The Best Open Source Android AlternativesTop Operating Systems & Mobile Os like Android in 2023

The best open source alternative to Android is LineageOS. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Android and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Android are /e/, Ubuntu Touch, GrapheneOS and Replicant.

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.

Android alternatives page was last updated

Android

896

Free • Open Source
Operating System

Android is an operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It consists of a kernel based...

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LineageOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Android ROM
Mobile OS
Operating System
Android
Android Tablet
59 LineageOS alternatives
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 is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Android.
- - LineageOS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Android.
Suggest and vote on features
LineageOS Features
1. Privacy focusedLineageOS is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. LightweightLineageOS consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Customizable
Custom-ROM
Security focused
Sideload apps
Comments about LineageOS as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks LineageOS is a great Android alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Third Opinion
Can be tricky to install on some phones but every single time it's worth it! It is still googly but much, much less!
Top positive comment•
1

Guest
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...
Top positive comment•
3

Guest
Just the basics. Run it with f-droid and no google apps!
Positive comment•
4

Guest
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.
Positive comment•
2

bharathse
Lineage 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.
Positive comment•
4

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5 of 7 comments
/e/
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mobile OS
Android ROM
Operating System
Android
Android Tablet
57 /e/ alternatives
/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.
Suggest and vote on features
/e/ Features
1. Privacy focused/e/ is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Lightweight/e/ consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
User friendly
Nextcloud integration
Ungoogled
OTA Updates
One-click upgrade
Intuitive
Low bandwidth usage
Security focused
Low CPU usage
Custom-ROM
Comments about /e/ as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks /e/ is a great Android alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
it's focused on security and privacy
Top positive comment•
14

Guest
Supports most Android apps and it's more lightweight than full Android. Respects your privacy.
Top positive comment•
11

Guest
Still not available for Galaxy S5 nor Galaxy S8, even it being based on LineageOS.
Top negative comment•
-2

Roberto Trimarchi
Covers up to now only google pixel devices and some Samsung.
Negative comment•
0

Tibbe
It is currently available for 190 smartphone models.
Positive comment•
0

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5 of 27 comments
Ubuntu Touch
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mobile OS
Operating System
Android ROM
Linux
47 Ubuntu Touch alternatives
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 is the most popular Linux alternative to Android.
Suggest and vote on features
Ubuntu Touch Features
1. Privacy focusedUbuntu Touch is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Ad-freeUbuntu Touch doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. OpenVPNUbuntu Touch supports OpenVPN, one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols.
4. LightweightUbuntu Touch consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Support for GesturesUbuntu Touch supports touch or mouse gestures and interactions.
6. No TrackingUbuntu Touch will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Calendar IntegrationUbuntu Touch lets you sync your tasks and events with your calendar application.
GNU/linux-libre
Community-based
Security focused
Conference Bridging
Linux-based
Based on Ubuntu
Customizable
Run Android Apps on Desktop
Nextcloud integration
Video phone calling
Comments about Ubuntu Touch as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks Ubuntu Touch is a great Android alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
RemovedUser
It's a very good OS! Stable, pretty and fast.
Top positive comment•
2

tobischimpf
It's free doesn't track anything, beautiful, with an awesome community that helps you out of Nealy every problem or question.
Top positive comment•
3

Guest
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.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
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.
Negative comment•
-8

airmjr
Free, no tracking, no advertisement, nice GUI and user friendly.
Positive comment•
0

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5 of 27 comments
GrapheneOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Android ROM
Mobile OS
Operating System
Android
Android Tablet
39 GrapheneOS alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
GrapheneOS Features
1. Privacy focusedGrapheneOS is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. No TrackingGrapheneOS will not track you or use your personal data.
3. Ad-freeGrapheneOS doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Security focused
OTA Updates
Comments about GrapheneOS as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks GrapheneOS is a great Android alternative.
Darlene Sonalder
Probably the best OS out there that care about your privacy and safety
Positive comment•
1

gunther
Excellent 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.
Positive comment•
0
Replicant
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Android ROM
Mobile OS
Operating System
Android
56 Replicant alternatives
Replicant is a fully free Android distribution running on several devices, a free software mobile operating system putting the emphasis on freedom and privacy/security. It is based on LineageOS and replaces or avoids every proprietary component of the system, such as user-space...
Suggest and vote on features
Replicant Features
1. Root requiredRequires root to use Replicant, mainly relevant for Android apps.
2. Privacy focusedReplicant is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
FOSS
Security focused
Comments about Replicant as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks Replicant is a great Android alternative.
Guest
Android with as few non-libre drivers as possible.
Positive comment•
2
Android-x86
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Mobile OS
Linux
VirtualBox
Self-Hosted
VMware Workstation
VMware Player
36 Android-x86 alternatives
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 is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Android.
Suggest and vote on features
Android-x86 Features
1. LightweightAndroid-x86 consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
ARM support
Gaming Mode
Comments about Android-x86 as a Alternative to Android
Some users think Android-x86 is a great Android alternative, some don't.
Guest
It's android for your pc.
Top positive comment•
0

someone last
Just Android with a different processor architecture.
Top negative comment•
15

Guest
This is more of an alternative to Windows or macOS...
Negative comment•
0

Guest
is for computers, not tablets/phones
Negative comment•
10

Guest
Wrong processor architecture, not compatible with andoid devices
Negative comment•
-5
Plasma Mobile
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mobile OS
Operating System
Linux
KDE
Linux Mobile
49 Plasma Mobile alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Plasma Mobile Features
1. Privacy focusedPlasma Mobile is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. No TrackingPlasma Mobile will not track you or use your personal data.
Portable Linux
Linux-based
Customizable
Comments about Plasma Mobile as a Alternative to Android
Almost everyone thinks Plasma Mobile is a great Android alternative.
Guest
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.
Top positive comment•
2

Guest
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.
Top positive comment•
2

Guest
It's an alternative, though it still very dated on appearance and pretty limited.
Top negative comment•
4

Guest
it's not quite there yet, but i'm sure in a few years it'll be a very viable alternative to android
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Even though it's still in its early stages, it's a good mobile GNU/Linux experience with a great KDE user interface.
Positive comment•
2