Learn about the best office app for Android to minimize your stresses and increase profits for your business. Note: All of the apps in the 10 best office apps for android list were tested on a Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Nexus 7 tablet. All of the apps ran well and there were no major issues seen during our testing. This article was written using Kingsoft Office and a USB keyboard attached via OTG cable.
1. Office Mobile for Office 365 – Trial and Subscription
There is no doubt that many people prefer Microsoft’s original Office applications over every other iteration. After all, familiarity with the tools plays a big part in timely delivery of work. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s offering on Android is not impressive. For one, the apps require a hefty subscription and secondly some of the popular devices are not even supported. Apart from these basic drawbacks, Office Mobile for Office 365 is a good overall Office app which will please the long running fans of the Window’s based applications. Features:
Great interface. Stable apps and performance. Optimized for smartphones. Cloud saving and access. Presentation Views is a great feature.
Notable Feature: Office Mobile for Office 365 doesn’t jumble the well-established formula of Windows Microsoft Office. This means users who are familiar with the Windows version will feel right at home with this app. Subscriptions: Office Mobile for Office 365 will require at least a basic subscription of $7.99/month. This will allow you to use the Office 365 for mobile devices as well as PCs and Macs. The subscription will net +20 GB of additional SkyDrive storage space and 60 minutes of Skype calls per month.
2. FaxFile – $2.5 for 50 credits
FaxFile is a lifesaving app if you are in a hurry to send important documents via fax. Contrary to common belief fax is not completely dead and many businesses and companies require you to send faxes. If you don’t have access to a fax machine or there is an urgent need of sending faxes, FaxFile just might be the app you need. Simply purchase credits in the app and send the fax. The app will retry until the fax reaches its destination without charging you extra. Although the cost of credits is a little higher than we would like, but if you really need to send faxes using Android device, this is the best app you can get. You can get 50 credits for $2.50 which is good for sending multiple faxes. The rate changes according to the destination so you will have to check within the app for accurate costs. Features:
Easy to use. Simply select fax and send. Fast and reliable.
Notable Feature: FaxFile retries again and again until the fax goes through. This process won’t cost anything.
3. OpenDocument Reader – Free
A simple ODF document reader is all you need sometimes and this is exactly what this app provides. The most simplest and easy to use app in the 10 best apps for Android list, OpenDocument Reader is truly an effective tool. If you have a lot of ODF documents which require reading this is the app you should get. OpenDocument Reader is recommended for students who have soft copies of text books and want to keep them handy during all times. As many text books and documents are being made in ODF format, this app is a solution to keeping them accessible. Features:
Simple to use interface. A pure reader. OpenOffice and LibreOffice files accessible.
Notable Features: No matter how big a file is, OpenDocument Reader is always fast and quick.
4. Olive Office – Free
Olive Office is a remarkable app which incorporates almost every aspect of a good office app. Not only can this app open and access Microsoft Office files but it can also open PDF format ones. Creating, editing and opening Microsoft Office files feels natural. Features:
Many text editing options. Zooming in and out is enabled for easy reading. Formatting multiple cells in Excel spreadsheets.
Notable Feature: Olive Office may lack in deep tool options but it more than makes up with its fast and reliable service.
5. Quickoffice – Free – Discontinued
If you only want apps from Google on your Android smartphone then Quickoffice is what you need. It is a completely free app which allows you to edit and create Microsoft Office documents, presentations and spreadsheets. All you need to do is to sign in with your Google account and you will gain access to the robust features of Quickoffice. Features:
Fast and reliable with great offline support. Open PDF files. Access files stored on the Google Drive. Attach files to emails directly.
Notable Feature: Smooth, this is what you feel while working on Quickoffice. It is the smoothest app in the 10 best office apps for Android list. Note from Editor: Quick Office is discontinued. Read more about this termination at Computer World
6. Assistant – Free/ $3 per month / $20
Everyone can use an assistant; the Assistant app provides you with one for free. This app is a virtual assistant which can support you in a number of ways. Want to call someone? Ask the assistant to do so. Want to check in on Facebook? The assistant is up for the job. Need to make an appointment for Friday? Tell the assistant to make one for you. With this app, you will be free to do the things which actually matter instead of doing menial tasks. Features:
Assistant has remembering power. The assistance works, even if you speak naturally. Launching apps was never this easy. Making plans is quite fun.
Notable Feature: Assistant is available in multiple languages including Spanish, Russian, German, Chinese and Portuguese. Paid features: You can purchase the upgraded version of Assistant directly from the app. There are two modes of getting the premium version, one is to subscribe for $3/month and the other is to pay a one-time $20 fee for lifetime access. The upgraded version will enable you to activate assistant by voice, teach it commands and replies and change the gender or accent of the Assistant.
7. OfficeSuite Pro 7 – Trail and $14.99
7.a Trial Version
OfficeSuite is among the most popular office suites on the Google Play Store. It was one of the best business apps on the Google Play Store and is currently on the number one spot. So why is it so popular? Well OfficeSuite Pro 7 the most robust features ever seen in a mobile app. If you are an expert in word formatting, excel editing or presentation making and want advanced features in your apps, then this is a must have for you. OfficeSuite also comes with full support for tablets; this means that you will yield great results in landscape orientation of the bigger devices as well. Features:
You can use different fonts. Includes a file browser. Can access cloud storages.
Notable feature: The app is compatible with a number of extensions including QuickSpell, which improves your typing accuracy.
7.b Paid Version
The trial version of this app is a fully functional one. This paid version only opens unlimited access. There are no new features associated with the paid version.
8. Google Drive – Free
Are you in need of a simple file editor and viewer? You are in luck because Google Drive has it all. You can store documents on the Google Drive, open them and edit them to your heart’s content. You can create text files, tables or presentations in this simple to use app from Google. You can then save them as Word or Excel accessible files as well. The best part is that the cloud storage is completely free and you can even access your files from any PC browser as well. So no matter where you go, you can take the work with you. The best part is, you can share your creations with anyone you want just by entering their email. Multiple people can simultaneous access and edit the same file making collaboration an easy task. Features:
Fast and simple. Can export files in multiple formats. PDF access is enabled. Automatically saves work online.
Notable Feature: Google Drive is a must have if you want to save important pictures, documents or files online. You can then access them anywhere in the world by using the power of internet connectivity and a simple web browser.
9. CamScanner – Free and $4.99
9.a Free Version
CamScanner is a great app if you want to scan documents on the go. What CamScanner actually does is take a clean picture of the documents and makes a good readable image. What makes this app different from say, a standard camera app? CamScanner uses its own image cropping and enhancing algorithm which results in a clear picture. You need to try this great app before coming to conclusion; it’s a good thing that there is a free version. Features:
Quickly digitize a document. Extracts text from images. Makes send-able PDF and JPEG files.
Notable Feature: CamScanner is one of the unique apps in the 10 best office apps for Android list. It has proven time after time that it provides a reliable service. Each document scanned with this app, comes really clear.
9.b Paid version
The free version of this app comes with ads; the paid version gets rid of them. Also the images taken in the free version have watermarks, which are removed after you purchase the license.
10. Kingsoft Office – Free
Kingsoft Office is the number one app in the 10 best office apps for Android list. This is because it provides top notch features despite being absolutely free. You can edit, create and view almost every type of document with the Kingsoft Office. Whether you want to make an impressive presentation with images or you need to make a complex spreadsheet, Kingsoft will always deliver. Features:
File management for storing and viewing. Writing in Word format easily. Making great advanced spreadsheets. Crafting elaborate presentations and projecting them Reading PDF files with ease.
Notable Features: Kingsoft Office supports Bluetooth Keyboard and USB keyboards making your work a lot easier if you have access to them.
Conclusion:
The 10 best office apps for Android not only represent why Android is becoming the popular choice among businessmen and professionals but also showcases the power of the platform. These apps have helped many users in their time of need. Scanning a document with CamScanner and sending it via FaxFile is quite rewarding in its own right. Be sure to try email apps to make yourself more productive and unzipping methods to hold on to all of your files. If you have used any of the best office app for Android in the past or aim to use one now, please share your views with us. We are always craving to hear from our fellow Android lovers.
