Google Play has officially unveiled its highly anticipated Best of 2025 awards, celebrating the most innovative and high-quality applications that defined the year. The awards highlight a monumental shift towards artificial intelligence and multi-device functionality, with Indian apps and developers playing a starring role on the global stage.
AI Takes Center Stage in User Experience
The 2025 awards underscore a significant transformation driven by AI, particularly in the Indian market. A remarkable 69% of users in India reported that their first-ever interaction with artificial intelligence came through an Android app, cementing the platform's role as a key gateway to this transformative technology.
This trend is perfectly embodied by the winners. Focus Friend by Hank Green secured the prestigious title of Best App globally. In India, the local favorite District: Movies Events Dining was crowned Best App for its clever use of AI to deliver hyper-personalized local recommendations for dining and entertainment. Another standout, InVideo AI: AI Video Generator, won the Best for Personal Growth award by empowering users to create videos simply from text prompts.
Multi-Device Productivity and Indian Innovation
Seamless functionality across devices emerged as a critical theme for this year's top apps. Luminar: Photo Editor won Best Multi-device App for its powerful, AI-enhanced editing tools that work flawlessly across smartphones, tablets, and computers. Meanwhile, Goodnotes: Notes, docs, PDF was recognized as the Best App for Large Screens, highlighting the evolving needs of productivity.
Indian creators are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI. The Toonsutra: Webtoon & Manga App earned the Best Hidden Gem award for its groundbreaking AI-powered Cinematic Mode, which brilliantly brings Indian comics and original content to life, creating deeply immersive experiences for readers.
Platform Powers Economy and Spotlights Trends
Beyond celebrating innovation, the awards also highlighted Google Play's immense economic impact. The platform introduced a new Top Trending collection, featuring rapidly growing apps such as Instamart in the quick commerce space and Adobe Firefly for generative AI art.
The economic contribution is staggering. Google Play's Android ecosystem has enabled over 3.5 million jobs in India and contributed more than Rs 4 trillion to the country's economy, proving that its influence extends far beyond technology into tangible economic growth.
Sam Bright, Vice President and General Manager of Google Play, emphasized the developer community's vital role, stating, "Play is only successful when our developers are successful — their innovation is what fuels the platform." The company has continued to tailor the Play experience to better support the developers who serve billions of users worldwide.
