Mobile Apps (Image credit: Methodshop – Flickr.com)
There are literally thousands of mobile phone apps on the market today. Some are free, but some come with a price tag. Unlike other products, apps can’t be returned for a refund if you are unhappy with your purchase. So how can you know if an app is worth buying?
Here are five tips to ensure you will be satisfied with your purchase:
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1. Compare reviews
Sometimes the reviews provided by your phone’s app store lack depth and don’t offer a lot of information. These reviews may also differ from reviews on other websites or blogs (they may be inflated). To learn more about the app’s usefulness, search the internet for additional independent reviews.
2. Look for recommendations
This is especially true if you are looking for an app to use for education or business purposes. If an app is good, it is probably being used by top educators and professionals, and they sometimes recommend these apps on their websites or blogs. Before purchasing an app, see if it is recommended by reputable business professionals or organizations.
3. Is it a top-rated app?
If you find an app through an organic search and want to know if it is worth your money, look to see if it is on its category’s top-25 list. This list is compiled and provided by your mobile phone’s app marketplace and contains apps that have been purchased the most. Even if it is a top-50 app, it usually means it is a pretty good product.
4. Research the developer
The name of the developer should be listed along with the app’s title in your app store. Use this to research the credibility and experience of the company that created the product. If an app is good, the developer’s website is usually well-designed and contains a tutorial of the app.
5. Only trust ratings with numerous reviews
App stores rate products through a star system. For example, if an app receives one five-star rating, that app will be listed as a five-star product. But this system is usually only accurate if the app has been rated at least 20 times. Before trusting the app’s ratings, look to see how many times it has been rated.
Although the price tag for most apps is pretty low, the cost can add up, if you buy them on a regular basis. By using these tips, you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck by purchasing the best apps on the market.
[box type=”note”]Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who is a freelance higher education blogger specializes in all topics relating to traditional and accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at nadia.jones5 AT gmail.com. If you would like to contribute too, please contact me.[/box]
