Google Play Awards 2018: Best Android Apps

As of now, Google Play Store leads the pack with 2.1 million apps and has many different categories under its hood. So, sometimes it becomes puzzling for the user to pick anyone. But not anymore. With the results of the ‘Google Play Awards 2018’ out, we have the list of best Android apps of 2018 that have topped their respective categories.

This year, there are nine different categories under which nominees are spread, and every category has set a standard on its own for user experience.

As stated by Google,

“The Google Play Awards highlight developers that strive for quality and drive innovation on Android.”

Interestingly, many of the apps that have featured in the list are also available on the App Store, so iPhone users don’t have to fret about it. Google also announced ‘User's Choice Awards,’ which is based on user votes and reviews.

The apps have been finalized on various elements like app design, visuals, purpose, quality and more

2018 Google Play Award Winners

• Google's Best App of 2018: Drops: Learn 31 new languages
• User’s Choice App of 2018: Google Pay (Tez)
• Best Daily Helper: Otter Voice Notes
• Best Self-Improvement: Home Workout - No Equipment
• Best Hidden Gems: Unfold — Create Stories
• Most Entertaining: TikTok

Other than that, the "fan favorite" choice was awarded to the official Reddit app, and the "fan favorite" game was PUBG or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

Best Apps Available On Android phones and Tablets 2018

Following are the different categories which are covered by Google, and under that, the apps that have excelled are placed as per their position:

Best Accessibility Experience Apps

• Be My Eyes
• Audio Game Hub
• Open Sesame
• Universal Copy
• Voice Volume Catcher

Best AR or VR Experience Apps

• BBC Erath: Life in VR
• ASTEROIDS! Full Release
• Brickspace
• Figment AR
• Porsche Mission E

Best Community Building Game Apps

• Episode: Choose Your Story
• Clash Royale
• Pokemon Go
• PUBG Mobile

Best Social Impact Apps

• Khan Academy
• Forest Stay Focused
• Otsimo: Special Education ABA Therapy Autism Game

Standout Build for Billions Experience Apps

• Flipkart Online Shopping App
• Cricbuzz: Live Cricket Scores & News
• Mercado Libre: Encuentra tus marcas favoritas
• Moovit: Bus Times, Train Times & Live Updates
• Viki: Korean Drama, Movies & Asian TV

Standout Startup Apps

• Canva: Graphic design & poster, invitation maker
• Drops: Learn 31 new languages
• N26: The Mobile Bank

Standout Well-Being Apps

• Simple Habit Meditation
• Period Tracker Clue: Period & Ovulation Calculator
• Fabulous: Motivate Me! Meditate, Relax, Sleep
• Headspace: Meditation & Mindfulness
• Lifesum - Diet Plan, Macro Calculator & Food Diary

Best Breakthrough Hit Apps

• Cooking Craze: Crazy, Fast Restaurant Kitchen Game
• FINAL FANTASY XV POCKET EDITION
• PUBG Mobile

It was in 2016, Google came out with the idea of “Google Play Awards.” The tech giant explained it as "a way to recognize our incredible developer community and highlight some of the best apps and games."

As per standards, the awards are for five nominees and spread across ten award categories, and the apps are featured in a dedicated section of Google Play.

"Nominees were selected by a panel of experts on the Google Play team based on criteria emphasizing app quality, innovation, and having a launch or major update in the last 12 months."

Last year, Google released a list of top apps under five categories titled:

• Selling apps
• Games
• Movies
• Music
• Books

Google also rolled out "Android Excellence" award last year to observe and credit the highest quality apps by the Google Play editors. Before that, Google used to release a yearly report that highlighted the best apps on Google Play.