For these reasons, many of us own multiple mismatched mobile devices from manufacturers, and in today's market, that means splitting our time between iOS and Android. For example, the difficulty becomes finding an app that syncs between an iPhone and a Samsung tablet—and that sounds uncommon, but there are actually quite a few apps that let you seamlessly sync between iOS and Android. seam switching.

Most messaging apps are internet-based, which means they only require a data connection to sync your conversations between devices. The first three apps work fine on iOS or Android, so it shouldn't take much convincing to get your friends to use them.

If you're looking for an app that lets you message friends and family on Android and iOS, the first thing you should consider is the app's user base. GB WhatsApp has more users than almost anyone, and considering you get all the features you could possibly need in the messaging app while being able to pick up where you left off, it's almost a no-brainer.

Perhaps the only messaging app that can rival GB WhatsApp in terms of user base is Facebook Messenger. Chances are, you already have a Facebook account, which means you can use this Android or iOS app to message all your friends, and the rich feature set makes the app even more fun to use.

3. Hangouts

Hangouts doesn't have as large a user base as the latter two options, but the app comes pre-installed on most Android devices and accounts for more than 80% of the mobile market. In addition to supporting iOS and Android, Hangouts is also available in Gmail, on the web, and via Chrome extensions for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so it's one of the most widely used messaging apps out there.

For years, Google Drive has been one of the most advanced cloud storage services, mainly because it includes cloud computing. This means that if you need to make changes to a file, there's no need to download it, edit it, and upload it again - you can simply make changes while it's still on Google's servers, so every one of your devices will always have access to the file's The latest version of.

Microsoft has recently invested a lot of time and money in their cloud storage service, starting with the rebranding from SkyDrive to OneDrive. The service now integrates seamlessly with Office 365 subscriptions, so if you're a heavy Word or Excel user, any file you create will be immediately available on iOS or Android.

If you just want to use the cloud storage service as an internet-based hard drive, Dropbox offers a nice and simple interface that's really easy to use. You can upload files from Android, iOS, Windows or Mac, then simply download the same files on any of your devices.

Cross-platform or not, Google Photos is one of the best photo apps out there. The app automatically backs up your photos to the cloud, meaning you can access them on any device shortly after you take them. Google Photos is pretty much a must-have app, considering the unlimited free storage and powerful search you can find pictures of just about any subject.

While Google Photos offers unlimited storage, there are some caveats. So if you prefer to store your images without compression or resolution caps, you might want to try Amazon Photos. The app features automatic backups, and your photos are also accessible on Windows or the web, but an Amazon Prime subscription is required.

Wunderlist makes to-do lists incredibly easy, and it has a beautiful interface. You have instant access to lists and notes on any phone, tablet or computer, and your progress is synced. Best of all, lists can be shared, so collaboration with family and friends is a seamless experience.

Google Keep is like the Swiss Army Knife of these kinds of apps. You can use the app to take notes and reminders, create to-do lists, draw pictures, record audio clips, and even save photos—all creations that can be shared to collaborate with other users.

If you're looking for a non-Google app with tons of features, Evernote is for you. Notes and to-do lists are the core features, but extras like offline site saving, easy collaboration, and the ability to upload documents as attachments make it a one-stop shop.

Keeping track of your schedule is an ongoing task, but a good calendar
app can make it less tedious. Many calendar apps store your schedule
locally, but these next two apps sync with some of the best online
calendar services, meaning you can view your schedule on any device.

12. Google Calendar

The Google Calendar app recently got a major update on Android and iOS, and the improvements aren't just cosmetic. The new Agenda View is probably the biggest difference, as it focuses on your upcoming agenda rather than the traditional calendar layout. The calendar service itself remains one of the most used, with the added bonus of being compatible with many third-party calendar sources.

If you already use an online calendar service and don't want to switch to Google Calendar, then Sunrise Calendar is your best option. After its recent acquisition by Microsoft, the app can now sync with Outlook, iCloud and even Google Calendar, so most popular services are covered.

Granted, typing on a mobile device isn't as easy as using a full-size desktop keyboard, but sometimes, you just need to get work done on the go. These next two apps are your best options when it comes to creating and editing documents on iOS or Android.

14. Microsoft Word

Microsoft makes money by installing Windows on nearly every school and office computer in the world, so most of us are already familiar with Microsoft Word. The mobile app offers just about every feature you could possibly need, and with OneDrive document syncing, you can switch between Android and iOS freely.

When it comes to cross-platform web-based documentation applications, Google Docs is the granddaddy of them all. Your documents are automatically saved to the cloud, so you can switch between devices to edit them on the fly. While it's not as ubiquitous as Microsoft Word, Google Docs has the ability to save documents in Microsoft's DOCX format, so the files you create can be used almost anywhere.

Whether you prefer to play your own MP3s or stream music from online radio stations, it's important to find a cross-platform service so you don't waste money on something that only works on one device.

16. Spotify Music

Spotify is the most popular streaming music service, and for good reason. Spotify’s premium service, which costs $9.99 a month to remove ads and stream any song, still gives free users access to thousands of curated playlists. When you combine Spotify's native Android and iOS apps with the web-based player, it means you can access all of that music from any internet-connected device.

Google's streaming music service is my personal favorite because it offers the best of both worlds. You get curated playlists and online radio stations like Spotify, but you can also upload up to 50,000 of your own MP3s that will stream to all your devices. All of this is free in the ad-supported version, but for $9.99 a month, the ads are removed and you get access to YouTube Red as a bonus.

Apple finally has an Android app, and it's a good one. A limited edition is free, but for $9.99 a month, you get access to Apple's entire music catalog, as well as curated playlists and a live radio station called Beats 1. Apple Music is the default app on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch (iOS 9 or later), so all you need to do is install it on your Android device to access your music anytime, anywhere.

There are thousands, if not millions, of online news services, but only a handful of them may be to your personal liking. That's why it's important to have an app that remembers your favorite sources no matter what device you're using.

19. News Republic

News Republic allows you to choose the type of news you want to read, then presents the latest headlines in a topic-based format that caters to your interests. Once you sign up for an account, these topics follow you across any of your devices, and as you use them, News Republic learns more about your preferences as you read, so the service gets better.

20. Flipboard

Flipboard is functionally similar to News Republic, with one major difference. Instead of using paging or scrolling views, Flipboard is named for the intuitive vertical flipping action that resembles turning the pages of a book. The end result is a visually stunning experience that's a joy to use on iOS or Android.

Podcast app

If you want to listen to news and current events through your headphones, you need a good podcast app. Since you probably subscribe to a lot of podcasts, your best bet is an app that can sync subscriptions across devices.

21. Pocket Casts

There's really only one cross-platform podcast app worth using — but on the plus side, it's universally hailed as the best podcast app for Android and iOS. Pocket Casts has a clean interface that makes discovering and syncing podcasts easy, but the downside is that it's a paid app, which means you have to buy Pocket Casts on both mobile platforms.

Sure, you have browsers on both devices to view webpages, but it's easy to forget where you left off. These last two apps can help simplify your browsing experience by combining popular web services and making them available on any device.

22. Pocket

If you come across an interesting article but don't have time to read it, Pocket can be of great help. First, you install the Pocket browser extension for Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, then whenever you come across an interesting website or article, you just click on the Pocket icon. From there, open Pocket on your mobile device and you'll find all the sites you've saved for later.

23. IF (formerly IFTTT)

Don't you wish all your favorite web services could work together like these cross-platform applications? With IF, they finally will. The basic premise is if this, then that, it works across hundreds of services - so you can make "recipes" like me updating my Facebook cover photo and then also updating my Twitter photo. Since it relies primarily on internet service, most recipes should work seamlessly on Android and iOS.

Do you know of any great cross-platform apps for Android and iOS that aren't listed here? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below, or drop us a line on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter for Android Hacks or Gadget Hacks.