Best Chrome OS apps of 2021 | Tips and Tricks

Chromebooks were last year’s revelation; As cheap laptops were in short supply, more and more people took to buying and discovering the benefits of devices using Chrome OS, Google’s operating system.

Chrome OS in fact it is very light and allows you to have excellent performance even using it on computers that have non-cutting-edge hardware features.

It is known that a PC owes its usefulness not only to the pre-installed operating system, but above all to the applications that it allows to load and that expand its functionality and possibilities of use.
In this article we will therefore try to advise you the best apps for Chrome OS, in particular those applications that we have found indispensable for the daily use of the computer with the Google operating system.

Chrome OS also supports Android apps, so they will also have a dedicated paragraph on the best Android apps to use on Chromebooks.

The best apps for Chrome OS

Applications for Chrome OS found via the Chrome Web Store they are Web apps that can also work offline, therefore, when disconnected from the Internet, they behave like the usual programs we know on Windows or Mac.
Here are the solutions you can’t miss:

Canva

This is a great web app for create presentations, cards, flyers, posters and more.
The application is perfectly optimized for Chrome OS and makes full use of Google’s API.

To start using Canva and make great presentations, just go to the Canva page in the Google Store.

Pixlr

We have already talked about Pixlr in another article, it is a complete photo editing solution.
The solution is optimized for Chrome OS by integrating with the system as a common app and bringing a complete solution to the platform to edit your shots.

If you are interested in Pixlr, you can install it directly from the Pixlr page in the Google Store.

Google Docs

The Google office suite it is increasingly practical and functional, it includes Google Docs for word processing, Sheets for compiling spreadsheets and Presentations for creating convenient slides.

All the tools are free and work properly even offline, offering excellent performance and great ease of use.
If you’re looking for a practical alternative to the Office suite, Google’s apps don’t disappoint.

They are available directly on the Chrome Web Store.

Photopea

It’s another great one photo editing program, which in the interface and tools is very reminiscent of the famous Photoshop.
The App is complete and very effective, moreover it has recently been translated into Italian.

We have already talked about it in the article dedicated to free Photoshop alternatives, those who want to use it on Chrome OS can find it on the Photopea page on the Store.

GeoGebra

It is a splendid one app that works well even offline and that allows you to plot graphs, solve equations, draw 2D and 3D figures, calculate probabilities and much more.
The app is very popular in the educational field, it is simple to use and it is free and multi-platform.

You can download the version for Chrome OS directly from the GeoGebra page on the Store.

clipchamp

Also on ChromeOS there is a convenient and simple video editor, Clipchamp offers not only the typical tools for editing our movies, there is also a convenient timeline, many transitions and effects.
The app is also very popular because it allows you to record videos from the webcam and the Chromebook screen.

You can download it directly from the Clipchamp page on the Chrome Web Store.

Periodex

Returning to the didactic field, if you study chemistry or are simply passionate you cannot miss Periodex.
A quick and practical app that can also be used offline that offers a splendid, complete and detailed periodic table.

If you want to use Periodex, just download the app from the Periodex page on the Store.

Mic Note Voice Recorder

If you are looking for an effective solution to take voice notes, this will surely be very useful.
Mic Note Voice Recorder also works offline, offers many useful functions and is practical to use. Just a few clicks are enough to feel at ease, you can export the voice notes, synchronize them on the cloud, and edit them.

If you want to try it, find the app directly on the Mic Note Voice Recorder page on the Chrome OS app store.

Stadia

If you are not satisfied with the Android games that can be installed from the Play Store and you want to enjoy a thick experience with triple A titles, then Stadia is for you. Stadia is Google’s cloud gaming service, which allows excellent performance without having to have a video game computer.

The client for Chrome OS is great, to play just log in and get a Joystick.
You can use the service directly by going to the official Stadia page.

The best Android apps optimized for Chrome OS

Not everyone knows that i Chromebooks support Android apps that can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store.
Optimized Android apps work great on Chrome OS.

Here is an updated list of the best ones to further expand the functions of your Chromebook:

Microsoft Office

Microsoft’s office suite is also available on Android, the app is also optimized for Chrome OS and is great for working.
It lacks some more advanced options, but for creating and editing documents on the fly on the go it’s a great solution.
The Office suite app are available directly from the Play Store here are the links of each app: Word Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook.

ArtFlow: Paint Draw Sketchbook

If you are looking for a spectacular one drawing app, also perfect for Chromebooks with touch screens this will be for you.
ArtFlow offers all the tools an artist could want and is also optimized for Chrome OS.

To start drawing, just download it for free from the ArtFlow: Paint Draw Sketchbook page on the Play Store.

VLC

The legendary multimedia player capable of playing any video and audio format, it works fine in its android version also on Chrome OS, compensating for one of the platform’s historic weaknesses.

To use VLC just download the app from the VLC page on the Play Store.

Adobe Lightroom

The spectacular Adobe professional photo editing app in android version it is not the same as the desktop one but it comes close.
The application allows you to import, correct and manage photographs in RAW format as well.

The app is fully compatible with Chrome OS and can be downloaded from the Adobe Lightroom page on the Play Store.

Solid Explorer

If you are looking for a file manager, such as explorer but more complete, on Android there are many solutions.

We recommend Solid Explorer because it is free, complete and very practical. It allows access not only to local folders, but also to files on the network.

You can download the app directly from the Solid Explorer page on the Google Store.

Audio and video streaming services

In practice, all audio and video streaming services have also been optimized for Chrome OS.
So you can enjoy a movie or series on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney +, Now TV without any difficulty, just download the corresponding app from the Play Store and log in.

Just as simple is enjoying your favorite music, both Spotify and the main streaming music alternatives work smoothly on Chrome OS.