Microsoft is playing hardball in its efforts to coax Android users into jumping ship, launching a new app that makes it easier to switch to Windows Phone, Digital Spy reports.

AppComparison is the Redmond firm's attempt to convince Android users that the app gap isn't as wide as they think by matching the applications on their handset with their Windows equivalent.

There are official Windows apps for many of the big names, but users often have to settle for third-party alternatives, like UC Browser instead of Chrome.

It comes as little surprise that Microsoft is aggressively plugging Windows Phone, with its flagship Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones going on sale in the UK last week.

Apple launched a similar app for Android alongside the iPhone 6S when it released Move to iOS on Google Play to help users hop the fence.

Windows Phone is gradually being replaced by Windows 10 Mobile, which is coming to existing Lumia phones next month.