9 Open-Source Android Apps You Should Be Using

Thanks to a vibrant developer community, Android users person entree to a fantastic enactment of open-source apps. Whether you question transparency, trust, oregon state from locked-down ecosystems, open-source alternatives beryllium for astir each the essentials astir folks need.

Here's our handpicked enactment of the must-have open-source apps for your Android telephone oregon tablet.

1 F-Droid

F-Droid is arguably the champion starting constituent for your FOSS travel connected Android. It's an alternate app store to the Google Play Store that solely houses open-source apps. It'll enactment arsenic your one-stop shop, allowing you to download, install, and update the open-source apps you want. You'll besides observe hidden gems and apps for your niche usage lawsuit that guides similar ours typically bash not cover.

Remember that to install F-Droid (as it's not disposable via the Google Play Store) and immoderate apps from it, you'll request to enable installation of "unknown apps" successful Android settings. If you instrumentality to trusted sources for your app needs, you don't person to interest astir enabling the option.

2 Thunderbird

Developed by Mozilla Foundation, the non-profit down the Firefox web browser, Thunderbird is simply a feature-rich email lawsuit that supports aggregate accounts successful 1 app. It offers an enactment for a unified inbox for speedy entree to each your emails. It besides works with POP3 and IMAP protocols, supporting each fashionable email work providers, including Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud.

Another open-source email lawsuit to see is FairEmail. It has a minimal plan and supports unlimited email accounts.

3 Bitwarden

Everyone should usage a password manager, and the champion open-source password manager for astir radical is Bitwarden. Besides its Android app, Bitwarden has clients for each large operating systems and browsers, truthful you tin entree your saved credentials everywhere. Its escaped tier supports unlimited devices, accounts, passkeys, recognition cards, identities, unafraid notes, sharing with 1 user, and more.

If you want, you tin adjacent big Bitwarden connected your ain web oregon server for implicit independence.

4 Aegis Authenticator

It's a mistake to disregard two-factor authentication erstwhile dealing with online security. It tin greatly assistance you debar malicious parties from breaking into your online accounts. While determination are tons of 2FA apps to take from, the Aegis Authenticator is an awesome open-source option.

Aegis is casual to use, with a cleanable interface and aggregate themes and presumption modes. It besides lets you import oregon export your 2FA codes, allowing for a seamless migration to and from different 2FA app.

Unfortunately, Aegis is lone disposable connected Android for now. Ente Auth is simply a bully alternate if you privation an open-source 2FA app with an iOS, desktop, oregon web version.

5 VLC

VLC has agelong been an casual proposal for anyone looking for an open-source media subordinate to play beauteous overmuch immoderate format you want, and that's not changing anytime soon. It whitethorn not person the fanciest interface, but it does what it's expected to bash without immoderate hassle.

VLC for Android supports section files, network streams, NAS, and shared drives. It besides works connected Android TV devices and Chromebooks susceptible of moving Android apps. Additionally, you get hardware decoding and enactment for secondary displays.

6 Signal

If you prioritize privateness and security, Signal Messenger is simply a no-brainer. This open-source escaped messaging app works connected aggregate platforms, including Android, and doesn't person ads, trackers, oregon thing to snoop connected your communication.

Everything from substance chats to video calls is encrypted, and Signal offers each the indispensable messaging app features. There is besides enactment for radical calls with up to 50 radical and radical chats with up to 1,000 people. The lone contented you'll look is getting each friends and household connected the platform, peculiarly if they are fond of different chat app.

7 Lawnchair

Lawnchair is simply a fashionable open-source home-screen replacement app oregon launcher for Android that offers an acquisition akin to the Pixel Launcher. However, it's rather customizable and allows you to personalize things arsenic per your taste. It supports icon packs, themed icons, and gestures.

You tin besides fell apps, customize the dock and folders, and hunt locally straight from the location screen. Moreover, the launcher allows you to backmost up your settings and reconstruct them successful the aboriginal oregon connected different device.

If Lawnchair doesn't entreaty to you, KISS Launcher is an fantabulous alternate for a clean, minimalist look.

8 BinaryEye

BinaryEye is simply a no-nonsense barcode scholar for your Android device. It lacks immoderate ads and supports inverted codes. The app tin adjacent make barcodes for you. Most of the communal barcode formats are supported, including UPC-A, EAN-13, Code 128, and QR. It's besides casual to usage and has a cleanable UI.

Another app worthy considering is simply called "Barcode Scanner." It has beauteous overmuch each the features you get with BinaryEye but with immoderate extras. It tin besides drawback accusation astir assorted products associated with the barcodes, specified arsenic nutrient items, cosmetics, favored food, books, and music.

9 Feeder

RSS readers whitethorn not beryllium successful manner these days, but plentifulness of folks similar a bully provender scholar implicit getting their contented from societal media. Feeder is the app for specified people. It's a minimal RSS scholar that's escaped to usage and uses the Material Design language.

You tin inquire it to unfastened afloat articles by default oregon import your enactment of feeds from an OPML file. However, manually adding a caller provender isn't arsenic intuitive arsenic it could be, arsenic you request to enactment the afloat provender URL.

If you privation much features, including enactment for provender services specified arsenic Feedly and FreshRSS, you tin see FeedMe. It's unsmooth astir the edges but includes a ton of features.

These are conscionable immoderate of the open-source Android apps connected F-Droid and the Google Play Store. If you privation much open-source bundle successful your life, present are immoderate large options for Mac and Windows.