IF WE had to name the most significant invention of the 21st century, mobile applications would certainly be near the top of our list. They’ve transformed the way we live of our lives, spreading their innovations into every part of our day-to-day existence.

Thanks to them, we can now do almost anything on the go and at any time, from connecting with new romantic partners to ordering a takeaway before we even get home. We use them to book gym classes, keep track of our daily calorie intake, shop, speak, and more.

Before we pay for or use these apps, most of us want to know what we’re getting before we give away our hard-earned money. Luckily, there are some really simple ways to make sure the app you’re about to download will actually tick your boxes. Here are three of them.

Check the application’s app store ranking and reviews

One of the simplest ways to vet your purchase before you download is by taking advantage of the in-built rating feature you’ll find in any mobile app store. This system usually awards the product you’re interested in with a number from one to five, and you should be able to see a few of the reviews that go with it too.

Those apps that rank highly tend to be both functional and reputable, while those that rank badly could be one of two things: low performing or untrustworthy. This second category – for obvious reasons – is best avoided, although if you want to do some further digging and you find that the issue is the former and not the latter, you could always try the free version in case your own opinion differs from the norm.

Use Trustpilot to vet your purchase

Most people feel perfectly confident using the app store ranking system for information, but not everyone trusts that a body with a vested interest will be able to give them an entirely unbiased opinion. For those who are among them, Trustpilot can help. A consumer review website, Trustpilot offers an in-depth analysis of businesses from around the world and is entirely free for you to use.

Take a look, for example, at its page for Mr Green; you can immediately see everything from its ranking out of five to individual reviews, making this a very useful tool for the would-be buyer. In this particular instance, 55 percent of people have rated the company as 'excellent', describing it as everything from 'sleek' and 'stylish' to having 'an excellent selection of slots' and a 'responsive support team'.

Turn to Google

If you really want a range of opinions from around the internet, you could also turn to trusty old Google. Not only will this reveal all of the reviews that are out there, but if you use it in the right way, it might even pull up comparison articles to help you weigh up your various options.

This is particularly useful for those who are trying to choose between two or three similar apps, although do remember that some articles will have been written by those with a financial incentive to promote one product over another. That said, so long as you don’t rely on a single source, you should be able to make a reasonably informed decision based on the information you find.

Before you splash the cash on that latest piece of mobile software, remember to do your research. There’s so much out there to help you, so be sure to make the most of it!