conundrum.” As the name suggests, it is a recipe discovery app that curates recipes across cuisines and guides amateur chefs on “cooking quests”. Indian, Mexican, Arabian, American and Indonesian are some of the popular cuisines on this app. Apart from recipe discovery, users can also use the ‘reverse search’ feature to choose individual ingredients that they have at hand and utilise them for suitable recipes.

Having earlier been recognised by Google under their “Editor’s Choice” award, this app now finds a spot in the “Best Daily Helper” list.