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The cheaper the app, the better right? Unfortunately, this philosophy doesn't often apply to the latest apps and games, and if you like to be the first to play the latest games or enjoy the newest apps, there can be a heavy toll on your wallet.

So what’s the answer? Well, the first place you should probably look is AppGratis, a service (with an associated newsletter) that presents a free version of a premium app or game every day, using information from Google Play and contact with app developers. While occasionally apps have heavy discounts, in most cases there is nothing to pay with the bonus of additional features not available in the standard release. The prospect of getting something useful for nothing should not be sniffed at, yet AppGratis is free!

Before you take a look at AppGratis or the other methods explained here, spend a few moments making a list of the premium apps you want. This will prove invaluable when it appears on AppGratis.

Although the service offers a newsletter, you'll want to get the latest deals as they're announced. The best way to do this is to install AppGratis on your phone. Free from Google Play, all you need to do is install the app and wait for the alerts to come through.

Not all apps will be of interest to you, so when you receive an alert from AppGratis, tap it to review the full details of the app. This won't take more than a minute to do and is worth the time so that you can discard the alert and wait for the next one which may be more useful.

When an app you've been waiting for appears, check the description to ensure it offers what you want. Often AppGratis deals are free versions of premium apps but without all the functionality. Sometimes you get additional features, so check what comes with the offer.

If you're ready to install the app, tap the Download FREE button. then confirm the instruction by tapping ‘Go!’. Google Play will open, so confirm the details one last time, tap the Install button and proceed. Congratulations. that’s a free version of a usually premium app!

The Settings button in the menu features options to toggle push notifications, vibrations and sound. As this isn't necessarily the type of app you want to be regularly updating (especially as there is an optional newsletter to subscribe to), you may find disabling these options a good idea.