One of the things I like most about my Android is the fact that I can customize it the way I want to. There are lots of cool widgets, themes, launchers, and mods that I can try out. Unlike my iPhone (no shade).
For example, I can add the time, date, a whole clock, and even my music player to the home screen. There are so many widgets for Android that you can try. I want to tell you about my top picks.
Best Free Widgets For Android
IFTTT
IFTTT is one of the most popular task automation apps. It integrates nicely with over 600 application. For example, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Gmail.
Moreover, it also works with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Android smartphones (duh, lol) and more. Even find out what the traffic is like from home or work…
So, what do I mean by task automation? Well, with the IFTTT app, you can automatically text contacts, turn on the lights in your home (Phillips Hue), control Alexa/Google Home.
And, I’m only scratching the surface here. It’s a very useful app and there are lots of things that you have to learn for yourself.
1Weather
Weather widgets for Android are what most people go for from the start. One of the first widgets I add to my home screen is 1Weather.
What I like most about this free widget is the hourly forecast and how much information I get about the weather without having to go online.
And, if I have location services on, I can get live forecast updates. This is useful as I tend to travel quite a bit.
The widget is free. However, it is ad-supported. For an ad-free experience, you have to make a
1Weather made it on our list of best weather apps for both Android and iOS. Be sure to check that out.
Battery Widget Reborn
I like to view detailed information about my Android’s battery life. And, I’m sure you do as well. Battery Widget Reborn shows a summary of my battery’s health, predicts how much time I have left before the battery runs out, and there are quick toggles that I can use to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
It’s a really cool widget that’s free to use (ad-supported). But, if you like, you may choose to purchase the app to remove ads and unlock more features.
DashClock Widget
Alright, I know we already have a list of the best clock widgets for Android smartphones. But, I needed to add DashClock Widget to this list as well.
What I like about DashClock is that it is simple and does not overload you with unnecessary features. It’s one of the best free Android widgets that focuses on what it says it does. Add a nice looking clock on your home screen.
What I like about it as well is that you can do the following with the extensions that come with the widget:
• See your current local weather.
• View missed calls and unread text messages.
• Check your next calendar appointment.
• Unread Gmail inbox or priority inbox conversations.
• Your next scheduled alarm.
Sadly, the developers no longer maintain the app. And, I don’t recommend installing outdated apps on your Android. But, it was a really cool widget to have.
Calendar Widget
Again, if you read our list of best calendar apps/widgets for Android, then you probably already know about Calendar Widget: Month.
It’s a nice change from the default Android calendar widget. Wait, do you even have one? I don’t have one on my Android. Hence, why I installed a third-party option.
It syncs with Google Calendar, shows the phases of the moon, and, perhaps a favorite, you can use themes to customize the widget.
Google App
Android is Google’s open-source project. It’s been widely adopted. And, as such, you would expect that Google also has some free widgets to offer as well.
The Google App offers cool widgets like a Google Search bar, weather and news widget, and it allows quick access to the Google Assistant.
What I like about it is that it works great with a custom launcher like Go Launcher and Nova Launcher. So, I don’t have to use the stock Android launcher to use it.
KWGT Kustom Widget Maker
OK. What if you want to create your own widget? KWGT Kustom Widget Maker lets you do just that. Whether you want to make a unique lock screen or launcher, it can.
A few of the things that you can do with this awesome widget maker is make it display system info (CPU speed, network stats, etc), time, battery, date, countdowns, traffic info, next alarm, location, and so much more.
And, while it does take a bit of learning before you can make your own widget, there are pre-made widgets from which to choose. It’s one of the best widget creator app.
Zooper Widget
Another do it yourself widget maker is Zooper Widget. This one takes a minimal approach and is battery friendly. Just like the previous, it’s highly customizable and comes with some templates that you can use to help you build your own Android widgets.
It’s free. But, like with most free apps, it’s ad-supported. However, just like the other apps, there is a paid “Pro” version. Also, Zooper has not had an update since 2015. It still works however there may be glitches.
Most of us get rid of Flipboard as soon as we realize it’s pre-installed on our phone. No one likes bloatware.
But, I must say that it’s a great app and has a great widget for keeping you up to date with the latest news and trends.
Any.do: To-do list
This one’s a calendar, reminder, and a to-do-list all in one. Any.do has over 20 million active users on Android alone and that says a lot.
I use it and what I like about it is that it syncs effortlessly between desktop, mobile and tablet. So, I can keep updated with my tasks no matter where I am.
The home screen widget is good because I can get a quick overview of all my calendar events, to-do’s, etc.
Conclusion
These are some of my top picks for the best Android widgets. Use them to customize your home screen. Some even let you make your own custom widgets. There are tons on the Google Play Store. Of course, your taste may differ from mine.
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