When Samsung decided to drop its own Tizen platform in favor of Wear OS, it instantly gained a growing ecosystem of superb third-party apps and Google services.
With access to Google's Play Store, owners of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 4 models have access to a bigger catalog of high-profile apps.
Since Samsung joined the ranks in 2021, things have rapidly improved, too. Google has used the renewed interest in Wear OS to galvanize developers and improve the selection. There are now new guidelines regarding app quality, and it's really starting to show on the latest version of the software.
We've spent plenty of time with the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4 on our wrists - here are 15 of our favorite apps to spend time with.
How to download apps on the Samsung Galaxy Watch
There are two ways to get apps on your Galaxy Watch. The first is to download apps from the Google Play Store via the Samsung Galaxy Wearable companion phone app.
Once the Galaxy Wearable app is installed on your phone and your Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic is paired, scroll down from the main screen until you see Google Play Store.
Download apps directly from the Galaxy Watch
If you want to download apps directly from the Galaxy Watch, do the following:
1. Swipe up from the main watch screen to reveal the app screen.
2. Look for the Google Play Store app icon.
3. If you haven't done already, you'll need to link a new or existing Google account to start downloading apps.
4. You can return to the app and start searching for apps by voice, using the keyboard or drawing out letters to spell the app you're searching for.
1. Weather 14 Days - Meteored
Free: Google Play
Wareable
We love a weather app and this is a good one to grab for the Galaxy Watch. The Wear OS version has been given a bit of a revamp, giving you weekly and hourly forecasts and additional data like UV index and visibility to keep you safe if you're heading out in your car.
2. Spotify: Music and Podcasts
Free, Google Play
Wareable
When Google first announced Wear OS 3, Spotify was among the first apps being rebuilt for the new platform. Like the Samsung Tizen version, it still gets you offline playlist support (with a Premium subscription), the ability to control where the music is streamed from and 'like' songs by tapping that heart icon.
There's a dedicated screen to download playlists and there's also Tiles support, which means you can add a dedicated screen to quickly access and start playing something.
3. YouTube Music
Subscription required: Google Play
Wareable
If you don't fancy Spotify, there's you can opt for YouTube Music as your go-to music streaming service. Like Spotify, you'll need to have a YouTube premium subscription to make use of the app, which lets you download music when offline.
YouTube has also added a smart download feature, which will download 50-500 songs over Wi-Fi when your watch is on the charger, and there's also Tiles support to help you quickly jump in.
4. To-Do List - Schedule Planner
Free: Google Play
Wareable
Some of the best apps are the simplest ones, and To-Do List goes about its business in a really effective way. It gives you an interface that's easy to see what you need to do, and you can then easily mark them when they're complete. You can also stick lists into folders, as well, to make sure you're dealing with the important stuff that needs to get done first.
5. Strava
Free: Google Play
Wareable
This is another app that's been rebuilt for Wear OS 3. Strava doesn't need any huge explanation. It's a place to track your workouts - perfect for those who don't think Samsung's workout app doesn't do a good enough job of it.
You can track runs, rides, walks, hikes and even indoor bike rides with the ability to turn on audio cues and enable/disable auto pause modes for running and cycling. It's simple to use and pushes tracked sessions to the main Strava app ready to soak up all of that Kudos.
6. Calm
Free (subscription required for full access): Google Play
Wareable
The app for helping you sleep and giving you somewhere to get that meditation fix, Calm offers a range of classes to help you destress or find some sounds to help you quickly snooze off at night.
The Wear OS app now supports third-party Tiles, too, which means you can now add a widget giving you quick access to short guided breathing exercises to get you back to a calmer state again.
7. Komoot
Free (subscription required for full access): Google Play
Wareable
The mapping platform for hikers, walkers, runners and anyone that likes spending time out in the great outdoors has updated its Wear OS app to be a better fit for Google's OS. There are now two third-party Tile options, as well.
The first lets you quickly track workouts, and the second offers a place to see Tours, which are recommended places to visit and explore near your current location. Handy stuff.
8. Walk with Map My Walk
Free: Google Play
Wareable
Just because the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 4 can track runs, swims, HIIT workouts and a whole lot more doesn't mean they can't also be handy if you like to slow things down and monitor your walking.
The Walk with Map My Walk app offers training plans and workout plans and offers real-time updates as you get moving. It's a strong alternative to Samsung's own tracking apps if they don't quite do it for you.
9. Walkie-Talkie
Free: Google Play
Wareable
Yes, Apple already did this one, and now, if you've got a friend with a compatible Galaxy Watch, you can use the Samsung smartwatch as a way to have instant chats via the onboard microphone. It can search your contacts for people to chat with and enabling permission to your location will help you search for friends to get talking with over Bluetooth.
10. Outdooractive
Free: Google Play
Wareable
Like Komoot, Outdooractive is another useful app that lets you download hiking and cycling OS maps that can you can store offline when you venture into locations where getting a good phone signal is going to be an issue.
It can make use of Samsung's PPG heart rate monitor to track heart rate and lets you view details like coordinates and elevation data. The third-party Tiles support also means you can swipe to see a handful of recommended routes to check out near to your current location.
11. Citymapper: All Your Transport
Free: Google Play
Wareable
We are probably not alone in saying that Citymapper is one of our favorite apps to get around - and the app for Samsung's Galaxy Watch devices is very well built.
Once you've assigned a city in the phone app, you can choose to let it get you home or to work, giving you step-by-step instructions on trains, buses and other modes of transport. Good travel smartwatch apps need to be easy to use, and this is definitely one of them.
12. Adidas Running
Free (In-app purchases available): Google Play
Wareable
The Adidas Running app has been knocking around on the Google Play Store for Wear OS watches for a while, and, with Wear OS 3, it's been given a bit of a revamp.
You can view your most recent tracked workouts and log activities beyond running, too. You can use the Galaxy Watch's heart rate monitor to track effort levels, as well as decide whether to keep auto-pause on. Handy for those who don't want to capture those traffic light stops.
13. Swim.com
Free: Google Play
Wareable
This is one of the best swimming apps for Wear OS smartwatches, having been rebuilt for Wear OS 3. Once you're all signed up, you can track swims including metrics like distance tracked and heart rate, and it can detect stroke type, too. There are also two options for adding Tiles, letting you see weekly swim progress and details of your most recent swim.
14. Lifesum
Free: Google Play
Wareable
There aren't great ways to track your nutrition through Samsung's own app, and LifeSum is one of the simplest calorie-counting options to grab from the Google Play Store.
Aside from being a very simple app to use, it offers dedicated screens to keep track of exercise minutes, calories you have left for the day and keeping track of your water intake.
15. Facer Watch Faces
Free: Google Play
Wareable
If you're the owner of a shiny new Galaxy Watch, then you need Facer.
The app enables you to add and customize watch faces on the Galaxy Watch, vastly expanding the stock options on the standard experience. Not only can you choose from the massive library, but you can also build your own.
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.