Sony’s PlayStation 4, is not just a gaming console. It can be used for several other purposes as well. From streaming movies and TV shows to video editing, it’s got plenty of apps in the PS Store, which you can make use of, in order to enhance your PS4 experience altogether. Although the App Library cannot even be compared to what’s available on iOS and Android, most of the good apps that you’d probably need are available here. So, if you’re looking to use your PS4 as your ultimate entertainment system, then we’ve got some great apps that you should install on your console I have tried these apps on my PS4 Pro, so without any further ado, let’s take a look at the 12 best PS4 apps you must have on your console:

1. ShareFactory

ShareFactory is used by several PS4 users to easily edit their gameplay content. The software provides simple video-editing tools to effortlessly combine, customize and share your gameplay footage among your friends. You can even add your own commentary or soundtrack to the videos to make it look professional. There are also various themes, stickers and texts that you can add in a gameplay video. Once you’re done editing, you will be able to directly upload it to Facebook or save it to a USB thumb drive and upload to other services later on, if you need. ShareFactory is free to download and use, without any restrictions.

Install: (Free)

2. PlayStation Music (Spotify)

PlayStation Music is a music streaming service for PS4 owners introduced by Sony in 2015. As you might have guessed, it’s powered by Spotify, which is the world’s leading music streaming service and you will need a Spotify account to use the app. One of the unique features of Spotify on PlayStation Music is the fact that PS4 owners will be able to listen to music and play games simultaneously, which is enjoyed by many. PlayStation Music aka Spotify can be used for free, but includes ads and offers limited features. To remove all the ads and access every available feature, you will have to upgrade to premium subscription, priced at $9.99 a month. They offer a free 30-day Premium trial though, so you can try that out before actually purchasing it.

Install: (Free with ads, premium subscription at $9.99/month)

3. Plex

Plex is arguably the best software to organize all your personal media and access it on all the devices at any time and it’s available for the PS4. While the PS4 Plex app isn’t much of a standalone app, you can download the Plex Media Server for free on your computer, where you will be able to add all your media, including pictures, music, videos etc. Once added, you will be able to stream the content across all your devices, including the PS4 using the Plex app. The app is free to download, but there is a caveat. You will only be able to access content from the Plex Media Server if you have a Plex Pass subscription, which starts at $4.99 a month and goes up to $119.99 for a lifetime subscription.

Install: (Requires Plex Pass subscription, starts at $4.99/month)

4. Twitch

Twitch, owned by Twitch Interactive, a subsidiary of Amazon, is considered as the biggest live streaming video platform for gamers. Gamers usually prefer streaming to Twitch rather than YouTube, as the broadcast experience is much better on the former. With almost 10 million visitors each day, this service is growing at an exponential rate. Although Twitch has been integrated into the PS4 to live stream your content, in order to view the content of other gamers, you have to download the standalone Twitch app that’s available on the PS Store. The free app lets you watch live or recorded videos of gameplay, chat with broadcasters, follow channels and games of your interest and more.

Install: (Free)

5. Netflix

This should be the first application you should be downloading to turn your PS4 into a media center. Without doubt, Netflix is the world’s leading media streaming giant. There are tons of movies and TV shows that you can binge-watch during weekends with some popcorn by your side. There are several exclusive shows for Netflix as well, which make it a tempting service. The application can be downloaded for free from the PS Store, but the service can be availed for a subscription starting at $8 a month and goes up to $12 a month depending on the number of simultaneous devices or resolution that you’d like to watch the content on.

Install: (Free to download, subscription starts at $8/month)

6. YouTube

Introduced 12 years ago, the video sharing service has definitely changed the online world. It’s now the face of user-generated video content. The YouTube app is available on a plethora of devices today, and the service can be accessed from almost anything that has a screen. Although you can access YouTube from PS4’s browser directly, the standalone app’s user interface is pretty sleek and much easier to use. It’s free to download and use, unless you’re willing to pay for YouTube Red, the paid subscription service (starts at $9.99/month) which they launched a couple of years ago, that gets you ad-free streaming and access to exclusive video content.

Install: (Free, YouTube Red subscription starting at $9.99/month)

7. PlayStation Now

This is a subscription based game streaming service launched by Sony to let PS4 owners play classic PS3 titles, without having to download them. Consider it to be a Netflix for games. According to Sony, there are above 450 games currently available on the PlayStation Now. In order to access all of them, you will have to shell out $19.99 a month, which isn’t affordable for many of us. However, if you’re new to PlayStation and want to try out the smash-hit exclusive games that were available on the older console, there’s only one easy way of doing it and that’s PlayStation Now. If you’re not sure whether PS Now is for you, there’s a 7-day free trial which you can utilize properly to make your decision.

Install: (Free trial, subscription starts at $19.99/month)

8. Crunchyroll

If you’re a sucker for anime, you’ll love this application. Crunchyroll is the leading destination for Japanese Anime and Asian content. It’s widely used by anime fans all over the world and brings anime like Naruto Shippuden, Bleach, Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online, Gintama, The World God Only Knows, Hunter x Hunter, and more. Crunchyroll aims at delivering the latest episodes an hour after it has aired in Japan and lets you stream the content in 720p. The application is available to download for free on the PS4. However, the service is not free. You will have to be a premium member to gain access to all the content that’s available. Subscription starts at $6.95 per month, but if you want to try it out, Crunchyroll offers a 14-day free trial.

Install: (Free trial, subscription starts at $6.95/month)

9. GoPro Channel

Videos captured on the GoPro are full of action and thrills. If you want to experience all of them from the comfort of your couch, the GoPro channel app on the PS4 is something you’ll absolutely love and enjoy. There are plenty of GoPro moments to choose from, including various categories for GoPro videos, like motorsports, surfing, skating, music, along with various features playlists. The app is available for free, so browse through a vast library of life’s most adventurous moments, as captured by a GoPro, without even having to own one.

Install: (Free)

10. WWE Network

If you’re a fan of WWE, you’ll probably want to install this app right away on your PS4, as you’ll be able to access a ton of exclusive content with scheduled programming and an on-demand library, which you can access from anywhere. You will also be able to watch all the 12 pay-per-view events of WWE, live. That’s not all, as the app also brings various original series, reality shows and documentaries. Now, that sounds like a sweet deal. However, the service is chargeable on a monthly basis. You will have to shell out $9.99 a month, but hey do offer a one month free trial, so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth it.

Install: (Free trial, Ssubscription costs $9.99 a month)

11. Amazon Video

Amazon Video competes against Netflix to be one of the largest media streaming services today. Similar to Netflix, you have unlimited access to a plethora of movies and TV shows alike, including exclusives. You can either buy or rent your favorite movies and TV shows. Plus, the video content is available in 1080p, which is great. In order to avail this service, you’ll require an Amazon Prime subscription which costs $10.99 a month or $99 a year. However, if you pay annually you’ll get the first 30 days of the subscription for free. Prime members have several other benefits in addition to the Amazon video service though, like being eligible for free one-day and two-day shipping for most of the items available on the Amazon shopping websites. This is what makes the Amazon Video subscription a good deal.

Install: (Free to download, subscription starts at $10.99/month)

12. HBO NOW

HBO NOW is a standalone streaming service that brings you all the content from HBO. Unlike the HBO GO app, you don’t need a TV package to access HBO NOW. If you’re an ardent fan of the hugely popular Game Of Thrones or Silicon Valley, this is undoubtedly an application that you must have on your PS4. Plus, the app offers a plethora of original series, documentaries, sports, along with the latest blockbuster movies. Also, the content available on HBO NOW will not be available on Netflix or Amazon Video service or any other streaming service. The subscription price is much higher than the competition at $14.99 a month. However, they offer a one-month free trial, which you can cancel anytime if the service just doesn’t cut it for you.

Install: (Free trial, Subscription costs $14.99/month)

                SEE ALSO: 10 Best Fight Sticks (Arcade Sticks) for Fighting Games

The Best Apps for your PS4

Although the variety of applications available on the PS Store is miles behind what’s available on other apps stores, the PS Store does have most of the useful applications that you might actually need or expect on a console. These apps can help you get the most out of your PS4. These apps should work on the original PS4, as well as the newer PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro.

So, if you just bought a new PS4, try out these great apps and let us know how you liked them in the comments section below.