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Open-source apps give Android users more control over their devices, whether they want to improve existing services, change the source code, or make sure their privacy is protected with the Best Open Source Android Apps. Even though official apps are fine, a great alternative to paid options is to get involved in a community-driven and managed service. So, use some of the great open-source apps that are currently on the Play Store to get the most out of your device.
Android comes in a lot of different shapes and sizes, and almost every smartphone maker or seller has their own version of the operating system. Because Android is open source, you can change it in any way you want. This collection includes more than just the Android versions made by companies. It also includes custom Android ROMs made by independent developers.
In addition to the many versions of Android, there are also a number of open-source Android apps that do important things but may not have gotten the attention they deserve. Also, if you’re a developer who wants to improve your coding skills, you can use these apps’ code as a useful guide for building your own apps or adding features to existing ones, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Best Open Source Android Apps Comparison Table
| Product | Features | Download Now |
|---|---|---|
| DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser | * Privacy-focused browser | Download Now |
| Telegram | * Secure messaging platform | Download Now |
| Lawnchair Launcher 2 | * Customizable home screen launcher | Download Now |
| NewPipe | * YouTube client without ads or tracking | Download Now |
| Firefox | * Open-source web browser | Download Now |
| Amaze File Manager | * File manager with material design and root access | Download Now |
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Privacy-focused | Blocks third-party trackers and preserves privacy |
| Search engine | Integrated search engine with instant answers |
| Encryption | Forces HTTPS connections for secure browsing |
| Bangs | Shortcut commands for specific searches |
| Privacy grade | Evaluates websites based on privacy practices |
If you care most about your privacy, you should use the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser. It’s a web browser app that runs on DuckDuckGo’s search engine. The privacy browser doesn’t keep track of what you do online and gets rid of many third-party cookies. The latest version of the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser also has a function that protects against hidden app trackers.
The Good
- Putting a lot of focus on user privacy
- Third-party trackers can be blocked effectively.
- Connections that are encrypted for safe browsing
The Bad
- If you compare it to popular search engines, it may have a smaller search index.
- Few ways to change things
Telegram
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Secure messaging | End-to-end encryption for secure conversations |
| Group chats | Create groups with up to 200,000 members |
| File sharing | Share files of various types and sizes |
| Voice and video calls | Make high-quality voice and video calls |
| Channels | Subscribe to channels for news and updates |
Telegram is a very popular way to send quick messages. Like WhatsApp, Telegram‘s texts are encrypted, so no one else can read them. In terms of the way it looks, it’s a lot like WhatsApp. Telegram is the best choice for you if you want an open-source chat app with a lot of safety features.
The Good
- Messages need strong encryption to be safe.
- Large groups can work together in a lot of ways.
- File-sharing options that are flexible
- Calls that sound and look good
The Bad
- Not as popular as some other apps for sending messages
- Depending on how the network is set up, the quality of voice and video calls can vary.
Lawnchair Launcher 2
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Customization | Extensive customization options for the home screen |
| Icon packs | Support for various icon packs |
| Gestures | Assign gestures for quick actions |
| App drawer | Organize and access apps easily |
| Integration | Integration with Google Feed and other services |
One of the more recent open source apps on the list is Lawnchair Launcher 2. It’s a screen that looks like stock Android. It is similar to the Pixel Launcher, but it has more options. They let you connect to Google Now (with an add-on), use icon packs, change the size of icons, use a blur mode, and make other changes. This is still in the test phase.
But we feel good about telling almost anyone about it. It’s also open source, free, and very useful. It’s great for people who want a simple browser but still want some ways to customize it. The creator is working on the beta for this launcher’s second version, so there may be bugs for now.
The Good
- Home screens that are easy to change
- Many different icon packs can be used.
- Actions are taken quickly through hand signals.
The Bad
- May take a while to set up and customize.
NewPipe
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Ad-free | Blocks ads for uninterrupted video playback |
| Background play | Play audio from videos in the background |
| Subscriptions | Manage and view subscriptions easily |
| Privacy-focused | Minimizes data collection and tracking |
| Offline download | Download videos and watch them offline |
NewPipe is like a lighter version of YouTube that lets you use a lot of features that would normally be locked down. The app has a simple interface, but it has a lot of powerful features, like a background player, a “picture-in-picture” mode, and the ability to download songs for offline playing. On top of that, it’s a free, open-source Android app that doesn’t have any ads.
The best thing about this app is that it has “extended privacy”—NewPipe protects user privacy because it doesn’t use any proprietary Google APIs and only sends information that is needed to get video and channel data.
The Good
- Experience watching without ads
- Play music in the background while using other apps.
- Convenient management of subscriptions
The Bad
- Compared to the official YouTube app, this one has fewer features.
- There might not be as many updates as on the official app.
Firefox
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Privacy protection | Enhanced tracking protection and anti-fingerprinting |
| Add-ons | Extensive collection of add-ons for customization |
| Sync | Synchronize bookmarks, history, and more |
| Multi-platform | Available on various operating systems |
| Developer tools | Robust tools for web developers |
Since Firefox came out in 2002, the industry standards for web computers have changed a lot. Mozilla has made a number of big changes to Firefox’s design over the years so that it can stay on the market even as other apps have disappeared. By setting up a Firefox account, users can make sure that their most important browser info is the same on all of their devices.
Setting up an account is easy and only takes a few minutes. All you need is an email address. Once you’re signed in, you can save tabs, passwords, add-ons, and other information to your account that you can access from other devices.
The Good
- Strong features to protect privacy
- There are a lot of add-ons you can use to make it your own and make it work.
- Getting data on different devices to match up
The Bad
- Can use a lot of resources and run slowly on older hardware
- Sometimes there are problems with certain websites.
Amaze File Manager
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| File management | Browse, manage, and organize files and folders |
| Root access | Access and manage root files and system settings |
| Cloud storage | Integration with popular cloud storage services |
| FTP server | Turn your device into an FTP server |
| Archive support | Extract and create compressed files (ZIP, TAR, etc.) |
Amaze File Manager is a great Android app that can be used instead of the stock file manager. What’s that? Amaze File Manager is a fast, free, open-source program that follows the rules for Material design. The file manager app for Android has all the features you are likely to need for managing files.
You can perform essential tasks like cut, copy, paste, move, delete, compress files, etc. Besides that, you can change a lot about Amaze File Manager. You can change how the app looks by choosing from different themes and cool icons.
The Good
- Comprehensive file management capabilities
- File operations that need root access
- Integration with popular storage services in the cloud
The Bad
- For beginners, the user interface may not be as easy to use.
FAQs
The F-Droid app is where you can get most of the open source Android apps that were listed. F-Droid is a reliable place to find free and open source software, and it makes it easy to find, download, and update open source apps. Some apps may also be offered on other app stores, like Google Play, or as direct downloads from their project websites.
Most of the time, yes, these open source Android apps are free to use. Most open source software is released with licenses that let users easily use, change, and share the software. But some apps may have optional paid features or ask for gifts to help them keep getting better.