17 Best Google Apps to Use in 2026

I run my entire business on Google apps. Email, docs, spreadsheets, video calls, cloud storage, AI research. All of it. I’ve tried Notion, Microsoft 365, Zoho, and a bunch of self-hosted setups. Google’s ecosystem is the one I keep coming back to because everything just works together.

These are the 17 Google apps I actually use and recommend. Not every Google product makes this list. I’m skipping the ones that are half-baked or redundant. If you’re looking for the best productivity apps overall, I’ve covered that separately. This guide is specifically about Google’s best work.

Google Search

Since its inception in 1997, Google Search has revolutionized how we access information. Pre-installed on most Android devices, it’s the go-to internet search engine for billions globally.

Over the years, Google has enriched it with features like Google News, offering current events updates, Google Assistant for voice-activated inquiries, and Google Lens for visual searches. Its powerful search algorithm sifts through countless websites, providing relevant and accurate results. Google Search’s versatility and user-friendly interface make it indispensable for daily internet use, leading users to a vast array of services and information on the web.

YouTube

YouTube, the world’s premier video-sharing platform, was created in 2005 by three former PayPal employees. Google acquired it in 2006, enhancing its reach and capabilities.

Today, with over 2.6 billion users, YouTube is a central hub for a diverse range of content, including educational tutorials, entertainment, and news. The platform supports content creators and viewers alike, fostering a community where information and creativity flourish. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with powerful algorithms that suggest personalized content, makes it a daily destination for users seeking knowledge, entertainment, or a platform to share their own videos.

Gmail

Gmail, launched in 2004, has consistently been at the forefront of email services. Integrated deeply with Android, it offers an intuitive, user-friendly experience. Gmail stands out for its robust spam filtering, substantial storage space, and seamless integration with other Google services like Calendar and Drive. Its constantly updating features, like smart compose and priority inbox, enhance user experience.

The service’s reliability and security make it the preferred choice for personal and business communications alike.

Gmail’s widespread adoption is a testament to its efficiency and effectiveness in managing electronic correspondence in the digital age.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome, launched in 2008, quickly became the benchmark for web browsers. Praised for its speed, security, and simplicity, Chrome offers a seamless browsing experience across devices. It syncs bookmarks, history, and passwords, making the transition between desktop and mobile effortless.

Chrome’s robust extension ecosystem extends its functionality, catering to a wide range of user needs. Its minimalistic design focuses on user experience, while under-the-hood, Chrome utilizes advanced technology to ensure fast, secure, and stable browsing. Chrome is also the backbone of Chromebooks, which run ChromeOS, a lightweight operating system built entirely around the browser.

Google Maps

Google Maps, introduced in 2005, is a powerful navigation and mapping tool. It offers detailed, up-to-date maps and satellite imagery of locations worldwide. Users can get directions for driving, public transit, walking, and biking, making it invaluable for travelers and commuters. Maps also provide live traffic updates, local business information, and street views, enhancing real-world navigation. Its ability to save maps offline is particularly useful in areas with limited internet access. The app also allows for personalization, such as saving favorite places and creating custom maps, making it a go-to tool for both everyday use and exploring new destinations.

Google Gemini

Google Gemini is Google’s powerful AI chatbot and assistant that has quickly become one of the most important apps in the Google ecosystem. Launched in February 2024 as the successor to Google Bard, Gemini represents Google’s most ambitious push into conversational AI. It is available as a web app at gemini.google.com, as well as dedicated apps for Android and iOS, making it accessible across all your devices.

Gemini’s capabilities are extensive — from answering complex questions and generating images to analyzing documents, writing code, and helping you brainstorm ideas. With Gemini Live, you can have natural voice conversations with the AI, making it feel like talking to a real assistant. The latest models, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, 2.5 Flash, and Gemini 2.0, deliver remarkable improvements in reasoning, coding, and multimodal understanding.

What makes Gemini especially powerful is its deep integration with Google Workspace. It can help you draft emails in Gmail, create content in Google Docs, analyze data in Google Sheets, and much more. If you’re exploring AI tools beyond Google, I’ve also reviewed the best AI writing tools available right now. A free tier is available for all Google users, while the premium experience through Google One AI Premium unlocks advanced models and extended capabilities. As Google continues to replace Google Assistant with Gemini as the default voice assistant on Android, this app is becoming central to how millions interact with their devices daily.

Google Drive

Google Drive, launched in 2012, is a comprehensive file storage and synchronization service. It provides a secure space for storing files in the cloud, accessible from any device. Drive integrates with Google’s Office suite, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, facilitating collaborative editing and sharing of documents. Its generous storage allowance, with additional space available for purchase, caters to various user needs.

Drive’s powerful search functionality and file-sharing capabilities make it a preferred choice for individuals and businesses. The service’s emphasis on collaboration and accessibility has made it a cornerstone of cloud-based productivity.

Google Photos

Google Photos, launched in 2015, is a cloud-based photo sharing and storage service. It stands out for its advanced image recognition technology, which automatically categorizes photos by people, places, and subjects. This feature enables users to effortlessly organize and search their photo library.

Google Photos’ storage is shared among all apps. You get 15GB of storage to backup your images, making it a good choice for backing up precious memories. Its editing tools, shared albums, and automatic backup capabilities enhance the user experience. The service also creates animations, collages, and memories, adding a personal touch to photo management. You can expand the storage and editing features by subscribing to a Google One plan.

Google Meet

Google Meet, introduced in 2017, is a reliable video-communication service. Developed by Google, it facilitates secure, high-quality video meetings. Easily accessible via browser or app, Meet supports a range of features like screen sharing, real-time captions, and adjustable layouts. It’s integrated with Google’s ecosystem, allowing seamless scheduling with Google Calendar and collaboration with Google Drive.

Meet caters to businesses, educators, and individuals, offering a scalable solution for virtual meetings. Its importance has grown in the remote work and learning environments, proving to be a vital tool for maintaining communication and collaboration in a digitally connected world. Recently, Google has supercharged Meet with Gemini AI features, including automatic meeting summaries, real-time translated captions, and AI-generated meeting notes — making it easier than ever to stay on top of discussions without manual note-taking.

Google Contacts

Google Contacts, released in 2015, is a comprehensive contact management app integrated with Gmail and Android. It centralizes contact information from various sources, ensuring easy access and management. Users can sync their contacts across devices, making them accessible wherever they log in with their Google account.

The app also facilitates easy import and export of contacts, group organization, and merging of duplicate entries. This synchronization is vital for maintaining an up-to-date contact list, especially in a professional context. Google Contacts is an indispensable tool for anyone relying on Google’s ecosystem for communication and organization.

Google Keep

Google Keep, launched in 2013, is a versatile note-taking app that caters to various user needs. Whether it’s jotting down ideas, making lists, or saving web content, Keep provides a straightforward, user-friendly platform. Its integration with Google Drive allows for easy access and synchronization across devices.

Keep’s features include color-coded notes, voice memos, location-based reminders, and image insertion, enhancing its functionality. Its simplicity, combined with powerful organizational tools, makes Keep a handy app for personal and professional use. If you need something more robust for academic work, check my best note-taking apps for students list.

Google NotebookLM

Google NotebookLM is an AI-powered research and note-taking tool that brings the power of Google’s advanced language models to your personal documents. Available for free at notebooklm.google.com, it allows users to upload sources like PDFs, Google Docs, websites, and even YouTube videos, then interact with them through an intelligent AI that understands the content deeply.

What sets NotebookLM apart is its ability to generate summaries, answer questions based on your uploaded sources, and even create audio overviews — essentially turning your documents into a podcast-style discussion. This makes it an incredibly powerful tool for students, researchers, and professionals who need to quickly digest and understand large volumes of information.

NotebookLM is particularly useful for studying, preparing reports, or getting up to speed on new topics. Since its responses are grounded in your uploaded sources, it provides accurate, citation-backed answers rather than general knowledge. As Google continues to expand its AI capabilities, NotebookLM represents a glimpse into the future of how we interact with information.

Google Play

The Google Play Store, originally the Android Market, is an essential component of the Android ecosystem. Launched in 2012, it is the primary source for downloading apps, games, and other digital content on Android devices. The Play Store offers a vast selection of apps, both free and paid, covering various categories from productivity to entertainment. It ensures the safety and security of apps through stringent policies and regular updates.

Beyond apps, the Play Store also provides access to a wealth of digital media, including music, books, movies, and TV shows, making it a comprehensive digital marketplace for Android users.

Google Earth

Google Earth, released in 2001, is an extraordinary tool that lets users explore the planet virtually. It combines satellite imagery, maps, and the power of Google Search to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips. From street views to 3D renderings of terrain and buildings, it provides an immersive experience.

Users can travel to any corner of the globe, explore natural wonders, and tour famous landmarks. Google Earth’s educational potential is immense, offering a unique way to learn about geography, environmental science, and world cultures. Its user-friendly interface makes global exploration accessible to everyone.

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a free online spreadsheet program launched in 2013. It allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time.

As part of Google’s office suite, Sheets integrates seamlessly with other Google apps like Drive and Docs. It supports complex formulas, pivot tables, and various types of charts, making it a robust tool for data analysis.

Sheets is accessible from any device, ensuring that users can work from anywhere. Its collaborative features, like simultaneous editing and commenting, make it ideal for team projects. For those seeking a flexible, powerful spreadsheet tool, Google Sheets is a top choice.

Google Slides

Google Slides, part of Google’s Office suite, is a dynamic presentation-making program. Launched alongside Google Sheets and Docs, Slides allows users to create, edit, and present professional presentations online. It supports real-time collaboration, making it easy for teams to work together from different locations.

Slides offers a variety of templates, animations, and slide transitions, enabling users to create visually appealing presentations. Its integration with Google Drive ensures that presentations are automatically saved and accessible from anywhere. Google Slides is a go-to solution for anyone needing a reliable, feature-rich tool for creating presentations in an online, collaborative environment.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar, launched in 2006, is a versatile time-management and scheduling tool. It allows users to create, manage, and share events and appointments. Integrated with Gmail, it can automatically add events from emails, such as flight bookings or hotel reservations.

Calendar’s features include customizable reminders, event invitations, and the ability to create multiple calendars for different aspects of life. Its integration with other Google services makes it a central part of personal and professional organization. Google Calendar’s user-friendly interface and synchronization across devices make it an essential tool for keeping track of commitments in today’s fast-paced world.

App Name	Description	Launch Year
Google Search	The cornerstone of internet browsing, offering powerful search across the web.	1997
YouTube	World’s premier video-sharing platform, a hub for diverse content.	2005
Gmail	Leading email service known for its robust features and integration with Android.	2004
Google Chrome	Popular web browser for smartphones and computers, known for speed and security.	2008
Google Maps	Powerful navigation tool providing maps, directions, and local business information.	2005
Google Gemini	Google’s AI chatbot and assistant with conversational AI, image generation, and Workspace integration.	2024
Google Drive	Comprehensive file storage and synchronization service with collaborative tools.	2012
Google Photos	Cloud-based photo sharing and storage service with advanced image recognition.	2015
Google Meet	Secure, high-quality video communication service with Gemini AI-powered meeting summaries.	2017
Google Contacts	Centralizes contact information, syncing across devices with Gmail integration.	2015
Google Keep	Versatile note-taking app with synchronization across devices.	2013
Google NotebookLM	AI-powered research tool for analyzing documents, generating summaries, and audio overviews.	2023
Google Play Store	Primary source for downloading Android apps and digital content.	2012
Google Earth	Virtual exploration tool with satellite imagery and 3D views of the planet.	2001
Google Sheets	Free, online spreadsheet program allowing real-time collaboration.	2013
Google Slides	Dynamic presentation-making program supporting real-time collaboration.	2013
Google Calendar	Time-management and scheduling tool integrated with Gmail.	2006

Google’s ecosystem works best when you use multiple apps together. Gmail feeds into Calendar. Drive connects to Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Meet integrates with Calendar for scheduling. Photos backs up to Drive storage. The more you use, the more seamless everything becomes. That’s the real advantage over using apps from different companies.

If you’re a student, pair these with the best productivity tools and you’ll have everything covered for school and side projects.

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