Five Android apps that turn a stock smartphone into a truly useful tool

The default app set on any Android phone covers basic scenarios, but for everyday tasks you often need something more serious. AndroidInsider editors picked five tools that solve concrete problems — from file management to expense tracking.

Instead of the stock file manager, Solid Explorer is recommended. The app supports a dual-pane mode in landscape orientation: moving files between folders becomes simple drag-and-drop. The manager sees not only local storage — Google Drive, OneDrive, and even an SFTP server can be added to the sidebar, making cloud storage look like a regular folder. Solid Explorer can unpack ZIP, 7ZIP, and RAR archives, and its built-in analyzer shows which large files and videos are eating up space when storage runs low.

For controlling a TV box, Easy Fire Tools comes in handy. The app works over a local network and lets you sideload third-party applications onto devices running Fire OS, as well as reboot the set-top box, take screenshots, and adjust volume. To make it work, you need to enable ADB debugging on the device itself.

For expense tracking, the author suggests Money Manager. It allows you to record income and expenses, create budgets by category, and view clear statistics in the form of charts. Data is stored locally, but cloud sync is available through third-party services.

To sync the phone with a computer, KDE Connect is used. The app links devices over Wi-Fi and enables file transfer, sending SMS from a PC, using the phone as a remote for presentations, and seeing notifications on the desktop.

The list is rounded out by Obsidian for notes. The app stores all records as plain text files in Markdown format, which lets you move your knowledge base between devices without being tied to a specific service. Plugins are supported to extend functionality.