Whether or not we speak about smartphones, desktops, or IoT units, open-source software program is omnipresent in some kind.
Whereas Android is already an open-source challenge, you could find proprietary and open-source purposes.
And open-source Android apps can act as higher replacements that respect your privateness than common proprietary Android apps that you could be already use.
Right here, I’ve curated an inventory of one of the best open-source Android apps you need to use as each day drivers.
I hope this listing is useful for anybody you share it with!
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The open-source purposes listed might be discovered on the Google Play Retailer, F-Droid retailer, or the developer’s official web site/platform. It’s best to all the time use the formally really helpful supply to obtain and set up APKs.
Keyboard Apps
The keyboard app is what you work together with essentially the most when texting or trying to find one thing.
Positive, choices like SwiftKey could have been good prior to now, however they don’t seem to be so spectacular anymore. Furthermore, it solely is sensible to go for an open-source keyboard app that respects your privateness and works as one would count on (with none fancy options). Among the finest choices embrace:
1. Easy Keyboard
Because the title suggests, Easy Keyboard is a minimal possibility for customers who desire a simple keyboard app with no frills. It is a superb different to Gboard, the default keyboard app by Google.
This may increasingly disappoint you in order for you theme customizations and some additional controls.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. AnySoftKeyboard
AnySoftKeyboard is my favourite, because it comes with all of the important options I would like, together with theme customization, fast textual content, and gesture help.
It may be a easy keyboard expertise in order for you or act as a device you are able to do extra with.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. OpenBoard
You’ll be able to consider OpenBoard as Android’s default keyboard app with out counting on Google binaries.
So, when you like Gboard however hate its affiliation with Google providers, you need to use OpenBoard, which is an easy and efficient keyboard app
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
File Supervisor Apps
Each smartphone producer masses up their native-branded file supervisor. Relying in your smartphone, you could have already got a ‘Samsung My Recordsdata‘ or ‘File Supervisor by Mi‘.
Sadly, the default file supervisor purposes (together with Recordsdata by Google) could not work one of the best. Furthermore, they gather some utilization knowledge you could not wish to share.
Among the finest open-source file supervisor choices are:
1. Amaze File Supervisor
Amaze File Supervisor is a pleasant open-source different to choices like Strong Explorer and EX File supervisor.
You get a cloth design consumer interface and the important options to chop, copy, delete, compress, extract, and extra. Additionally, you get to tweak the theme.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Easy File Supervisor
Easy File Supervisor is a useful app from a developer staff centered completely on making ‘easy‘ instruments for cell.
It’s a light-weight and versatile file supervisor with important file administration options.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. Little File Supervisor
Simply need a small app to discover and entry recordsdata? Little File Supervisor must be an excellent choose that permits you to do the basics like copy-pasting recordsdata.
Internet Browsers
Wish to browse the online utilizing a privacy-friendly and an open-source cell browser? These choices ought to go well with properly:
1. Firefox
Mozilla Firefox might be the favourite open-source browser for desktop and cell customers.
With Android, they’ve stepped up the sport properly, making it a satisfying, quick, and personal expertise. You too can strive variants of Firefox, like ‘Firefox Focus‘ which is an easy app that deletes your historical past when you exit.
📥 GitHub | Play Retailer
2. DuckDuckGo Personal Browser
DuckDuckGo personal browser is an thrilling possibility developed by the privacy-friendly search engine big.
You get a minimal consumer expertise sprinkled with particular DuckDuckGo options like App Monitoring Safety and E-mail Safety.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
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3. Bromite
Bromite is a Chromium fork for Android that comes with privateness enhancements and ad-blocking capabilities.
You’ll be able to obtain the APK from its official web site or the GitHub web page. Moreover, you may add its repository to F-Droid to put in and handle updates.
4. Tor Browser
Tor Browser is predicated on Firefox however has enhanced safety and privateness protections.
It could not offer you one of the best consumer expertise, however in order for you most privateness throughout looking periods, the Tor browser generally is a sensible choice.
📥 GitLab | Play Retailer
Multi-Platform Sync or File-Sharing Apps
Whether or not you wish to sync your notifications, management music, or share recordsdata/clipboard content material, you could not wish to use file-sharing apps with intrusive advertisements and poor privateness practices.
These apps might help you higher:
1. KDE Join
KDE Join is a well-liked open-source software that permits you to join throughout units like your Linux PC and Android cell to share clipboard content material, recordsdata, URLs, and notifications.
Should you use KDE-based distributions, it comes built-in with the desktop expertise.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. LocalSend
LocalSend helps you ship recordsdata to close by units (cross-platform). It’s a easy, ad-free open-source different to a number of clones of Shareit on the Play Retailer.
Apparently, together with iOS and Android, it additionally helps macOS, Microsoft Home windows, and Linux. For a lot of customers, this generally is a one-stop answer to share recordsdata safely throughout units.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. Warpinator (unofficial)
If you’d like a cell port to Linux Mint’s Warpinator device, you may do this out.
Even Linux Mint builders have given it a point out formally. Nonetheless, think about it an unofficial construct with the identical title.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
4. Zorin Join
Zorin Join might be an alternate in order for you one thing just like KDE Join however with a barely higher consumer expertise.
It supplies the identical options to regulate music, and video playback, ship recordsdata, management the mouse, and use your cellphone as a slideshow distant.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
Podcast or Audio E-book Gamers
If you wish to hearken to podcasts with none interruptions with a easy consumer expertise, these foss podcast purposes ought to assist:
1. AntennaPod
AntennaPod is a highly effective open-source podcast supervisor and participant that offers you entry to numerous podcasts throughout the globe.
You’ll be able to simply add (import and export) your feeds from different apps utilizing RSS URLs, iTunes podcast database, or OPML recordsdata.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Voice
Voice is a simple participant that permits you to play/handle audiobooks with ease. The consumer expertise is minimal however efficient in letting you give attention to listening to the audiobook as a substitute of different features.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
It may be robust to maintain up with all the data on-line or have an inventory of it organized. Nonetheless, RSS readers all the time assist with the duty gracefully.
If you’re uninterested in paying for choices like Feedly or Inoreader, you may merely add/import your RSS feeds to those apps:
1. Feeder
Feeder is my favourite RSS reader app for Android that gives a good consumer expertise and some customization choices to filter/arrange your feeds.
It does help a darkish mode, so you may simply sustain with info with out straining your eyes.
📥 GitLab | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Learn You
Learn You is a comparatively new app to hitch the RSS reader class, contemplating it follows Google’s new Materials You UI model.
It ticks all of the important options you want with an RSS feed reader and supplies a pleasing consumer expertise.
3. NewsBlur
Want a full-fledged open-source information reader? NewsBlur is an thrilling answer with a primary characteristic set to fulfill your wants.
It goals to be a substitute for Google Reader. Price a strive!
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
VPN Apps
You’ll have to belief the corporate or service to guard your privateness for many VPN providers.
Nonetheless, when you use open-source VPN purposes, you get an excellent quantity of transparency of how the client-side of it really works. So, open-source VPN apps could show to be a greater possibility than proprietary ones.
1. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a common possibility amongst privacy-focused VPN providers. It affords priceless options like tracker blocking, safe core servers, and extra to reinforce privateness in comparison with different VPN apps.
In contrast to some others, Proton’s total providing is open-source, which makes it a good selection to select.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
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2. Mullvad
Mullvad is a distinctive VPN providing that doesn’t want a lot private info. It generates a singular random quantity to assign you an account that you just use. You solely have to make use of your fee info to subscribe.
Mullvad’s app is open-source and generally is a good different for customers who don’t favor ProtonVPN.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. IVPN
IVPN is well-known for its brutally sincere advertising and marketing. It informs you whether or not you want a VPN or not earlier than you decide to buy it.
The app is open-source and affords important options with a easy consumer expertise.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
Comics or Manga Reader
1. Tachiyomi
Tachiyomi is an immensely common free and open-source manga reader for Android.
You’ll be able to browse content material from numerous supply or learn obtain manga whereas having the ability to arrange the library utilizing classes. The studying viewer might be tweaked to regulate your expertise and it additionally helps mild/darkish themes.
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You will discover the newest APK for Tachiyomi on its GitHub releases part.
2. Kotatsu
Kotatsu is one more open supply manga reader for Android. You’ll be able to discover on-line catalogues, arrange manga you learn, and get an optimized reader with offline help.
It options the fashionable Materials You consumer interface which may present a greater expertise.
3. Seeneva
Want a sensible comedian e book reader? Seeneva is a stable alternative that will not be common sufficient.
It helps numerous comedian e book archive codecs like CBZ, CBR, CB7, and extra.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
Music Participant
Technically, the default music participant ought to do superb when you solely wish to play music. Nonetheless, in order for you the flexibility to prepare a library and now have a minimal music playback expertise, these purposes ought to go well with properly:
1. Easy Music Participant
Easy Music Participant is one other utility developed by the identical staff behind the Easy File Supervisor app.
Whereas it affords a easy expertise, it options an intuitive consumer interface with choices to group recordsdata, customise coloration schemes, and luxuriate in music.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Vanilla Music
Vanilla Music is a clear open-source music participant that helps the most typical audio codecs and supplies primary functionalities.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
Be aware Taking
Notes might be private or random scribbles. Nonetheless, utilizing a note-taking app that takes privateness severely and provides you higher safety is important. You may write one thing delicate and shouldn’t share such info in a note-taking app with poor privateness practices.
1. Joplin
Joplin is a improbable open-source note-taking app additionally obtainable for desktop platforms.
You’ll be able to retailer your notes regionally, encrypt them, sync them, and do tons extra to prepare issues. The consumer expertise will not be essentially the most intuitive factor, however in order for you an open-source, feature-rich word app, Joplin is not going to disappoint.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Commonplace Notes
Commonplace Notes is a handy possibility that provides end-to-end encryption by default and shops your knowledge within the cloud.
You’ll be able to go for the premium to increase its options. Nonetheless, the essential functionalities must be sufficient so that you can get began.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
Advised Learn 📖
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3. Simplenote
Simplenote is an easy-to-use note-taking app developed by Automattic (the corporate behind WordPress).
If you do not need fancy options or overwhelming choices, that is one of the best open-source app to sync notes throughout a number of units.
📥 GitHub | Play Retailer
2FA and Password Apps
Managing passwords and two-factor authentication codes are essential. Particularly once we see proprietary password managers like LastPass getting common safety breaches, how are you going to even belief them?
So, you may strive going with open-source choices that provide you with higher privateness and transparency for peace of thoughts:
1. KeePassDX
KeePassDX is an easy and highly effective password supervisor for customers who don’t wish to sync their knowledge with the cloud.
You’ll be able to create a database, export/import them, and handle your passwords wherever you go. It’s suitable with KeePassXC, one of many finest password managers on Linux.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Bitwarden
Bitwarden is the hottest open-source password supervisor that syncs throughout units and browsers (with extensions). You too can retailer 2FA tokens right here.
In contrast to the above, it syncs to the cloud. Nonetheless, it does present industry-standard protections and extra superior options to guard your knowledge. As well as, the premium for Bitwarden is reasonably priced in comparison with different proprietary password managers.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. Aegis Authenticator
In search of an open-source substitute for Authy? Aegis Authenticator generally is a good answer that helps industry-standard 2FA tokens.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
If you’re in search of enhanced privateness and safety, open-source electronic mail purposes are a should. Our suggestions embrace the next:
1. Ok-9 Mail (or Thunderbird)
Ok-9 mail is a well-liked open-source electronic mail shopper on Android with all of the important options.
In 2022, the Ok-9 mail’s challenge maintainer joined Thunderbird to make use of Mozilla’s assets and experience to enhance the Ok-9 expertise. So, Ok-9 mail will ultimately flip into Thunderbird’s cell app.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. FairEmail
FairEmail is one more open-source electronic mail shopper that helps accounts like Gmail, Outlook, and extra.
It affords a easy consumer interface with loads of helpful options.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. Tutanota
Tutanota is an encrypted electronic mail service. You may get began with its cell app if you wish to use it for enhanced privateness and safety.
With a premium subscription, you unlock sure capabilities. In any other case, you need to use it without cost.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
4. Proton Mail
Proton Mail is one other common encrypted electronic mail service. It could present a greater consumer expertise (that is what I favor).
Each of those choices are glorious suggestions for privacy-focused customers.
📥 GitHub | Play Retailer
Video Participant
An open-source video participant ought to turn out to be useful when you dabble with completely different file codecs to look at media in your cell. Strive these out:
1. VLC
VLC most likely wants no introduction. It’s among the many finest open-source video/media gamers throughout a number of platforms.
It helps a variety of file codecs.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
2. Nova video participant
The Nova video participant is an possibility when you want one thing completely different for a change with a good characteristic set.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
3. mpv-android
Need a tremendous easy video participant? Mpv-android might be your choose.
The consumer interface doesn’t get in your manner and simply works.
📥 GitHub | F-Droid | Play Retailer
The place Can You Discover Extra Open-Supply Purposes?
Will probably be an infinite listing if we add open-source options for every kind of issues like Digital camera, SMS, and extra.
🚀 To search out extra open-source purposes, you may head to the F-Droid retailer or try an inventory of foss purposes on this GitHub web page to get extra strategies.
💬What’s your favourite on the listing? Be at liberty to share your ideas within the feedback down beneath.
