Android Alternatives
Android is described as 'operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It consists of a kernel based on the Linux kernel, with middleware, libraries and APIs written in C and application software running on an application framework which includes' and is a leading operating system in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Android for a variety of platforms, including Android, Linux, Android Tablet, Linux Mobile and Android-x86. The best alternative is Ubuntu Touch, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Android are /e/, LineageOS, Sailfish OS and Plasma Mobile.
Android alternatives are mainly Operating Systems but may also be Mobile OSs or Android ROMs. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Android.Ubuntu Touch
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
- Android ROM
47 alternatives to Ubuntu Touch- Linux
Ubuntu Touch is a mobile version of the Ubuntu operating system for mobile devices. It is adapted to run naturally in a mobile, touch-screen environment but is also capable of functioning as a desktop computer while in "desktop mode".
Ubuntu Touch Features
Ubuntu Touch vs Android
Fully open source, no Google spyware, community driven
hugovenhorstTrue Linux on your phone, control over your own data and your own hardware. A positive, active and helpful community behind it
Because it is free and and easy to use BUT for the stability I would give sold Two out of Ten; 2/10 for stability.
Limited in devices, there are very few devices availables and they have no plan to make it bigger. It's a dead project with no future.
airmjrFree, no tracking, no advertisement, nice GUI and user friendly.
thilovvA joy to use, growing, foss.
Ubuntu touch is a completely free and open-source alternative mobile operating system. It is developed by a community of enthusiastic people from all over the world. Being a true community project without any commercial pressure, it is a true alternative to commercially developed platforms.
/e/
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Mobile OS
- Android ROM
- Operating System
57 alternatives to /e/- Android
- Android Tablet
/e/ is a fork of LineageOS that aims to be completely free of everything Google. Not only that, but there are a number of goals the developer has in mind for /e/ that more people feel are vital to a mobile operating system.
/e/ Features
/e/ vs Android
tibbeIt is currently available for 190 smartphone models.
/e/ is easy, ready to use and compatible with plenty of Apps available on its own App Store
rob46Covers up to now only google pixel devices and some Samsung.
It just works like any other Android version but it does not share your user data with Googl.e
Gives you all the Android power that a regular user would expect while taking the necessary steps into the right privacy direction.
Good alternative because of his approach on data privacy, your data is YOUR DATA !
Light and very efficient OS on many supported devices. The devs do an amazing job and work a lot to make the installation easy.
LineageOS
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Android ROM
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
59 alternatives to LineageOS- Android
- Android Tablet
A free and open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform. It is the successor to the highly popular custom ROM CyanogenMod, from which it was forked in December 2016 when Cyanogen Inc.
LineageOS Features
LineageOS vs Android
Lineage is basically stock Android without bloat from Google or device manufacturers. You can usually update to a more modern version of Android than your device natively supports, and you can reinstall any software you still want, so it's a great alternative.
bharathseLineage OS is the best custom ROM if you don't like the original heavily skinned Android that was provided by the OEM. It is very close to stock ROM with lots of little meaningful tweaks available.
3rdCan be tricky to install on some phones but every single time it's worth it! It is still googly but much, much less!
Just the basics. Run it with f-droid and no google apps!
It is personnalizable. I aggree that there's ubuntu touch, but for those who really want an android interface, this is the best choice. It is a fork from Cyanogenmod, which even if shutted down, still had proven it reliability...
Some resources of LineageOS are still Google ressources, but the FLOSS process is on the go. As GoogleMaps is switching to commercial these days, Android could become commercial with fees also. Free Software alternatives are required to prevent such enclosures.
nice features, big community, many motivated developers, patches for very old devices (at least 10 years in some cases)
Sailfish OS
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Proprietary
- Operating System
- Mobile OS
33 alternatives to Sailfish OS- Linux Mobile
Sailfish OS is a European alternative to dominating mobile operating systems, and the only mobile OS offering an exclusive licensing model for local implementations.
Sailfish OS Features
Sailfish OS vs Android
JohnFastmanA very promising and fresh look at the mobile interface. Compatible with Android apps but far more innovative in terms of how you interact with your phone.
It is a good alternative to Android but has SIGNIFICANTLY lower number of apps versus android.
nice and pretty ui, a focus on privacy and even android app support if you buy sailfish x
Plasma Mobile
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
49 alternatives to Plasma Mobile- Linux
- KDE
- Linux Mobile
Plasma Mobile turns your phone into a fully open hacking device, just like a PC. You can join us to start building new mobile experiences now.
Plasma Mobile Features
Plasma Mobile vs Android
New mobile operating system running full GNU/Linux. Has a similar interface paradigm to Android (widgets etc) making it easy to adjust to.
Only negative is the current lack of mobile applications. However, it has a large selection of desktop applications. Using this OS with a stylus should circumvent this issue.
It has a full-featured GNU/Linux as base and so you can do everything what you are used to from your desktop GNU/Linux system. Also, there's a great and growing community around it which develops the system and helps you with your problems. Even you can get involved and make your own ideas about a great mobile operating system become true! Furthermore, Plasma Mobile is not data and money first, but fully respects the user's privacy and freedom.
It's an alternative, though it still very dated on appearance and pretty limited.
it's not quite there yet, but i'm sure in a few years it'll be a very viable alternative to android
Even though it's still in its early stages, it's a good mobile GNU/Linux experience with a great KDE user interface.
GrapheneOS
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Android ROM
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
39 alternatives to GrapheneOS- Android
GrapheneOS is a privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility developed as a non-profit open source project. It's focused on the research and development of privacy and security technology including substantial improvements to sandboxing, exploit...
GrapheneOS Features
GrapheneOS vs Android
guntherExcellent Android fork focused on privacy and security. Only works on Pixel phones. Sandboxed Google Play Services feature allows compatibility with almost all Android apps while limiting Google's telemetry and admin privileges.
justarandomProbably the best OS out there that care about your privacy and safety
Android-x86
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Operating System
- Mobile OS
36 alternatives to Android-x86- Linux
- VirtualBox
- Self-Hosted
- VMware Workstation
- VMware Player
This is a project to port Android open source project to x86 platform, formerly known as "patch hosting for Android x86 support". The original plan is to host different patches for Android x86 support from open source community.
Android-x86 Features
Android-x86 vs Android
It's android for your pc.
someonelastJust Android with a different processor architecture.
This is more of an alternative to Windows or macOS...
is for computers, not tablets/phones
Wrong processor architecture, not compatible with andoid devices
Replicant
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Android ROM
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
56 alternatives to Replicant- Android
Replicant is a distribution of Android that is 100% Free Software.
Most of Android is licensed freely under the Apache License 2.0. The Linux core is mostly Free Software under the GPLv2. However, there are numerous components of the default software stack on the devices that ar.
Replicant Features
Replicant vs Android
Android with as few non-libre drivers as possible.
CalyxOS
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Android ROM
- Mobile OS
- Operating System
53 alternatives to CalyxOS- Android
Everyone needs a phone. Not everyone wants governments and corporations tracking their every move and spying on their communications. CalyxOS lets you have your cake and eat it too, with "Privacy by Design".
CalyxOS Features
CalyxOS vs Android
One of the best privacy focused ROMs
postmarketOS
Is this a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Operating System
- Mobile OS
44 alternatives to postmarketOS- Linux
- Linux Mobile
postmarketOS (pmOS), is a touch-optimized, pre-configured Alpine Linux that can be installed on smartphones and other mobile devices. The project is at very early stages of development and is not usable for most users yet.
postmarketOS Features
postmarketOS vs Android
It aims to replace Android on devices not supported by the device manufacturer any more.