When you think of the Google Play Store, you probably assume that it hosts every major app under the sun.
Surprisingly, some of the most powerful, polished, and popular apps, used by millions daily, are nowhere to be found on the Google Play Store.
In fact, many of these apps are exclusive to iOS and macOS, meaning Android users are left out.
Note-taking tools, professional-grade photo editors, productivity boosters, and many others, these apps have gained cult-like followings for their design, performance, and deep features.
Unfortunately, they aren’t available for Android just yet which means disappointment for Android users.
Having said that, you never know if they come out with their Android versions in the future. Or it could be you switching over to iOS. Whatever may be the case, it’s worth checking out these apps which are not on the Google Play at the moment.
Read on.
Best Android Apps NOT On The Google Play Store
1. Bear
Bear is a beloved note-taking app known for its elegant design, Markdown support, and powerful organization features.
It allows users to create beautifully formatted notes with hashtags, nested tags, and cross-note linking.
Writers, developers, and students alike swear by its distraction-free interface. It also features a focus mode and advanced export options including PDF, Word, and HTML.
Despite its popularity among Apple users, Bear is not available on Android or the Google Play.
Android users often turn to alternatives like Obsidian or Notion, but Bear still leads in simplicity and writing comfort.
2. Procreate
Procreate is arguably the most powerful digital painting app on mobile devices, favored by professional artists and illustrators.
It offers an extensive brush library, layer system, and animation features, all optimized for the iPad’s Apple Pencil.
With support for 4K canvases and intuitive gestures, it delivers a desktop-like experience on a tablet.
While Android has decent drawing apps like Infinite Painter or Krita, none quite match Procreate’s finesse.
Despite massive demand, Procreate remains exclusive to iOS. There’s no official Android version and thus, it’s nowhere to be found on the Google Play.
Check Out: Best Procreate Alternatives For Android
3. Fantastical
Fantastical is an award-winning calendar app praised for its smart natural language parsing and visually appealing interface.
It syncs with multiple services like Google Calendar, iCloud, and Microsoft Exchange, offering seamless schedule management.
Its “day ticker” view and weather integration make it more useful than standard calendar apps.
On iOS and macOS, it’s often considered the gold standard for calendar tools. Sad to mention, Android users have no access to Fantastical, and the Google Play lacks an equivalent with its level of polish.
If you’ve used it on Apple, you’ll truly miss it on Android.
4. 1Blocker
1Blocker is a powerful content blocker for Safari on iOS that offers granular control over ads, trackers, cookies, and more.
It helps boost browsing speed and privacy without compromising site functionality. Users can create custom blocking rules, which is a rarity among mobile blockers.
1Blocker is a go-to for Apple users who want fast, private browsing.
Unfortunately, the app does not support Android devices and isn’t listed on the Google Play.
Android users have to rely on alternatives like Blokada or AdGuard.
5. Cardhop
Cardhop reimagines the way you manage your contacts with smart input fields and rich contact profiles.
It lets you quickly search, add, and interact with your contacts using simple, human-readable commands.
For instance, typing “email John about the meeting” instantly creates the email. Integrated with calendars and messaging apps, it makes contact management feel natural and intelligent.
Though widely loved by Apple users, Cardhop is unavailable on Android. There’s no Google Play listing, and no truly comparable experience for Android users.
6. Darkroom
Darkroom is a professional-grade photo editing app that provides powerful yet user-friendly tools for photographers.
It supports RAW files, batch processing, and advanced color grading, making it ideal for both casual shooters and serious creatives.
Its real-time, non-destructive editing and intuitive controls offer desktop-level capabilities on mobile.
Darkroom also integrates tightly with the iOS photo library. Despite its critical acclaim and loyal following, the app remains exclusive to Apple devices.
Android users looking for it on the Google Play will come up empty.
7. Airmail
Airmail is a sleek, fast, and customizable email client that supports multiple accounts and a wide range of integrations.
It’s designed for power users who want more control over their inboxes, with features like snooze, smart folders, and unified inbox.
Airmail also connects with apps like Trello, Evernote, and Todoist. Its polished interface and productivity-first design make it a favorite among professionals.
Sadly, the app is not available for Android users and has no listing on the Google Play. Most Android email clients simply don’t offer the same level of finesse.
8. PastePal
PastePal is a powerful clipboard manager designed for productivity lovers.
It stores your copied text, links, and images in an organized and searchable interface, allowing you to access clipboard history anytime.
With features like syncing across devices and customizable categories, it’s a huge time-saver. PastePal is especially popular among developers and writers on macOS and iOS.
There’s no Android version or Google Play entry. Clipboard management on Android remains functional but lacks an app with PastePal’s refinement.
9. MindNode
MindNode is a highly rated mind-mapping tool that helps users visually organize their thoughts, projects, and ideas.
With a focus on simplicity and clarity, it enables drag-and-drop nodes, visual tags, themes, and even task management. Ideal for students, project managers, and creatives, MindNode brings clarity to complex concepts.
It also syncs seamlessly across Apple devices, making brainstorming a breeze.
Despite its usefulness, it’s not available on Android or the Google Play. Android users typically settle for alternatives like XMind or SimpleMind.
10. Ulysses
Ulysses is a minimalist yet powerful writing app designed for long-form writers, novelists, and bloggers. It combines distraction-free writing with robust organization tools like folders, filters, and tags.
Users love its Markdown support and seamless syncing between Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
Ulysses also offers export options to PDF, Word, HTML, and even direct publishing to WordPress.
However, it’s not available for Android, and there’s no listing on the Google Play Its absence leaves a big gap for serious Android writers seeking a comparable tool.
Explore: Scrivener vs Ulysses
11. Prompt 3
Prompt 3 is a high-end SSH client developed by Panic, tailored for developers and system administrators.
It features robust support for key authentication, terminal customization, and multi-session handling.
The user interface is polished, and it supports complex tasks with minimal effort.
Developers often use Prompt 3 for remote server management, database control, and real-time code deployment.
This power-packed tool is strictly iOS-only. Android developers will not find it on the Google Play and must resort to alternatives like Termius or JuiceSSH.
12. Pixelmator
Pixelmator is a powerful image editor that blends simplicity with advanced editing capabilities.
It includes features like layer-based editing, color adjustments, retouch tools, and graphic design elements. Artists and photographers love its intuitive UI and professional output.
The app works seamlessly with iCloud and integrates well with the Apple ecosystem. Despite being a top choice on macOS and iOS, it’s never been released for Android.
That means no Pixelmator on the Google Play, much to the frustration of Android creatives.
13. Noteship
Noteship is a hybrid note-taking and task management app that helps you organize your thoughts and stay productive.
It supports quick capture, task checkboxes, scheduling, and Markdown formatting, all in a minimalist package.
Users love its clean interface and ability to combine notes with to-do lists in one place. Noteship is especially popular among writers and students on iOS. At the moment, there’s no Android version or presence on the Google Play.
If you want something similar, Notion or Craft might be your best bet on Android.
14. Prizmo 4
Prizmo 4 is a powerful scanning and OCR (optical character recognition) app that turns physical documents into editable, searchable text.
It supports more than 25 languages and offers advanced tools like angle correction, text-to-speech, and batch scanning.
The app is ideal for students, business professionals, and anyone who needs high-quality scans on the go.
Its user-friendly design and powerful OCR engine make it a standout in its category.
It’s available only on iOS and macOS. Android users won’t find Prizmo 4 on the Google Play.
15. Tweet bot
Tweet bot is a premium Twitter client known for its elegant design, ad-free experience, and timeline customization.
It allows users to view their feeds in chronological order, filter content, mute hashtags, and manage multiple accounts with ease.
Many users prefer it over the official Twitter app because of its speed, clean UI, and lack of distractions.
Tweet bot was affected by Twitter API restrictions in recent years, but it still functions well for many users.
The app is iOS-exclusive and has never been released for Android. There’s no sign of it on the Google Play.
Final Thoughts
While the Google Google Play is home to millions of apps, it still misses out on some of the most beloved tools.
From creative giants like Procreate and Pixelmator to productivity favorites like Bear and Fantastical, Android users often have to look elsewhere for similar experiences.
Although there are decent Android alternatives, the absence of these particular apps is still felt by users who’ve experienced them on iOS.
Hopefully, in the future, some of these developers will expand to Android.
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