12 Free Apps You Probably Have or Should Know About

Gmail

Google's Gmail is among the most popular email services around the world. It has some handy features, such as auto-generated suggestions for quick replies.

Instagram

At the heart of Instagram is the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Think of the Facebook-owned app as a visual social network where people from around the globe express themselves through photos and videos. (The Android app is here.)

LinkedIn: Network & Job Finder

A career-oriented social network, LinkedIn connects employers, job seekers, professionals and others seeking to expand their circle of contacts in the business world. A recruiter — or your future boss — just may find you there.

Pinterest

This image-based social app is all about inspiring folks on a wide range of topics, including home improvement, health, recipes, fashion, parties and even silly pranks. You can follow creators of digital scrapbooks based on such interests and pin your own ideas to a digital board.

TikTok

TikTok is all the rage for people of all ages, not just your kids or grandkids. The short-form video-sharing platform is the top downloaded free app for both Android and iOS. You can produce short videos (15 seconds long is the norm; 3 minutes, the max) or watch cute animals in action, dance crazes that go viral and helpful how-tos on, say, repairing a hole in your drywall.

Twitter

Keep it brief: In 280 characters or fewer, businesses, ordinary people and celebrities use this microblogging social network to share content, opinions — some of which are provocative or divisive — and news.

WhatsApp Messenger

You can use this popular messaging service to text, make calls or engage in group chats worldwide, which is perfect if you have friends or relatives who live or are traveling overseas. Experts praise its enhanced encryption features.

Yelp Food, Delivery & Services

Read customer reviews and rate businesses yourself — from restaurants and repair shops to hair salons and housecleaning services — in your neighborhood or while you are traveling.

YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream

Google-owned YouTube boasts a humongous library of free videos (on demand or streaming) on just about any topic you can, well, Google. You can also record videos and share them with the world.

Zoom Cloud Meetings

Zoom became a household name early in the pandemic, so popular in the United States last year that it held the No. 2 spot in downloads from the Apple and Google Play app stores. In lieu of in-person meetings and social gatherings, people got comfortable “Zooming” with bosses, colleagues, family and friends in front of their computer or phone cameras.