2023 was one of those years when cell phones changed the subject matter. Conversation assistants left the labs and became pocket apps, video and photo editors gained automatic features that previously required a powerful computer, and even a new social network appeared out of nowhere and broke download records in just a few days.
Below, we've compiled five apps that made their mark that year and are still available in official app stores — all with direct links to their Google Play and App Store listings, so you can check ratings, size, and privacy policy before installing. No APK files or alternative download sites: always download from your device's app store.
The apps that stood out in 2023
ChatGPT
It was the symbolic app of the year. The official version of OpenAI arrived on iPhone in May 2023 and on Android in July, bringing to mobile phones the conversational assistant that was already a hit in the browser. It serves to answer questions, summarize long texts, help write emails, explain study topics, and organize ideas.
It's advisable to use this with a degree of critical thinking: assistants of this type may respond with incorrect information stated with great confidence, so verify important data with the original source. And avoid typing personal, banking, or health information into the conversation.
View on Google Play | View on the App Store
Threads
Launched in July 2023 by the Instagram team, Threads is a social network for short texts. Its key innovation was allowing users to log in using their existing Instagram account, which led to the app accumulating tens of millions of sign-ups in its first few hours—one of the fastest app launches in history.
Today it already has its own feed, search, and topic-based navigation. If you use Instagram and miss a space more focused on written conversation, this is the natural next step.
View on Google Play | View on the App Store
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft transformed the old Bing Chat app into Copilot, launched as a standalone app in late 2023. Besides answering questions, it generates images from text descriptions, summarizes web pages, and helps with drafting text—all free in the basic version.
It's a good alternative for those who want to test conversation assistants without creating another account: you can sign in with the Microsoft account that many people already have for Windows or Outlook.
View on Google Play | View on the App Store
CapCut
The video editor that has dominated content production for social media. In 2023, it consolidated features that were previously only available in professional programs: automatic captions based on speech, background removal without a green screen, stabilization, and a huge library of ready-made templates.
For those who record short videos, it's difficult to find something so complete for free. Just note that some of the most eye-catching effects are exclusive to the subscription, and that music in the library may have restrictions on commercial use.
View on Google Play | View on the App Store
Photoroom
This is a favorite among those who sell online. Photoroom automatically crops the product from the photo, changes the background, standardizes the lighting, and returns a ready-to-use image for ads or catalogs, in just a few seconds and directly from your cell phone.
It also works well for portraits and profile pictures. The free version covers the essentials; advanced features and high-resolution export are available in the paid plan.
View on Google Play | View on the App Store
Honorable mention: Lemon8
Also in 2023, Lemon8 appeared here, a social network of photos and texts organized by themes such as fashion, beauty, travel, food, and decoration. The format resembles a mix of a digital magazine with an inspiration feed, and the app gained traction among those seeking lifestyle content with a polished visual style.
It didn't come close to the success of Threads, but it's worth checking out for those who are tired of the chronological feed of traditional social networks. View on Google Play.
What did 2023 actually change in the world of mobile phones?
If we could sum up the year in one sentence: tasks that previously required technical knowledge could now be done with just two taps. Removing the background from a photo, adding captions to a video, summarizing a long text, or drafting a difficult message have become operations that take only a few seconds, done directly on the device and, in most cases, for free.
Along with the ease of use came the need for more attention. Apps that process your photos, voice, or text send some of that content to servers on the internet, and it's worth reading what each one does with that material. Many opportunistic copies have also appeared, with names and icons similar to those of famous apps, charging expensive subscriptions for a far inferior service.
How to choose (and install) safely
- Check out the developer See the store listing. Popular apps often have imitations with similar names.
- Read the permissionsA photo editor doesn't need access to your contacts or your location.
- Check the billing model.. Many apps are free to start and charge a subscription after a trial period.
- Install only from Google Play or the App Store. Files downloaded from random websites are the most common entry point for viruses on mobile phones.
See also
Conclusion
The five apps above perfectly summarize what happened in 2023: conversation assistants moving from the technical niche to everyday use, video and image editing becoming automatic and accessible, and a new social network proving that there's still room for innovation. All remain available, with a free version, and can be tested today on your mobile phone.
The final tip is simple: install one at a time, use it for a few days, and keep only the one that has truly become part of your routine. An idle app takes up space, consumes battery, and retains access to the permissions you granted.
Before deciding, check these points.
- What the app actually does. Compare the description on the store page with recent reviews. The difference between the two often reveals what the advertisement omits.
- It works offline. If the task is local, requiring a connection means that your data is being sent to a server.
- Last updated and supported. An application without a recent update tends to break with the next system version.
- Billing model. Check if it's free with ads, pay-per-view, or subscription-based — and the price range for in-app purchases.
What these apps don't do
Every category has a limit, and knowing this one's limit saves time and money by avoiding those who promise more than what's available.
- They can't do what the device's hardware doesn't allow. A feature without a corresponding sensor doesn't exist in software.
- The free version often limits exports, applies a watermark, or restricts the number of uses per day.
- A high rating in the store doesn't guarantee quality: it's worth reading recent, negative reviews.
- An app that promises impossible results usually exists only to display advertising.
Common questions
Is the app free?
Generally, the download is limited or may include advertising. Check the price range for in-app purchases on the store page.
Does it take up a lot of space?
The size appears in the store, but it increases with use due to caching. Clearing the cache frees up space without losing settings.
Is there a native alternative?
It's worth checking out. Android and iOS come with several ready-made functions that eliminate the need to install another app.
Does it consume a lot of battery?
Check the usage per app in the settings and restrict background activity for any that are high.
Does it work without internet?
It depends: those that process on the device work offline; those that depend on a server require an internet connection.
