Google has announced that its new Balance app is the best app of 2021. The app, which is available on both Android and iOS, allows users to keep track of their spending and income, as well as their overall financial health. The app also offers a variety of features, such as a budget planner, asset management tools, and more. The Balance app is free to download on both Android and iOS devices.


Balance is an app designed to help with meditation and sleep, which is especially helpful with the current state of things. The app’s description says, “Improve your stress, sleep, and more with the world’s first personalized meditation program, now free for your first year.” It has over 3,500 ratings on Google Play and a solid 4.7 rating, so it’s not surprising that Google gave it the highest honor this year.

On the game side, Google honored Pokémon Unite, which is a fast-paced MOBA with your favorite Pokémon characters fighting it out. If you like games like DOTA 2 and League of Legends, but you’d prefer matches to take only a few minutes, this might be a game for you. It has a 3.9 rating on Google Play, so it’s not quite as unanimously loved as Balance, but it’s definitely a solid game.

Google also had a users’ choice category. Paramount+ took home the honor for apps, and Garena Free Fire MAX received the award in the game section.

Here’s the complete list of app winners across various categories, as picked by Google:

Best Apps for Good

Empathy Mentor Spaces Speechify

Best Everyday Essentials

Blossom PhotoRoom Rabit

Best for Fun

Clubhouse Noobly Whatifi

Best Hidden Gems

Laughscape Moonbeam Moonly

Best for Personal Growth

Balance Clementine Uptime

Best for Tablets

Canva Concepts Houzz

Best for Wear

Calm MyFitnessPal Sleep Cycle

Popular on Google TV

Disney+ ESPN Tubi

Here are Google’s choices for best games:

Best Competitive

League of Legends: Wild Rift MARVEL Future Revolution Pokémon UNITE Rogue Land Suspects: Mystery Mansion

Best Game Changers

Inked JanKenUP! Knights of San Francisco Overboard! Tears of Themis

Best Indies

7 Billion Humans Bird Alone Donut County My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Puzzling Peaks EXE

Best Pick Up & Play

Cats in Time Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! Disney POP TOWN Switchcraft Towers

Best for Tablets

Chicken Police — Paint it RED! League of Legends: Wild Rift My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge Overboard! The Procession to Calvary

If you’re an Android user looking for some new apps and games to download, these are worth a look, as they’re the ones Google itself feels are deserving of your time. Many of the apps featured are free, though most also have some in-app purchases or subscriptions available.

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