If your phone is already packed with Google apps, you might assume you’re using “the Google ecosystem” to its fullest. In reality, most people use the obvious 20%—search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps—while ignoring the apps (and hidden features) that quietly save hours every month.

This guide is a practical, real-world roundup of the best Google apps you’re likely underusing, plus simple workflows you can set up today. No complicated hacks—just the features that feel like “why didn’t I do this earlier?”

Good news: you don’t need to install all of these. Pick 3–5 that match your life and build a “Google power stack” that actually sticks.

Table of Contents

How this list was chosen

These apps made the list because they:

• Solve a recurring problem (forgetting, clutter, planning, security, storage).
• Work well with other Google apps (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Photos).
• Have “hidden” features that most users never set up.
• Don’t require a steep learning curve to get value quickly.

Tip: If you’re on Android, many of these are already installed. On iPhone, you can still use most of them via iOS versions or web apps.

Quick pick table (choose your top 3)

1) Google Keep: notes that don’t disappear

What most people do: write random notes, then forget they exist.

What Keep does best: frictionless capture—text, voice, photos, checklists—so you don’t lose ideas.

Best uses (that actually stick)

• Shopping list you can tick off in-store.
• Idea inbox (blog ideas, business ideas, book outlines).
• Reusable templates (morning routine, travel checklist, packing list).
• Quick receipts / documents (snap photo → search later).

Do this today: the 3-label system

1. Create labels: Personal, Work, Ideas.
2. Pin your top 3 notes (e.g., “Weekly plan”, “Passwords to reset”, “Content ideas”).
3. Use one color per label to make scanning faster.

Official links:
Keep web ·
Keep Help ·
Keep on Google Play

2) Google Tasks: the simplest to-do system that works

If complicated task managers never stick for you, Tasks is the opposite: minimal, fast, and deeply integrated with Gmail and Calendar.

Where Tasks shines

• Email-to-task: turn an email into an action item instead of leaving it in your inbox.
• Due dates that show up: tasks can appear alongside your schedule (depending on your setup).
• One list you can trust: less “productivity guilt,” more completion.

Try this workflow: “This Week” + “Waiting”

• This Week: what you’ll actually do in the next 7 days.
• Waiting: anything blocked (someone else must respond).

Pro tips

• Stop creating endless lists. Keep it to 2–4 lists max.
• Use subtasks for short sequences (e.g., “Publish blog post” → outline, draft, images, SEO, publish).

Official links:
Google Tasks Help ·
Tasks on Google Play ·
Tasks web

3) Google Lens: copy, translate, search—instantly

Lens is one of those “feels like magic” tools you forget exists until you really need it.

Best everyday uses

• Copy text from images (posters, receipts, documents, screenshots).
• Translate instantly using your camera.
• Identify products, plants, landmarks without typing anything.
• Scan and add: create a contact from a business card or add an event from a flyer.

Do this today: “Lens your screenshots”

Open a screenshot (like an address, tracking number, or long paragraph) → use Lens → copy text → paste into Notes/Tasks. It’s faster than retyping and reduces errors.

Official links:
Google Lens on Google Play ·
What Lens can do ·
Lens inside Google Photos

4) Files by Google: storage cleanup + fast offline sharing

Files by Google isn’t just a file manager. It’s a storage assistant plus a fast sharing tool—especially useful if your phone keeps yelling “Storage almost full.”

What to use it for

• Cleanup suggestions: large files, duplicates, unused apps.
• Smart browsing: find downloads, memes, videos faster.
• Offline sharing to nearby devices (great when the internet is slow).

One habit that changes everything

Once a week (or once a month), open Files → run cleanup → delete the obvious junk. This prevents the “storage emergency” panic later.

Official links:
Files by Google overview ·
Files by Google on Google Play

5) Google Photos: find anything + clean up storage

Most people use Photos as a gallery. Power users treat it as a search engine for their life.

Use Photos like a pro

• Search by meaning: “beach”, “car”, “food”, “document”, “receipt”.
• Find people/pets quickly by grouping faces (if enabled).
• Use it as a document vault: scan or capture important papers and search them later.

Storage cleanup without breaking memories

• Review large videos and old screen recordings.
• Remove obvious duplicates.
• Back up first, then delete local clutter if you trust your backup settings.

Official links:
Google Photos Help ·
Google Photos web

6) Google Calendar: planning that prevents chaos

Calendar is underrated because most people use it only for meetings. The real power is using Calendar to protect your time.

Three Calendar upgrades that instantly help

• Time blocking: schedule focus blocks like appointments (because otherwise they don’t happen).
• Recurring routines: workouts, writing sessions, family tasks.
• Travel buffers: add 15–30 minutes before/after critical events.

Do this today: “Default week template”

Create three recurring blocks in your week: (1) Planning, (2) Deep work, (3) Personal health. Even if you move them around, they act like anchors.

Official links:
Google Calendar Help ·
Google Calendar web

7) Google Maps: smarter travel and daily routines

Maps isn’t just for navigation. Used well, it’s a planning tool for errands, travel, food spots, and commute sanity.

Underused features worth trying

• Saved lists: create lists like “Want to go,” “Best parking,” “Client locations.”
• Offline maps: download an area before traveling.
• Live busy-ness: check if a place is crowded before you go.

Try this: “Errands route”

Before going out, save 3–5 stops into a list, then plan the best order. It sounds small, but it saves real time (and fuel) every week.

Official links:
Google Maps Help ·
Google Maps web

8) Google Wallet: tickets, passes, IDs—one tap away

Wallet is the fastest way to reduce “where is my ticket/card?” stress. You can store loyalty cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and more—then access them instantly at the right moment.

Best uses

• Event tickets (scan at the gate without hunting emails).
• Boarding passes (quick access in airports).
• Loyalty cards (stop carrying a thick wallet).
• Tap-to-pay where supported.

Note: Some Wallet features vary by country/region.

Official links:
About Google Wallet ·
Google Wallet on Google Play ·
Google Wallet site

9) Google Authenticator: easy 2FA for safer logins

If you reuse passwords or worry about hacks, Authenticator is one of the highest-impact apps you can set up in 10 minutes. It generates time-based codes that protect accounts even if your password leaks.

Use it for

• Email accounts
• Social media accounts
• Banking/finance services (where supported)
• Any account that offers “Authenticator app” 2-step verification

Official links:
Google Authenticator on Google Play ·
How Authenticator works

10) Google One: manage storage (and protect your phone backup)

Most people only think about storage when Gmail stops receiving mail or Photos can’t back up. Google One helps you see what’s consuming storage and manage backups more intentionally.

Why it matters

• Storage visibility across Drive, Gmail, and Photos.
• Phone backup management (especially useful when changing phones).
• Family sharing for storage plans (where available).

Official links:
Google One on Google Play ·
Google One: what it is

11) Google Arts & Culture: the most surprisingly fun Google app

This is the “hidden gem” that feels like a premium museum experience in your pocket. If you like art, history, space, architecture, or learning—this app is endlessly rewarding.

What to try

• Explore museum collections from around the world.
• Use interactive experiences and “play” features.
• Browse curated stories when you want a high-quality scroll.

Official links:
Arts & Culture web ·
Play experiences ·
Arts & Culture on Google Play

12) Family Link: healthier screen habits (for kids or shared devices)

Family Link is usually marketed for parents, but it’s also useful for any family with shared devices, or for helping a child (or teen) build healthier tech habits.

Helpful features

• Screen time schedules and app limits
• Approve/deny app installs (for child accounts)
• Basic safety and oversight tools

Official links:
Family Link overview ·
Manage Google Play apps with Family Link ·
Family Link on Google Play

Bonus picks: Gemini, Opinion Rewards, Find Hub

Gemini (Google’s AI assistant)

If you haven’t tried Gemini recently, it can help with drafting, planning, brainstorming, and summarizing—especially when you treat it like a collaborator, not a chatbot.

• Draft emails, outlines, and social posts
• Turn rough notes into structured plans
• Brainstorm titles, hooks, and content angles

Official links:
Gemini on Google Play ·
Gemini mobile app availability ·
Gemini web

Google Opinion Rewards

This one is simple: answer quick surveys, earn rewards (often Google Play credit). If you buy apps, books, or subscriptions, it’s worth installing.

Official links:
Opinion Rewards overview ·
Opinion Rewards on Google Play

Google’s Find Hub (Find My Device evolved)

Whether you misplace phones, earbuds, or accessories, Google’s tracking tools can save you when it matters most.

Official links:
Google’s Find Hub on Google Play ·
Be ready to find a lost Android device

Set up your “Google power stack” in 15 minutes

If you only do one thing from this post, do this setup. It creates a simple system you’ll keep using.

1. Keep: create labels (Personal, Work, Ideas) and pin one “Weekly Plan” note.
2. Tasks: create one list “This Week” and add 5 realistic tasks.
3. Calendar: add one recurring weekly planning block (20–30 minutes).
4. Files: run cleanup suggestions once and delete obvious junk.
5. Authenticator: add 2 high-value accounts (email + one social).

Result: your ideas go to Keep, your actions go to Tasks, your time is protected by Calendar, your phone stays clean with Files, and your accounts stay safer with Authenticator.

FAQs

Which Google app is the most underrated?

For most people: Google Lens. It saves time instantly because it replaces typing with “search what you see.”

What’s better: Google Keep or Google Tasks?

Use Keep for notes and fast capture, and Tasks for action items with due dates. They solve different problems.

Do I need Google One if I already have 15GB free storage?

Not necessarily—but the Google One app is still useful to understand what’s using your storage and to manage backups more clearly.

Is Google Wallet available everywhere?

Wallet features can vary by country/region. Check the official Wallet help page for what’s supported where you live.

Is Google Authenticator the only 2FA option?

No. Many services support passkeys, security keys, and other authenticators. Authenticator is a simple, widely supported starting point.

Will Files by Google delete anything automatically?

No—cleanup suggestions require your confirmation. You stay in control.

How do I stop “productivity apps” from becoming another form of clutter?

Limit yourself to a small stack: Keep (capture), Tasks (do), Calendar (time), Files (maintenance). Everything else is optional.

What if I’m on iPhone?

You can still use many of these: Keep, Tasks, Photos (web), Calendar (web), Gemini, Opinion Rewards (availability varies), and more.

Key Takeaways

• Pick 3–5 apps you’ll actually use—more apps does not equal more productivity.
• Keep is your capture inbox, Tasks is your action list, Calendar protects your time.
• Lens is a daily superpower for copying, translating, and searching instantly.
• Files by Google prevents storage emergencies with simple cleanup routines.
• Wallet + Authenticator reduce real-world friction and improve security with minimal effort.

References & further reading

• Google Keep Help Center
• Google Tasks Help Center
• Google Lens: Ways to Search
• Files by Google overview
• About Google Wallet
• Get verification codes with Google Authenticator
• Sign up for Google One
• Google Arts & Culture
• Family Link overview
• Gemini mobile app availability
• Google Opinion Rewards

Want a Part 2? I can also write “Best hidden features inside Gmail, Chrome, and Google Drive” with step-by-step settings and screenshots guidance.