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Navigating the murky waters of the Apple App Store or the Android Market isn’t always an easy task. Even if you think you know what you’re looking for, searching through over 300,00 Android or 500,000 iPhone apps can feel like you’re trying to batten down the hatches during a thunderstorm when you’re three sheets to the wind. Not up on your nautical metaphors? I mean it can be pretty difficult.

There are a few methods for finding the best Android and iPhone apps for your personal finance, gaming, or any other needs. With a little research, you’ll be enjoying the warm glow of a new app in no time.

Talk to your friends

If you run with a crowd that instantly hits Foursquare when you sit down at happy hour, take an extra second after you check-in to ask what kinds of apps your friends have downloaded lately. Not into telling the world your exact, geographic location at every second of every day? Just ask your friends what they think the best Android and iPhone apps are on Facebook. Or if you’re really old school, use your voice and ask them in person! One simple question could easily lead to dozens of recommendations and hours of your precious time spent downloading them all. You’ll get some duds, but you might find your new favorite app!

Pay attention to in-app promotions

App developers, promoters and marketers are using in-app advertising to promote their apps. You may have noticed that advertisements have been better targeted to the app that you’re using. For example, Zynga (one of the leaders in app game development) cross promotes its games in their apps. When I play Hanging with Friends, it tells me I should also try Words with Friends. I decline, of course, because I stopped chasing that white horse long ago, but I’ve seen other recommendations that have led me to some great, new discoveries. Before you’re quick to tap the “skip” button, take a look at what’s being promoted and see if it interests you.

Take it to the search engines

The App Store and Android Market have search functions, but they leave a lot to be desired. They factor downloads, ratings and sometimes even awards into how they display their search results, but with so many apps available, it’s natural to feel like you’re missing something.

Try searching on mobile app specific sites, like Chomp or Daily App Show. Chomp is nice because it has a very user-friendly layout and tries to display results based on what the app actually does, rather than just what it’s called. For example if you search for “tip calculator” in Chomp you get the following results:

Chomp returned 494 results and I’m able to see a quick screenshot of the app before reading the entire description. Compare that to the same search in the App Store on my iPhone:

Note the different order of the display and the lack of detailed information in the search results. Make sure you explore several search options to get a well-rounded look at what’s available. Don’t forget to use Google or any traditional search engine of your choice as well.

With a little research, you’re bound to find the perfect app that meets your needs. Take the time and dig around a little bit. And feel free to share your own app hunting tips, or your favorite apps to use, in the comments!

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