15 Free Apps for Personalizing Your Android Phone

Change the look of everything on your phone--from the browser to the home screen--with these useful Android apps. They won't cost you a cent.

Your Android Phone, the Way You Want It

Android is a flexible mobile operating system--you can really customize it and make it your own. You can swap out everything, from the browser to the app drawer, for something better. Although rooting your smartphone may be the best way to customize it, the process can be complicated. For quicker, easier options, look to the Android Market, which offers a wealth of apps that can get the job done better than any of the stock software that shipped with your phone.

Here are my top picks for the best Android apps to customize an Android phone.

ADW.Launcher (Utilities)

If you want to change the look and function of your home screen or app drawer, the easiest way is to download a launcher-replacement app from the Android Market. ADW.Launcher gives you a wide variety of controls over most of aspects of your home screen; for instance, you can change the color of the app drawer or hide the status bar. ADW also supports themes, allowing you to change the look of your home screen and app icons drastically.

ADW.Launcher / Developer: AnderWeb

LauncherPro (Utilities)

LauncherPro, much like ADW, gives you the power to alter the look of your phone. You can download special widgets that work with Twitter and other services, and you can revamp icons by downloading and installing icon packs. LauncherPro is probably the most popular launcher replacement, mainly due to the sheer amount of settings you can tinker with to get your phone's home screen looking exactly the way you want it.

LauncherPro / Developer: Federico Carnales

GO Launcher EX (Utilities)

What really stands out about GO Launcher EX isn't the way it lets you customize your home screen, but rather what it does to your app drawer. With the help of this tool, you can rearrange apps however you like, and quickly uninstall any that you don't use anymore. And if your phone seems to be slowing down, the 'Close All Programs' button will kill all running apps to free up some RAM. GO Launcher EX is great if you desire more control over your apps' organization and storage.

GO Launcher EX / Developer: GO Launcher Dev Team