Thanks to being woefully unorganized, I just found out I’m a Google Play Pass subscriber. Apparently I signed up for the trial years ago and promptly forgot about it.
What’s more, I discovered that my $30-per-year outlay grants me access to more than 1,000 apps and games in the Google Play store.
Being a member removes ads and in-app purchases from free-to-try titles and makes pay-once titles free, which isn’t too shabby of a deal. Seeing that time is money, here’s a short list of helpful and high-quality productivity apps that’ll pay for themselves.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-LifeUp.webp)
LifeUp
Need a little motivation? The LifeUp app gamifies life tasks, turning daily activities into a role-playing game to boost productivity and build positive habits.
There are a bunch of built-in achievements you can unlock, and you can create your own to help you reach specific goals. The app has a 4.6-star rating and usually costs $4 but is free for Play Pass subscribers.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Business-Calendar-2.webp)
Business Calendar 2
In a world where every computing device comes with a preinstalled calendar app, it’s not easy being a stand-alone scheduler. But Business Calendar 2 has a 4.7-star rating from almost a quarter of a million users.
Normally $9, it syncs with major calendars (Google, Outlook, and others), and offers quick event creation with voice input, drag-and-drop rescheduling, customizable views, seven home screen widgets, and a heat map to spot free time.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Photo-Studio-Pro.webp)
Photo Studio Pro
Play Pass subscribers save a whopping $50 on the very useful Photo Studio Pro app, which has a ton of features and a 4.8-star rating from its users.
It’s easy enough for novice photographers to use while also offering advanced retouching, hundreds of filters, effects, frames, stickers, textures, and correction tools like color enhancement and sharpening.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Fast-Scanner.webp)
Fast Scanner
You can transform your Android device into a versatile scanner for receipts, notes, and business cards with Fast Scanner. It allows you to save scans as PDF or JPEG files, which can be emailed, saved on your device, or opened in other apps for further editing or sharing.
The app normally costs $5 and has a 4.7-star rating.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Our-Groceries.webp)
Our Groceries
Never forget your grocery list at home again. Our Groceries streamlines grocery shopping by allowing families to share and update a single list in real time, complete with photos or notes for specific items.
The app organizes lists by category or aisle and suggests categories based on location. It also offers recipe cataloging, barcode scanning, and integration with multiple devices, voice assistants, and smartwatches. It’s got a 4.7-star rating and normally costs $18.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Unified-Remote.webp)
Unified Remote
With support for 90-plus programs, Unified Remote pairs with your PC, Mac, or Linux computer and turns your phone into a remote-access productivity powerhouse.
It covers essential functions like mouse, keyboard, screen, and volume control, as well as specific applications like Spotify, VLC, YouTube, PowerPoint, and browsers. It has a 4.7-star rating and usually costs $5.
![](https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_fit,w_1024,h_1024/wp-cms-2/2024/04/i-91071368-androi-time-savers-Tasker.webp)
Tasker
Put your phone on autopilot with the powerful Tasker app. With more than 100 contexts and events, you can customize automations based on app usage, time, location, and more. The app offers hundreds of actions to personalize your device, including file backups, APK downloads, and installation. Check out the full list of potential use cases here.
Tasker normally costs $3.49 to own and has a 4.5-star user rating.
<hr class=“wp-block-separator is-style-wide”/> https://www.fastcompany.com/91071368/google-play-pass-best-apps?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss
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