With over 1.3 million apps on iTunes App Store and 1.3 million on Google Play it’s very overwhelming to pick one that’s right for you. You need a strategy to narrow the field down so you can stop wasting time learning a new app that doesn’t work for you.

I’ve developed a method to choose an app to ensure the app will work for you.

My first iPad was given to me as a gift. When I first starting using apps my criteria for choosing one was simple – free! If it was free it was for me. I soon found out free isn’t the best.

Here’s why you want to consider spending money on an app. This gives the developer incentive to get working on the app. This is critical. As operating systems update you want to make sure your app updates. Also you want bugs to be squished. And I love cool new feature – how about you? Don’t totally discount free apps some are great but don’t be surprised if they don’t follow up with updates or have tech support.

Here’s the steps I take to zero in on the right app:

• Write down what you want from the app. Honestly, if you just follow this step you will narrow the field. Some things to think about; do I need it to back up, do I want it to link to other programs and what are the key features I need.
• Do a Google search “looking fro an app that does X” and read the reviews. You are going to get a far more honest review from a blog site than from the app reviews on iTunes or Google Play. You should read those also, but look for recurring themes. For instance if the app crashed from doing a certain task you might want to avoid it.
• Decide on a short list of 3-5 apps. Find the developers site and read all the documentation on the app. Find out about tech support. Do they have a forum? Do they have other apps? The more active the developers home page the better this app is going to be. In my experience people are proud of their work.
• Once I’ve narrowed down the final choices I study the screenshots and imagine myself using the app. Is it clean looking? Does it seem simple to use on the fly? Can you customize it?
• Then I buy it.

Will these steps always give you the perfect app – I can say most of the time the answer is yes. If it doesn’t work out for you the first time you can go back to your short list and pick another app. And don’t be afraid to do this. Most apps are less than the cost of a latte, skip the latte for day and use that money for the app.

Do you have a process for buying an app – I’d love to hear about it.