The 5 best utility apps for iPhone and Android, ranked

If you want the 5 best utility app picks for a new phone, install Bitwarden, Microsoft Authenticator, Proton VPN, Adobe Scan and Speedtest by Ookla. Together they cover passwords, sign-in security, privacy on public Wi-Fi, document scanning and network checks. All five run on iPhone and Android and can be used without paying.

Below you will find what each app is best for, how it is priced, what stands out and what to watch out for. After that come honourable mentions, a warning about cleaner apps, and how we chose.

What counts as a utility app

A utility app is a tool rather than a destination. You do not open it to scroll or play; you open it to get a job done, then close it. Think password storage, two-step codes, file handling, scanning, translation and network diagnostics.

The app stores use the word loosely. Apple's US iPhone Top Utilities chart mixes search apps, browsers, storage cleaners and TV remotes. We kept to apps that solve a recurring, practical problem for most people, and browse the wider Utilities category if you want more options.

Before installing anything, check what your phone already does. Recent versions of iOS include a Passwords app and document scanning inside Notes. Android has Google Password Manager built in, and the Google Drive app can scan documents. If the built-in tool covers your needs, you may not need a third-party app at all.

The 5 best utility app picks at a glance

Rank	App	Best for	Platforms	Price model (as of October 2026)
1	Bitwarden	Passwords and passkeys	iOS, Android	Free, optional Premium
2	Microsoft Authenticator	Two-step sign-in codes	iOS, Android	Free
3	Proton VPN	Privacy on public Wi-Fi	iOS, Android	Free plan, paid upgrades
4	Adobe Scan	Scanning paper to searchable PDF	iOS, Android	Free, paid add-ons
5	Speedtest by Ookla	Checking your connection	iOS, Android	Free, paid extras

We have not confirmed exact subscription prices for this article, so check the store listing before you pay for any upgrade.

1. Bitwarden: best password manager for most people

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that syncs your logins across every device you own. It is the most frequently recommended pick across the utility roundups we reviewed, and it ranks first on SimplyTechToday's iPhone list.

• Best for: anyone who still reuses passwords or keeps them in a notes app.
• Price and platforms: free on iOS and Android, with an optional Premium plan.
• What stands out: the free plan allows unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, protected by zero-knowledge encryption. It also stores and creates passkeys on iOS.
• Premium adds: a built-in authenticator for one-time codes, emergency access for a trusted contact and encrypted file storage.

The main reason it tops this list is the free tier. Most rivals either cap devices or charge from day one, so Bitwarden is the easiest way to start good password habits without a commitment.

Watch out for: the interface is functional rather than polished. You also need to turn on autofill in your phone's settings, or the app will feel like extra work.

If you would rather pay: 1Password

1Password is the premium alternative and a strong choice for families. It is subscription-only, and we could not confirm current plan prices, so check its site. Many people find its design friendlier for less technical relatives.

2. Microsoft Authenticator: best free two-step sign-in app

A password manager protects your passwords. A two-factor authentication (2FA) app protects you when a password leaks anyway. Microsoft Authenticator generates six-digit codes for almost any service that supports authenticator apps, not just Microsoft ones.

• Best for: people with a Microsoft account, work or school logins, or anyone setting up 2FA for the first time.
• Price and platforms: free on iOS and Android.
• What stands out: for Microsoft accounts you can approve sign-ins with one tap, and number matching makes it harder to approve a login you did not start.
• Also works with: Google, Amazon, social networks and other services that show a QR code for authenticator setup.

It earns second place because 2FA is the single biggest step most people can take after a password manager. It costs nothing and setup takes minutes per account.

Watch out for: make sure cloud backup is switched on, which depends on a Microsoft account. If you lose your phone without a backup, you may face account recovery on every service.

Alternative: Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator, not listed on AppsPicks, sits in the top five of the App Store Utilities chart. It is simpler and works well if you live in Google's ecosystem. Bitwarden Premium can also store your codes, if you prefer one app.

3. Proton VPN: best VPN with a usable free plan

Proton VPN encrypts your traffic and hides it from the network you are on. It shows up on Android utility lists and sits in the top ten of Apple's US Utilities chart.

• Best for: café, hotel and airport Wi-Fi, and anyone who wants to keep browsing private from their network provider.
• Price and platforms: iOS and Android, with a free plan and paid upgrades. Check current paid prices on the store listing.
• What stands out: it is one of the few VPNs whose free plan is meant for regular use rather than a short trial. It comes from the team behind Proton Mail, which focuses on privacy.

Many free VPNs make money from your data or from aggressive ads, which defeats the point. That is why a free tier from a privacy-focused company matters more here than in other categories.

Watch out for: the free plan gives you fewer choices than paid plans and can be slower at busy times. A VPN also does not make you anonymous; it shifts trust from your network to the VPN provider.

4. Adobe Scan: best document scanner with text recognition

Adobe Scan turns paper into searchable PDFs using your camera. Receipts, contracts, school forms and whiteboards all work.

• Best for: anyone who still deals with paper and needs to send or archive it.
• Price and platforms: free on iOS and Android, with paid add-ons.
• What stands out: it finds page edges, cleans up shadows and runs text recognition (OCR), so you can search and copy text from scans later.
• Pairs well with: Acrobat Reader for marking up and signing the resulting PDFs.

It ranks fourth because many people only scan occasionally, and built-in tools may be enough. If you scan often or need searchable text, a dedicated app is faster and cleaner.

Watch out for: you need to sign in with an Adobe account, and some features sit behind a paid plan. iPhone users who only need the occasional scan should try the Notes app first.

Alternative: Simple Scan

TWiT's iOS Today recommends Simple Scan, not listed on AppsPicks, for scanning with text recognition. It is worth a look if you want something lighter than Adobe's app.

5. Speedtest by Ookla: best for checking your connection

Speedtest by Ookla measures download speed, upload speed and latency with one tap. It also checks video streaming performance and shows carrier coverage maps.

• Best for: settling arguments with your internet provider, choosing where to put a router, or comparing mobile carriers.
• Price and platforms: iOS and Android, free with paid extras.
• What stands out: it keeps a history of your tests, so you can show a pattern of slow speeds rather than one bad result.

It rounds out the list because almost everyone has a network problem eventually. A quick test tells you whether the issue is your Wi-Fi, your provider or the app you are using.

Watch out for: the free version shows ads. Results also vary with the test server and time of day, so run a few before drawing conclusions.

Alternatives: Meteor and Orb

Rich On Tech names Meteor as a favourite speed test and Orb for ongoing monitoring of internet quality. Neither is listed on AppsPicks, but both are options if you want something different.

Honourable mentions

Five picks cannot cover everything. These are the next apps we would install:

• Google Translate: free translation by typing, speaking or pointing your camera, with offline language packs for travel.
• Google: number one on the App Store Utilities chart, mainly for Lens camera search, which identifies objects and copies text from photos.
• Firefox: a privacy-focused browser alternative to Chrome, with extensions on mobile.
• Google Drive or Dropbox: cloud storage for backing up and sharing files across devices.
• VLC: a free, open-source player for almost any video or audio file.
• LocalSend: free file transfer between phones and computers on the same network, listed as free by Digital Trends.
• CX File Explorer or Solid Explorer on Android: file managers that reach network storage such as FTP, SFTP and shared LAN folders.

For more starter apps beyond utilities, see our list of 10 free apps every new phone needs. If you want a better place to store notes and lists, read the best note-taking apps for iPhone and Android.

A warning about cleaner and booster apps

Storage cleaners sit near the top of the iPhone Utilities chart, and booster apps top some Android lists. Be sceptical. Modern Android manages memory itself, so apps promising to speed up your phone usually do little beyond showing ads.

On iPhone, cleaner apps mostly help you find duplicate photos and large videos. Many lock that behind weekly subscriptions after a short trial, so read the price screen carefully before tapping continue. Rich On Tech recommends Clever Cleaner as a free, ad-free option.

Before installing a cleaner, try the built-in tools. iPhone Settings shows storage by app and flags large attachments. Google Photos and the Files by Google app on Android can clear backed-up photos and junk files.

How we chose

We started from the job most readers have in mind: a short list of tools that make a phone safer and more useful. We compared the utility roundups that rank for this search, plus the live App Store Utilities chart and Similarweb's ranking from October 19, 2026.

Then we applied a few rules:

• Both platforms: every top-five pick runs on iPhone and Android.
• A real free tier: you can use each app without paying, and upgrades are optional.
• Privacy: we favoured apps from companies with clear business models over free tools funded by data or heavy ads.
• Everyday usefulness: we skipped launchers, social apps and desktop tools that other lists use as padding.

We did not verify current subscription prices for this article. Treat the price lines as a guide to how each app is sold, and check the store listing before upgrading.

Our pick

If you install only one app from this list, make it Bitwarden. Strong, unique passwords prevent more problems than any other tool here. Add Microsoft Authenticator straight after for your email and banking accounts.

• For most people: Bitwarden plus Microsoft Authenticator, both free.
• For families who want polish: 1Password, if the subscription fits your budget.
• For travellers and remote workers: Proton VPN for public Wi-Fi, plus Google Translate with offline packs.
• For paperwork: Adobe Scan, or your phone's built-in scanner if you rarely scan.
• For home internet troubleshooting: Speedtest by Ookla.

That covers the 5 best utility app choices for most phones. Start with the security pair, then add the others only when you hit the problem they solve.