Everytime I setup a phone for a friend or myself I usually remove stock apps using adb or UniversalAndroidDebloaterNextGeneration and replace them with theses apps listed here. I added also a couple of nice to have apps that people might wants on their device.
Almost all of them are free as in free beer and many are open source (around 80%)
I tried to feature more applications and less services but there are several services still in this list, however I find them great and/or accessible (freemium most of the time).
FOSS = Free(as in freedom) and Open Source Software
Android lets you use alternatives app stores here are the two that I recommend to most people.
A client for F-Droid, which is a catalog of free and open source apps. You can install many of the following apps using this one. I recommend you to activate the following repositories to have a more complete catalog :
- F-Droid
- IzzyOnDroid (Apps may contains proprietary blobs)
- Guardian Project Official Releases (if you care about privacy)
- The Calyx Institue
- Every repo of app you might want to use such as BitWarden, NewPipe, ThreemaLibre, Collabora, Cryptomator, PeterCxy (Shelter), etc..
Aurora Store enables you to search and download apps from the official Google Play store. You can check app descriptions, screenshots, updates, reviews, and download the APK directly from Google Play to your device.
I like AuroraStore because it grabs apk (Android installation files) directly from the PlayStore without the need to connect to a Google account by using their Anonymous login method
Worth mentioning :
APKMirror Proprietary alternative appstore with untouched APKs
Official Android marketplace for apps, games, books, movies, and more accessible via Android devices and web browsers with user reviews for each item.
A few apps only worked install from the autoritarian source of truth.
Shelter is a Free and Open-Source (FOSS) app that leverages the “Work Profile” feature of Android to provide an isolated space that you can install or clone apps into.
I put this one in the beggining because you might want to install it early. It let you create a Work Profile to let you easily separate data on your phone. Might not work on some devices such as Huawei. Here are some usecase :
Personnal / Work
Personnal / Banking
Offline / Online
Spyware free / Big brother (Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, Snapchat, etc...)
Open source / Proprietary
Canta is a software tool designed to facilitate the uninstallation of apps from your device, irrespective of whether root access is available or not. It provides a solution for removing any application, even those that might be deeply ingrained within the system.
To debloat your device if you don't have a computer or don't feel confortable using adb or
Universal Android Debloater NG but it need
Shizuku in order to work...
Introducing Fossify Contacts - the next evolution in contact management. Poised to redefine how you manage your contacts, our app combines simplicity with advanced features, tailored for both personal and professional use.
To manage contacts
Worth mentioning :
ConnectYou also a SMS client
The ultimate app for organizing and customizing your contacts with a focus on privacy. Take control of your contact list by creating private contacts that are accessible only within the app, ensuring that your personal information remains confidential and secure.
Another app to manage contact, inspired by Apple Contacts
Empower your calls, safeguard your data. Fossify Phone redefines the mobile app experience with unmatched privacy and efficiency. Free from ads and intrusive permissions, it's designed for seamless and secure everyday communication.
A phone dialer app.
Worth mentioning :
RivoPhone
The Dialer app is a built-in phone application on Android devices, which manages your call history and contacts. It provides quick access to making calls and sending text messages through the application interface, including popular messengers.
Another phone dialer app, inspired from iOS dialer.
QUIK is an open source replacement to the stock messaging app on Android. It is a continuation of QKSMS.
A SMS app because it is somewhat (and somhow) still used as a communication protocole
Worth mentioning :
Fossify Messages
Fast SMS messenger with iOS 16 style interface. Free and no ads. Supports work with two SIM cards.
Another SMS app, inspired by Apple iMessage design
A keyboard that respects your privacy. Based on OpenBoard and support swipetyping (through Google's library)
Activate emoji in the settings !
Worth mentioning :
Simple Keyboard
We are building a modern keyboard that respects your privacy and security. 100% offline and 100% private, the FUTO Keyboard is equipped with all of your favorite features including but not limited to swipe typing, offline voice input, smart autocorrect, theme selection, and...
Another keyboard worth trying but this comes with local AI-based speech-to-text feature.
A minimalistic notes app. Notally it's extremely light, minimalistic and elegant. There are minimal dependencies and lines of code. (All without compromising on readability).
A lightweight and elegant FOSS local note taking app.
If you want a more complete option check the eXtended fork :
NotallyX
The shkipper is designed to make your life easier and organize your daily activities. Take notes, schedule reminders with flexible repeat modes (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) and don't forget important events.
An interesting foss local notes app
A (work-in-progress) cross-platform libre notes app. Please note that this app is still in early stages and not ready to trust with your notes yet.
A great FOSS local handwritten notes app
OpenJot is a minimal and open-source journaling app designed for privacy and simplicity. All your thoughts, memories, and ideas are stored securely on your device, never in the cloud.
If you're into journaling on your Android device this open source app is well made.
Fully open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes with device-based security, secure sync, offline access, powerful editor, vault, backups, and exports.
A cloud synched note taking app with e2ee.
Open source note-taking app with Markdown support, to-do integration, and synchronization with cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive.
Another foss privacy respecting cloud sync note app
Worth mentioning :
Standard Notes
Provides cropping, filters, EXIF editing, background removal, PDF editing, batch processing, custom filters, OCR, encryption, and format export.
A foss photo editing app
Private offline photo and video viewer with editing tools, format support, secure locking, EXIF removal, no ads, recycle bin, and material design themes.
A feature rich gallery app.
Your private moments are protected. Discover Right Gallery, where your privacy is our priority.
Another feature rich gallery app, inspired from iOS Gallery app.
Open-source, end-to-end encrypted backup and sharing for photos and videos, with multi-platform sync, original quality, privacy controls, and collaborative albums.
You can use it offline(no Cloud) without any account from now on! A cloud-based end-to-end encryption privacy-friendly replacement for Google Photos with local AI text based search.
A promising gallery app. Currently lacking advanced features but already good and gorgeous.
Worth mentioning :
Gallery (Googol Apps) Lightweight
Focus Go Proprietary, minimalist and lightweight
This is a modern camera app focused on privacy and security. It includes modes for capturing images, videos and QR / barcode scanning along with additional modes based on CameraX vendor extensions (Portrait, HDR, Night Sight, Face Retouch and Auto) on devices where they're...
A free and open source camera app
Worth mentioning :
PhotonCamera
Libre Camera
Open Camera \
Never miss a moment with Google Camera, and take fantastic pictures using features such as Portrait and Night Sight.
The best camera app. If you don't have a Pixel device you can look on this website for a compatible mod : https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/dev-suggested/
Blackmagic Camera unlocks the power of your iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet by adding Blackmagic’s digital film camera controls and image processing.
An advanced Camera app for videography on compatible devices
LightCut is an AI-powered video editing app with awesome templates and effects that help you create stylish videos and vlogs with ease. Try the AI video editor for unique videos with just a tap, or the Inspire Cam feature, which lets you shoot like a pro.
Advanced mobile video editor (proprietary)
Worth mentioning :
Vaux Simpler and quicker video editor with useful features for simple edits
Open Video Editor lets you edit your videos. It supports HDR and allows to apply filters. With this app you also can trim, scale, and rotate your videos or even grayscale them. It is also possible to use this app to extract audio from a video, to convert a HDR video to SDR, or...
To have super basic video editing features (free & open source).
Android video player based on ExoPlayer library. It uses ExoPlayer's ffmpeg extension with all its audio formats enabled (it can handle even special formats like AC3, EAC3, DTS, DTS HD, TrueHD etc.).
A simple foss video player for Android
Worth mentioning :
mpvKt elegant foss media player
VLC Media Player more feature-rich
Next Player early-dev
Lightweight and open-source app for YouTube, PeerTube, SoundCloud, and more. No Google Account needed, supports 4K and background audio streaming with downloads.
To watch youtube videos or listening to music without ads.
Worth mentioning :
LibreTube Private YouTube front-end streaming from Piped instances
Offers an alternative Android streaming front-end for major platforms, with ad-free playback, SponsorBlock, advanced filters, danmaku chats, and playlist downloads.
Independant fork of NewPipe with more feature such as SponsorBlock, ReturnDislikeButton and more
Worth mentioning :
LastPipeBender NewPipe fork with most PipePipe features.
Multi-streaming client for desktop and mobile supporting YouTube, Twitch, other services, universal feed, live chat, playlist import, and offline playback.
An app to follow video makers no matter their plateforms. Watch YouTube, PeerTube, Odysee, Rumble, Nebula and more...
Morphe is an Android app modification tool. It allows you to change how apps work, look, and behave beyond their original design. Build new functionality, remove limitations, and tailor apps to your needs.
An open-source app that allows you to read and generate barcodes for Android.
A great foss barcode & QR code scanner with history, OpenFoodFacts, OpenPetFoodFacts, OpenBeautyFacts and MusicBrainz integration. It also let you generate QR code or other barcode.
Binary Eye is a free and open source app that can scan and generate various barcodes. It supports portrait and landscape orientation, inverted codes, Material Design and checksum verification.
A feature packed barcode & QR code scanner
An open source file app.
Worth mentioning :
Fossify File Manager
Prism File Explorer
A reliable tool that helps you manage and organize files on your device without annoying ads. You can easily search, move, copy, delete and rename files and folders on your device.
Another open source file app, inspired by iOS Files
MiXplorer (Mix of Explorers) is a fast, smooth, beautiful, reliable and fully-featured file manager with a simple and intuitive user interface.
An advanced proprietary and freemium file explorer app
Worth mentioning :
Solid Explorer freemium
ZipXtract is a comprehensive, open-source file extraction utility designed to handle a wide range of compressed file formats, including RAR, ZIP, TAR, BZ2, GZ, 7Z, XZ, JAR, and Z. This versatile application offers users the ability to extract files from both standard and...
A fully open source app to extract rar, zip, tar, bz2, gz, 7z, xz, jar and z etc (encrypted .zip & .7z supported)
ZArchiver - program to manage archives in android. The program has a simple and functional interface. It lets you create 7z (7zip), zip, bzip2 (bz2), gzip (gz), XZ, tar archives, decompress 7z (7zip), zip, rar, bzip2, gzip, XZ, iso, tar, arj.
A proprietary app to extract archives
A beautiful Material 3 Expressive FOSS Clock app inspired by Google Clock
Comments
Very nice list, though I still manage to find some suggestions lol
Id add Handy News Reader, an open source RSS reader with certain features that many RSS readers lack, big one for example is labeled saved articles and can even create pseudo feeds from websites.
If you make a category for social messaging, id add Element (matrix)
Hi, thank you. I try to keep this list more app based and not focusing too much on services that's why except for SMS Messengers there is no social messaging apps like Signal or Matrix. Thanks for recommanding me Handy News Reader but I don't think it's really better than the RSS agregator listed on here. Feel free to "fork" this list and personnalize it to your opinions !
I suggest adding Image Toolbox, it's a great addition to Gallery by Ionut Iacob with its lacking features. Also if you don't have a PC for Universal Android Debloater there's Canta, however it requires Shizuku to work.
Forgot to mention MJ PDF, far more versatile than its alternatives.
MJ PDF is now listed and so is Image Toolbox (And Canta) and a bunch more apps, thanks for your recommandations !
I would include Magic Earth for Maps
and FUTO GrayJay for youtube/video streaming alternative
Hey I have rework this list and added theses with a bunch of other apps, it is way more complete now !