We have already explained what Google Apps are, and why every custom ROM user needs to install them on their device after flashing a custom ROM.
The release of Android 5.1 and CyanogenMod 12.1 warrants a new Google Apps package as well that is compatible with the latest version of Android. Since there is no single site to download Google Apps from, it becomes tough for new Android users to find the appropriate Google Apps package for their device. Even the folks over at Paranoid Android shut down their 0-day GApps program, which makes it even more difficult to find download links of Google Apps.
Update: Google Apps package for Android 6.0 Marshmallow based ROMs like CyanogenMod 13 can be downloaded from here.
Worry not though as we have linked to the different Google Apps package compatible with Android 5.1/CyanogenMod 12.1 and other custom ROMs below.
Stock Google Apps Package: As the name suggests, this is the stock Google Apps package containing all the apps and services that Google bundles on its Nexus devices by default. Along with all the usual and commonly used apps like Maps, Google+, the package also includes Sound Search for Google Play, TalkBack, Google Wallet, Google Earth, Google Keyboard, Now Launcher and more. The package contains nearly all the apps that Google has listed on the Play Store.
Due to the sheer number of apps the stock Google Apps package comes bundled with, it weighs in a pretty hefty 453MB. Until and unless, you want all the Google apps to be installed on your device for a complete stock experience, I will not recommend users to install this Google Apps package on their device.
The ‘recommended’ Google apps package: In my opinion, this is the Google Apps package that everyone should use. The package comes with all the core Google apps including Play Store, Exchange Services, Face Unlock and offline speech files along with the other commonly used Google apps. This includes:
- Google+
- Google Calendar
- Google Now Launcher
- Google Play services
- Google Search
- Google Text-to-Speech
- Gmail
- Hangouts
- Maps
- Street View
- YouTube
Other less common Google apps like Translate are not bundled in this package and can be downloaded from the Play Store. Thanks to fewer number of apps, the ‘recommended’ Google Apps package is only 235MB big.
Core Google Apps package: If you are looking for the absolute minimum Google Apps package that will only install the core Google apps like the Play Store, Calendar Sync, and Play Services, this basic Google Apps package is for you. This package does not include offline speech files, Live wallpapers and other such goodies.
If you are using an older Android device that frequently runs out of storage space, this is the Google apps package that I will recommend for your device.
Which is your preferred Google Apps package? Drop in a comment and let us know!
