It has been around a year since Microsoft debuted the new Microsoft Store ahead of the launch of Windows 11. With the new Store, the company brought a fresh design and loads of changes to functionality. To celebrate one year of the new app marketplace, the company is handing out Microsoft Store Community Choice Awards.
As the name suggests, this is an awards ceremony where Microsoft asked users to nominate their favorite apps from the Microsoft Store, both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Once qualifying apps were in place, Microsoft then took user votes on the winners.
On a special Windows Blog post, the company has listed the winners across several app categories. Furthermore, the company has also released its Microsoft Store Editor's Choice Awards. You guessed it, this is the awards decided by Microsoft's Store team.
Below we will list the categories and winners across both awards.
Microsoft Store Community Choice Awards
Below are the winners across categories as chosen by Windows users:
Utility Category
Covers applications that provide added functionality to the Windows OS, such as diagnostic apps, task automation, driver management, and so on. The winners in the category were:
File Management Category
This category takes into account apps that help Windows users to manage files more efficiently. This could be sorting tools, editors, file viewing apps, conversion features, and more. Winners in File Management were
Open Platform Category
Microsoft cheekily describes Windows as an open platform and has a category for apps that help users to customize the Windows experience. Modification apps were would call them, rather than open platform. Either way, the winners are:
Microsoft Store Editor’s Choice Awards
Rather than simply repeat the same categories for its Editor's Choice Awards, the Microsoft Store team is covering other types of apps. Below are the winners across those cateogries:
Special Recognition
Microsoft starts with an app it wants to single out for special recognition. That app is Talk for Me, a text-to-speech app available across platforms.
Entertainment – Video
Streaming has become a go-to form of entertainment for billions of people, with dozens of video apps now available. Giants like Netflix, HBOMax, Hulu, and others. However, Microsoft's pick goes to:
Entertainment – Audio and Music
Similarly with music, there are a lot of apps available for streaming. However, there is one elephant in the room and Microsoft thinks it is the best:
Creativity – Graphics and 3D
Creativity apps are common on the Microsoft Store, including some of Microsoft's own services. However, the two Microsoft thinks stand out from the crowd are:
Creativity – Audio and Video
Of course, Windows is used around the world in editing studios, helping users to create audio and visual projects. Microsoft says the following app provides the best experience for creators:
Productivity
I was expecting Microsoft to name more apps in the productivity category considering how broad the term is. Instead, the company just names the following application as winner in this category:
Social
My pick would be WhatsApp, but the social category is full of popular apps such as Telegram and Facebook. Microsoft Store editors believe the following app delivers the best social experience on Windows:
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