Useful smartphone apps aren’t games or “speed boosters” — they’re everyday tools: documents and government services, air-raid alerts, passwords, private messaging, offline maps and photo backups. Below are 12 free apps for a new phone, one per task, and each task has an option for both Android and iPhone.
The list is written for readers in Ukraine: the first two picks are Diia and Air Alert, while the rest are useful anywhere. We checked each app’s developer, price, system requirements and interface language on October 5, 2026, using its Google Play and App Store pages and the developer’s website. The editors did not test the apps themselves.
How we picked
- One task, one app. Built-in alternatives and backups are mentioned in the text rather than as separate entries.
- Free. Everything essential works without paying; paid plans and free trials are flagged separately.
- Android and iPhone. Every app has versions for both systems. The exception is finding a lost phone: each system has its own tool, and it’s already built in.
- Actively maintained. Every third-party app on the list was updated in 2026, and all of them offer a Ukrainian interface.
- No “boosters.” Memory cleaners and “optimizers” didn’t make the list: Android and iOS have built-in tools for that, covered at the end of the article.
1. Diia
For UkraineGovernment services and IDs
Diia
- Developer
- Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
- Documents
- ID card, international passport, driver’s license, vehicle registration, taxpayer number (RNOKPP) and more
- Sign-in
- via BankID
- Interface language
- Ukrainian
- iOS
- 15.0 or later, iPhone only
- Google Play downloads
- 10M+
AndroidiOS
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
The first app to install on a new phone in Ukraine: digital documents and government services in one place.
- Documents appear automatically if your data is in state registers
- Share a copy of a document or verify someone else’s
- Pay traffic fines and debts in enforcement proceedings
- Ukrainian-only interface
- Sign-in requires BankID
- On iOS it runs on iPhone only
Diia is for Ukrainian citizens and foreigners with a residence permit. After you sign in with BankID, the app shows your digital documents — an ID-card passport, international passport, driver’s license, vehicle registration certificate, taxpayer number (RNOKPP), student ID, IDP certificate and your child’s birth certificate — as long as the data is in state registers.
According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, documents in the Diia app carry the same legal weight as paper and plastic originals. The app also lets you pay traffic fines and debts in enforcement proceedings, send copies of documents and check whether another person’s documents are valid.
2. Air Alert
For UkraineAir-raid alerts
Air Alert
- Developer
- Ajax Systems, backed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation
- Idea
- IT company Stfalcon
- Alerts
- by region, district or community
- Threat levels
- yellow and red, since version 7.2.0
- Languages
- Ukrainian, English
- iOS
- 15.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 10M+
AndroidiOS
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
Loud alerts when an air raid starts and ends, even in silent mode: install it first.
- No sign-up; the developer says it doesn’t collect location data
- Critical alerts on iPhone
- Alerts for your own district or community
- You need to grant every notification permission
- Takes up more than 500 MB on iPhone
Everyone who lives in or travels to Ukraine needs this app. Air Alert (Povitriana Tryvoha in Ukrainian) notifies you when an alert starts and ends in your chosen region, district or community, with the data sent by a regional administration operator. Besides air raids, it warns about artillery fire, street fighting, and chemical and radiation hazards.
Since version 7.2.0 (September 2026), alerts come with a threat level: yellow means a drone threat, red means a massive drone, missile or combined attack. For the alert to sound even in silent mode, grant the app every notification permission it asks for after installing it.
3. Find Hub and Find My
Already on your phoneFinding a lost phone
Google’s Find Hub and Find My
- Developers
- Google (Android) and Apple (iPhone)
- On Android
- turns on with your Google Account
- On iPhone
- Settings → your name → Find My
- Actions
- map, sound, lock, erase
- Offline
- via a network of devices, locations encrypted
- Web
- android.com/find and icloud.com/find
AndroidiOS
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
Make sure finding is on from day one: if you turn it on after losing the phone, you won’t be able to locate or lock it.
- Nothing to install
- Finds devices even offline through nearby devices
- Lock with a message for whoever finds the phone
- Works only if it was turned on beforehand
- The phone must be online to lock or erase it
These features are already on every smartphone; you only need to check them. On Android, Find Hub turns on automatically when you add a Google Account. On iPhone, open Settings → your name → Find My and turn on Find My iPhone, Find My network and Send Last Location: Apple warns that otherwise you won’t be able to find or erase the device.
From another phone or a computer (android.com/find, icloud.com/find), you can see the device on a map, make it ring, lock it with a message for whoever finds it, or erase it. On Android, the sound plays at full volume for five minutes even in silent mode, and on iPhone, Lost Mode also suspends Apple Pay cards.
4. Bitwarden
Password manager
Bitwarden
- Developer
- Bitwarden Inc. (US)
- Free
- unlimited passwords and devices
- Passkeys
- storage and sign-in
- Encryption
- zero-knowledge, open source
- Premium
- built-in authenticator, attachments, emergency access
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 15.0 or later
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSLinuxWeb
PriceFree; Premium $19.80 a yearchecked 5 October 2026
Keeps all your passwords behind one master password and fills them in apps and websites on your phone and computer.
- Unlimited passwords and devices for free
- Open source
- Free password sharing with one person
- A forgotten master password can’t be recovered
- 2FA codes inside the manager are Premium-only
Anyone with more than a couple of accounts needs a password manager: it creates strong passwords and fills them in when you sign in. Free Bitwarden doesn’t limit the number of passwords or devices, stores passkeys, and its code is open source. Write down your master password and keep it separately: Bitwarden says plainly that it can neither see nor reset it.
If all your devices are from Apple, the built-in Passwords app is enough; on Android, Google Password Manager. We compared eight options, with prices and limits, in our ranking of password managers.
5. Google Authenticator
Two-step verification
Google Authenticator
- Developer
- Codes
- one-time, work without internet
- Sync
- to your Google Account, optional
- Transfer
- by QR code to a new phone
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 16.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 100M+
AndroidiOS
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
A second lock for your accounts: even if a password leaks, nobody can sign in without the code from your phone.
- Codes work without internet
- Sync with your Google Account in case you lose the phone
- Can be used without an account
- Without sync, codes are lost along with the phone
- Sync is tied to your Google Account
An authenticator app is useful for anyone who turns on two-step verification in Google, Microsoft, social networks and other services that support it. Codes are generated on the phone itself, so no internet connection is needed. If you sign in to your Google Account, codes sync across devices and survive a lost phone; Google says it encrypts them in transit and at rest.
If you’d rather not keep codes in your Google Account, there’s 2FAS: free, open source and account-free, but on iPhone it needs iOS 18.6 or later.
6. Signal
Private messenger
Signal
- Developer
- Signal Foundation, a nonprofit (US)
- Encryption
- end-to-end in all chats and calls
- Groups
- up to 1,000 members
- Group calls
- up to 50 people
- Phone number
- can be hidden; chat by username
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 15.0 or later
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSLinux
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
A messenger for conversations outsiders shouldn’t read: encryption is on everywhere by default.
- End-to-end encryption for all chats and calls by default
- No ads; funded by donations
- Open protocol and source code
- Registration requires a phone number
- The desktop app works only when linked to a phone
Signal suits personal and work conversations that outsiders shouldn’t read. End-to-end encryption is on in every chat and call, and the organization says it runs on donations, with no ads or investors. You need a phone number to register, but you can hide it in the privacy settings and give people only your username.
7. Organic Maps
Offline maps
Organic Maps
- Developer
- Organic Maps OÜ (Estonia)
- Data
- OpenStreetMap, updated twice a month
- Offline
- search, routes and voice navigation
- Routes
- walking, cycling, driving
- Without Google services
- works on such Android phones too
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 15.0 or later
AndroidiOS
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
Maps and navigation that work without a signal: download your region in advance.
- No limit on map downloads
- No ads; the developer says it collects no data
- Uses no mobile data on the road
- Public transit shows only route numbers at stops
- Map accuracy depends on OpenStreetMap volunteers
Organic Maps comes in handy on trips, on hikes and in town when mobile internet drops out. Download your region’s map in advance, and address search, routes and voice prompts will work offline. The maps are built on OpenStreetMap data and, according to the developer, updated twice a month; the app also runs on Android phones without Google services.
8. Google Photos
Photo and video backup
Google Photos
- Developer
- Free
- 15 GB for your whole Google Account, shared with Gmail and Drive
- Storage saver
- photos up to 16 MP, videos up to 1080p
- More space
- Google One subscription
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 18.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 10B+
AndroidiOSWeb
PriceFree up to 15 GBchecked 5 October 2026
Backs up your shots to the cloud automatically: you can lose or break the phone, and the photos stay safe.
- Automatic backup of every shot
- Opens on any device and in a browser
- Usually preinstalled on Android
- The 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Google Drive
- On iPhone it needs iOS 18 or later
- Content may be deleted after two years of inactivity
Everyone needs a photo backup: your shots will survive a lost or broken phone. On Android, just turn on backup in Google Photos. The free 15 GB is shared by Gmail, Google Drive and Photos, and photos backed up in Storage saver count toward it too — once it runs out, new backups stop.
On iPhone, the built-in iCloud Photos is more convenient: you get 5 GB free, and in Ukraine Apple charges $0.99 a month for 50 GB and $2.99 for 200 GB (prices as of October 5, 2026). To open your photos on a computer, see our guide to accessing iCloud on a computer.
9. Microsoft To Do
Tasks and lists
Microsoft To Do
- Developer
- Microsoft
- My Day
- today’s task plan
- Due dates and reminders
- one-time and recurring
- Shared lists
- with family, friends, coworkers
- Attachments
- up to 25 MB
- Sync
- with Outlook tasks
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 17.6 or later
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSWeb
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
A simple to-do list with reminders that syncs between your phone and computer.
- Free, no in-app purchases
- Shared to-do and shopping lists
- Recurring tasks and reminders
- Requires a Microsoft account
- It’s a task app, not a full note-taking app
Microsoft To Do fits to-do lists, shopping lists and daily plans you need on both your phone and computer. You can break tasks into steps, set one-time and recurring reminders, and share lists with family or coworkers. For quick notes and checklists, Google Keep is simpler; on iPhone, there’s the built-in Notes app.
10. Google Translate
Translator
Google Translate
- Developer
- Offline
- downloadable language packs
- Camera
- instant translation of signs
- Conversation
- translates a two-language conversation
- Also
- handwriting input, phrasebook
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 18.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 1B+
AndroidiOSWeb
PriceFreechecked 5 October 2026
Translates text, speech and signs through the camera — and, with language packs, without internet.
- Offline translation after downloading packs
- Camera and conversation translation
- On Android, quick translation from any app
- On iPhone it needs iOS 18 or later
- Offline packs aren’t available for every language
A translator comes in handy when traveling, writing to foreign companies and reading documents. Before a trip, download language packs: translation will then work offline, and the camera translates signs and menus right on the screen. Conversation mode translates a dialogue between two people who speak different languages.
11. Google Drive
Scanner and cloud storage
Google Drive
- Developer
- Scanner
- searchable PDF, also JPG on Android
- Editing
- crop, filters, spot cleanup
- Free
- 15 GB for your whole Google Account
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 17.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 10B+
AndroidiOSWeb
PriceFree up to 15 GBchecked 5 October 2026
Scans certificates, contracts and receipts to PDF and saves them to the cloud right away.
- Multi-page searchable PDF
- Scans are on your computer right away
- Works the same on iPhone and Android
- Scans use your Google Account’s shared storage
- Requires a Google Account
You need a scanner when a certificate, contract or receipt has to go out as a PDF. In Google Drive, tap Add and then Scan (the camera icon on Android): the app shows the page edges, lets you clean up spots and saves a multi-page searchable PDF. On iPhone, the built-in Notes app does the same: Attachment → Scan Documents, and you can sign the document there too.
Microsoft Lens, which some lists still recommend, has been retired: it was pulled from the App Store and Google Play on February 9, 2026, and since March 9 it can no longer scan. Microsoft suggests the scanner in OneDrive instead.
12. Duolingo
Language learning
Duolingo
- Developer
- Duolingo, Inc. (US)
- Courses
- 40+ languages, all free
- Lessons
- speaking, reading, listening, writing
- Super Duolingo
- ad-free, 14 days free
- Interface language
- Ukrainian available
- iOS
- 17.0 or later
- Google Play downloads
- 500M+
AndroidiOSWeb
PriceFree with ads; Super by subscriptionchecked 5 October 2026
Short daily lessons in English and other languages; every course is free.
- All language courses are free
- Short lessons that are easy to do on a phone
- Ukrainian interface available
- The free version shows ads
- Per Google Play, it may share some data with third parties
Duolingo suits you if you want to brush up your English or start a new language with short daily lessons. All courses are free, but the free version shows ads. Super Duolingo removes them and comes with 14 days free, after which the trial turns into a paid subscription unless you cancel it in time.
How to choose apps without harming your phone
- Install only from Google Play and the App Store. Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation asks people to download Diia only from there and to install only official apps from verified sources. On Android, Google Play Protect checks apps before download and scans apps from other sources. In 2027, Google will extend developer verification worldwide: an app from an unverified developer won’t install on a certified Android device without a separate permission in settings.
- Check the developer. For example, Diia’s developer is Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, and Air Alert’s is Ajax Systems. The Data safety section on Google Play and App Privacy on the App Store are filled in by the developer — Apple states that it hasn’t verified this information.
- Grant as few permissions as possible. On Android, choose Allow only while using the app or Ask every time for the camera, microphone and location, and review everything in Permission manager. On iPhone, access is gathered in Settings → Privacy & Security, along with the App Privacy Report. If you suspect surveillance, check the signs that your phone is being tapped.
- Cancel free trials early. Subscriptions renew automatically, and uninstalling an app doesn’t cancel its subscription — do that in Google Play’s subscriptions section or on iPhone in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Apple advises canceling a trial at least 24 hours before it ends.
- Skip “boosters” and cleaners. Apple notes that closing all your apps doesn’t affect iPhone performance. Background activity is limited by built-in settings: Background App Refresh on iPhone and Battery Saver on Android. On Android, Files by Google frees up space with cleanup suggestions, and if your phone runs hot, here’s what to do when your phone overheats.
Useful smartphone apps: cheat sheet
| Task | App | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Documents and government services | Diia | Sign in with BankID |
| Air-raid alerts | Air Alert | Sounds even in silent mode |
| Finding a lost phone | Find Hub / Find My | Turn on in advance |
| Passwords | Bitwarden | Free, no limits |
| Two-step verification codes | Google Authenticator | Works without internet |
| Private messaging | Signal | All chats encrypted |
| Offline maps | Organic Maps | Download your region first |
| Photo backup | Google Photos / iCloud Photos | 15 GB / 5 GB free |
| Tasks and lists | Microsoft To Do | Shared lists |
| Translation | Google Translate | Offline language packs |
| Document scanning | Google Drive / Notes | Searchable PDF |
| Foreign languages | Duolingo | Free courses, with ads |
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 5 October 2026
- Diia — app FAQ diia.gov.ua
- Ajax Systems — threat levels in the Air Alert app ajax.systems
- Google — find a lost Android device support.google.com
- Apple — if your iPhone is lost support.apple.com
- Prices, requirements and versions — the apps’ Google Play and App Store pages as of October 5, 2026
FAQ
Which apps should I install on a new phone first?
In Ukraine, Diia and Air Alert. Then make sure Find Hub (Android) or Find My (iPhone) is on, install a password manager and an app for two-step verification codes, and turn on photo backup to the cloud.
How does Signal differ from Telegram in protecting messages?
In Telegram, regular chats are encrypted between the app and the server, and end-to-end encryption is available only in secret chats tied to a single device; Telegram calls are end-to-end encrypted. In Signal, end-to-end encryption is on in all chats and calls by default.
Do I need booster or memory-cleaner apps?
No. Apple says closing all your apps doesn’t affect iPhone performance, and built-in settings limit background activity and battery drain. On Android, Files by Google frees up space with cleanup suggestions.
How do I avoid being charged after a free trial?
Cancel the trial in advance: on iPhone, go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions; Apple advises doing this at least 24 hours before the trial ends. On Android, use Google Play’s subscriptions section — uninstalling the app doesn’t cancel the subscription.
Will Air Alert sound in silent mode?
Yes, if you grant the app all notification permissions after installing it. On iPhone, it uses critical alerts, so the sound plays at maximum volume; you can turn them off in the app’s settings.
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