Best Apps For The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Series – August 2023

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series is almost officially here and if you ended up pre-ordering you’ll want to be prepared by noting all of the best apps to use with the watch. Regardless of the model you picked up (or plan to pick up), all apps available in the Play Store on the watch should be compatible with the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Though that doesn’t mean there won’t eventually be some that are compatible with the Pro only.

In our limited use of the watches so far, we’ve rounded up a list of the best apps to use with the Galaxy Watch 5 series devices. Keep in mind that not everyone will care to use these apps. And that’s totally ok. But, having said that, we do feel these are some of the best apps out there for the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. And we definitely think they’re worth considering if you’re grabbing Samsung’s latest smartwatch.

Spotify

• Price: $0
• In-app purchases: $9.99
• Size: 1B
• Google Play rating: 4.4

Spotify is one of the most popular music and podcast streaming apps on the planet. And an argument could be made that it is the most popular of all. Regardless of its popularity, it’s one of the best apps for the Galaxy Watch 5 series because it acts as a controller for the music streaming from the Spotify phone app. If you’re someone who keeps their phone on them often while using a smartwatch, this is a great app to have.

As soon as you start streaming on Spotify through the phone app, the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro will automatically bring up the playback controls. So long as the Spotify app is installed. Additionally, you can use the Spotify app to download music to the watch for offline listening. Which works great if you leave your phone at home on a run. Then all you need to do is connect a pair of wireless headphones or earbuds to the watch, and you’re good to go.

Granted to make the most of the app you do need the Spotify Premium subscription which is $9.99 a month. But it’s well worth it if you use Spotify anyway.

Google Assistant

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0
• Size: 10M
• Google Play rating: 4.1

This one is really self-explanatory. Google Assistant on the Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best apps because it can an invaluable tool for hands-free use. Need to get the answer to something quickly but you have both your hands full? Lift your wrist, ask your Galaxy Watch 5. Google will get you what you need. More times than not anyway.

This also works a heck of a lot better than Bixby on the watch. Mainly because it’s compatible with so many more things. When it comes down to it, this might be one of the apps you use the most. And if it’s not, you should use it more often because it definitely makes lots of things easier.

Google Pay

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0
• Size: 51MB
• Google Play rating: 4.1

Pay for things at retailers without having to pull out your wallet or your phone. A simple tap is all you need. That being said, you do still have to set up a lock on the watch display to use Google Pay from it. But even then, it can be quicker than pulling your phone out of your pocket and having to do the same thing. Because you do have to do the same thing with phones.

While Samsung Pay is also available on the Galaxy Watch 5, Google Pay is one of the best apps if you primarily use Google Pay for your contactless payments. This is one that doesn’t come on the watch by default. So you will have to install this one on the watch if you want to use it. Unlike Google Assistant which is available on the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro out of the box. That being said, Google Pay doesn’t appear to be available for the Galaxy Watch 5 series yet. As a search on the Play Store via the watch returned no results.

Since it’s available for the Galaxy Watch 4 though, it should be coming soon. Hopefully.

Samsung Health

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0
• Size: 10M
• Google Play rating: 4.6

Samsung Health is a pretty good tool for tracking all of your health metrics. Though we do prefer Fitbit’s app, Samsung Health is an excellent option for Galaxy Watch 5 users. Especially if you’re wanting to use the watch to track your sleep data overnight. The app can also help you keep track of your steps, daily fitness goals and other activities, and many other things.

If you need a quick glance at anything from how many calories you’ve eaten so far in a day to measuring your stress levels and blood oxygen levels, Samsung Health will get the job done. It’s definitely a must-use app on this watch. And since it’s a Samsung app, it comes pre-installed on the Galaxy Watch 5 series.

Facer

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0.49 – $39.99
• Size: 10M
• Google Play rating: 4.2

Facer is the go-to app for customization of the watch face. You won’t find another app out there that has more options than Facer. The Galaxy Watch 5 has a decent variety of pre-installed watch faces available out of the box. But while those are nice, there’s nothing super custom. Facer provides you a way to jazz up your watch face with loads of different stuff. Some of the watch faces are free, and some are not.

But with over 15,000 watch face options, you shouldn’t have trouble finding something you like. In fact, you’ll probably find quite a few you like. Some watch face options are even animated. You can also do direct searches to find something specific, or browse by categories.

If you’ve never used it before, definitely check it out. You won’t regret it.

YouTube Music

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $9.99
• Size: 1B
• Google Play rating: 4.4

Spotify isn’t the only music streaming service available on Wear OS smartwatches. Google’s own YouTube Music is there too. And it’s gotten a lot better since it initially launched earlier this year. Like with Spotify, you can use the app to control the playback of music streaming from the app on your phone. And you can even download music to the watch for offline listening.

If this is your music streaming app of choice on the phone, don’t forget to download it to your watch too.

AccuWeather

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0.99 – $19.99
• Size: 100M
• Google Play rating: 4.0

Weather details are built into the Galaxy Watch 5 series already, but you might want a little more information than what’s available. And if that ends up being the case, AccuWeather is an excellent option for an app to install. You get access to your local weather foprecast, a storm tracker, radar maps, and live weather news all from your wrist. Which makes it one of the best apps for the Galaxy Watch 5 series.

And once it’s installed you should be able to set it up as one of the tiles so you don’t have to launch the app all the time to access its features.

Kamoot

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0.99 – $99.99
• Size: 10M
• Google Play rating: 4.6

This is a must-have app if you like to hike and bike. Kamoot gives you access to routes for specific sport types and displays them so you know where to go. Easily find trails for whatever the activity, and keep an eye on them so you know you’re staying on track. It also offers turn-by-turn GPS navigation if you want a little extra help preventing from getting lost.

Google Maps

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0
• Size: 10B
• Google Play rating: 4.3

Google Maps should need no introduction. This map comes pre-installed on the watch although you can uninstall it if you wish. Though, we don’t know why you’d want to. This is your go-to for all things mapping that aren’t specific to sport trails like the Kamoot app up above. Plus, if you save routes and maps for directions and navigation on the phone app you can easily access them from the watch.

Samsung Pay

• Price: Free
• In-app purchases: $0
• Size: N/A
• Google Play rating: N/A

You won’t find this app in the Galaxy Watch 5’s Play Store app, because it’s already pre-installed and it’s an app that can’t be uninstalled. Still, it’s one of the best apps for the Galaxy Watch 5 series. For two main reasons currently. One, it lets you make contactless payments in retail stores. Where accepted of course. And two, Google Pay isn’t available on the Galaxy Watch 5 yet (for some strange reason), so if you want to make contactless payments with your Galaxy Watch 5 or Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, this is how you will have to do it.