The 20 best Android apps for creatives

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Android is hugely popular. In fact, it’s the world’s most-used mobile OS. And the ecosystem is evolving. Even a year ago, before Google had rebranded its Android Market to Google Play, you'd be hard pushed to populate a post of the best Android apps – iOS trounced all over the green alien in that respect.

However, as developers have become more savvy to the opportunities of Android - and its huge install base - there are now many many apps on offer for the creative. Here we pick some of the best Android apps, so you don’t have to…

01. SketchBook Pro

• Developer: Autodesk
• Price: £3.18

SketchBook Pro has been a true revelation for many on the iPad – launching early in the device’s life, it has made it possible for many artists to go truly mobile. And it's also one of the best Android apps! If you have an Android tablet – the Nexus 7 possibly – it makes sketching on the go a delight, with a raft of brushes and an intuitive interface.

After a version on your phone? Try SketchBook mobile (£1.26) or if you can do with a more limited feature set and just want to have a scribble, try the free version of Mobile or the Express version of tablets. Like many Android apps and devices, finding the compatible version is half the battle...

02. Photoshop Touch

• Developer: Adobe
• Price: £6.99

When Photoshop finally came to mobile devices (it was first on Android, before hitting iPad) there was a collective cheer from Photoshop users everywhere - as it meant, via Creative Cloud, you could now start work in the office, carry on out and about, and continue where you left off at your desk (of course you can change that order if you wish!).

An excellent feature set is coupled with a slick interface. And whilst it’s not got the feature set of its desktop brother, for £6.99 it’s very good value. However, it won’t run on a Nexus 7 (the Android version requires a tablet running Android 3.1 or higher, an 8.9in display or larger, and a minimum screen resolution of 1280x800).

This may change with an update soon, however (it would be good to use on a Galaxy Note as well).

03. Paper Camera

• Developer: JFDP Labs
• Price: £1.19

Filter effects aren’t exactly a new thing, but Paper Camera takes a different approach to the post effects found in the likes of Instagram. What does it do? Well, it displays effects in real time on your camera as you’re using it. There are some neat effects on offer - including cartoon, half tone and sketch. It’s not a serious tool for serious work - more a toy - but it's a worthy entrant in our best Android apps.

04. Proto

• Developer: Adobe
• Price: £6.99

Like Photoshop Touch, Proto requires a tablet running Android 3.1 or higher, an 8.9in display or larger, and a minimum screen resolution of 1280x800, so it won’t run on all tablets and phones. However, it is a top, top app, enabling you to wireframe site and app designs using a gesture-based interface.

You can’t (without a workaround) export your wireframes directly to Dreamweaver, say, through Creative Cloud, but it’s fun and very useful. And it’s also available for iPad...

05. Skitch

• Developer: Evernote
• Price: Free

Whilst Skitch may have the appearance of a toy, it’s anything but and can be very handy for the creative professional. Take a photo, annotate it using familiar tools, share it and more. It’s great for noting down quick ideas on top of photos. And used in conjunction with Evernote, who snapped up the app this year, it’s one of the best Android apps out there!

06. TED

• Developer: TED Conferences
• Price: Free

Haven’t heard of TED? Where have you been hiding? The conferences - known for sharing the views of some of the world’s most fascinating people - are an inspiration. And using your Android device you can watch them with this app. An absolute must.

07. Pattrn

• Developer: Lucas Rocha
• Price: Free

Searching for the perfect pattern wallpaper for your GNex, Nexus 7 or other Android device? Well look no further. Pattrn is a very nice app which gives you access to a huge collection of patterns created by the COLOURlovers community. You can set wallpaper for different days of the week, keep track of your favourites and more. And - like a surprising number of our best Android apps - it’s completely free.

08. Collage

• Developer: Adobe
• Price: £6.99

Another Adobe Touch app with quite specific system requirements, but another one that you’ll love if you have the right device. Collage, in a very intuitive way, enables you to create mood boards for whatever purpose you need - importing images from your photo library and Google images, adding text and more.

You can mask areas of images and rotate/scale objects as you wish. There are lots of apps like this on the iPad, but this is just about the best for Android - once again, if you have a device that is compatible (most likely a Galaxy Tab).

09. Fresco Paint Pro

• Developer: Sean Wilson
• Price: £1.99

Fresco is a neat digital painting app enabling you to create natural media effects on the go. Loads of brushes, filters, and effects are coupled with layers functionality and the ability to export to Photoshop PSD format makes it a great tool for starting a project on the move and continuing it in your studio using desktop tools.

10. Pixlr-o-matic

• Developer: Autodesk
• Price: Free

Whilst it’s not necessarily an app that will change your workflow or outlook on life, Pixlr-o-matic is a nice tool for adding retro effects to your images or photos. It has 100 effects, 280 overlays and almost 200 different borders - so for the grand cost of nada it’s worth including in our run down of the best Android apps.

Next - colour reference apps and more!