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.
RELATED: How to Restore In-App Purchases on Android
