The battle between Apple and Google is also happening in the app space. Looking at the most popular native apps, who wins?
Choosing a smartphone isn’t just about choosing between iOS and Android, it’s about deciding which apps you’ll use for email, travel, music, and everything else. Here is a selection of native apps that have been around for years and contrasts between what Apple and Google have to offer. We deliberately left out digital services (YouTube Music and Apple Music), office software (Apple Pages and Google Docs), and digital assistants (Google Assistant and Siri).
Apple Mail vs Gmail
Almost everyone will agree that Gmail is better than Apple Mail in almost every way. Be it interface, functionality or something else. Apple Mail isn’t terrible to use, allows you to manage multiple accounts, organize conversations, take quick actions with simple swipes, manage tasks… but there’s a reason many third-party apps wanted to improve the experience on iOS.
Winner: Gmail
Apple Maps (Maps) and Google Maps
Google Maps is seven years older than Apple Maps, and while the latter has caught up a lot, there’s still a long way to go. Apple Maps is perfectly acceptable as a mapping service, but it doesn’t go as far as Google’s solution.
Apple Maps regularly adds features that Google Maps has, but Mountain View’s service is a cut above, often with the little things that matter.
Winner: Google Maps
Apple Safari vs Google Chrome
The mobile web browser gives you a window to browse the web. It’s hard to see the need for additional features. Safari and Chrome offer basic features, including multi-tab, incognito mode, bookmarks, link sharing, search, and more.
When we get into the details, we realize that Safari is a bit better equipped, especially for privacy, or a built-in reader to avoid distractions. However, the choice largely depends on the computer you are using (Windows or Mac) if you want to keep everything in sync.
Winner: Apple Safari
iMessage vs Google Chat
iMessage is a mature, stable platform that offers all the features of a messenger: read receipts, location transfer, reaction, undo messages, etc. Messages are synced between iPhone, iPad and Mac, so you can forget about your smartphone for a while.
Google’s messaging strategy is still imperfect. Chat has now taken over Allo, Hangouts and everything else, but doesn’t get along with Apple. It’s a good app and offers some very handy features, but the only real advantage over iMessage is that it can be used on any device, whether it’s made by Apple or not.
Winner: iMessage
FaceTime vs. Google Meet
Video calling apps require a few features, so it’s not as hard to choose between FaceTime and Google Meet as it is with other apps: both allow you to stay in touch via video with your loved ones, both allow you to video conference, blur your background, and share your screen.
It’s hard to pick a winner because both offer the bare essentials and do it so well. Google Meet may be more extensive for both individuals and professionals, but in terms of simplicity and quality, FaceTime is more effective.
Winner: FaceTime
Apple Photos vs. Google Photos
Apple Photos and Google Photos are tools that showcase the power of the two giants. The Apple app is square, full of useful features, Google stands out for its search and artificial intelligence features. Apple Photos is perhaps a little prettier, Google Photos is a little more intuitive.
Both have sorting and editing capabilities and are perfectly integrated with other applications. There aren’t really any aspects where any of them stand out, but if we focus on the mobile apps, Google Photos is a little more fluid and easier to learn.
Winner: Google Photos
Apple Notes vs. Google Keep
At first glance it might seem that Apple Notes has more to offer, but Google Keep manages to hide a lot of features behind a very simplistic interface. Both let you collaborate on notes, combine images, lists, text, and apply labels to keep everything organized.
There are differences: password-protected notes from Apple Notes, the ability to set reminders in Google Keep. If Google Keep is a very good note-taking app, then Apple Notes goes a little further with more advanced filters, smart tags.
Winner: Apple Notes
Apple Calendar vs Google Calendar
Another category of applications where they don’t matter much. After many years of development, these two tools have become very functional, very complete, with everything you need, from recurring events to sharing a calendar and alerts.
Google Calendar is narrowly winning this battle: it’s one of those apps whose interface stands out and works really well, with more event scheduling options than others, and it’s a bit more intuitive. And most of your contacts are probably already using it.
Winner: Google Calendar
Apple News vs. Google News
The news apps from Apple and Google are constantly evolving, offering a selection of popular news and articles curated just for you. You can dive into topics that interest you or are related to where you are and managing them is a little easier if you use Google News.
Instead, Apple News is trying to create a Flipboard-like interface that’s easy on the eyes and works reasonably well. While Google News might be a bit faster and fuller, Apple News is a bit ahead because it wants to provide a more personalized and eye-pleasing experience.
Winner: Apple News