List of free and open-source Android applications

This is a list of notable applications (apps) that run on the Android platform which meet guidelines for free software and open-source software.

Android phones, like this Nexus S running Replicant, allow installation of apps from the Play Store, F-Droid store or directly via APK files.
Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
AptoideGoogle PlayF-Droid
AdAwayAd blockerNoNoYesGNU GPLv3L16 / 4.1+
Adblock PlusAd blocker?No[1]NoGNU GPLv3L7 / 2.1+Standalone filtering app was removed from Google Play for breaching Play terms of service.[1]
  1. The API column is used to describe which versions of Android each individual application is compatible with. If API column shows "5.1" then the application is compatible with Android version 5.1 or higher; "L7" or "L14" mean specific Android API versions.

Web browsers

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
AptoideF-DroidGoogle Play
BraveChromium-based web browser with emphasis on tracking prevention, and reforming ad-blocking[2]YesNo[3]YesMPL4.1+Has in-built ad blocker
ChromiumPrimary code-base of Chrome; uses Blink and V8 enginesNoNoNoBSD 4.4+
DuckDuckGoChromium-based; focuses on privacy & tracking protectionYesYesYesApache 2.05.0+[4]
Fennec F-DroidRebadged fork of Firefox; aims to remove proprietary componentsNoYes NoMPL4.1+Same with Firefox for Android, but some proprietary code removed.
Firefox for AndroidCustomizable with add-ons; uses Gecko engineYesNo[5]YesMPL4.1+Removed from F-Droid
Firefox Focus/KlarPrivacy centered browser; uses Gecko engine (GeckoView)YesNoYesMPL5.0+
GNU IceCatGNU Project version of FirefoxNoNo Archived 2018-03-24 at the Wayback MachineNoMPL4.0.3+IceCat contains features not found in mainline Firefox release and eschews all usage of proprietary components.
Tor BrowserMozilla-based browser enhanced for use on Tor anonymity networkYesYes[6]YesMPL4.0.3+Available in F-Droid by activating the extra Guardian Project repository[7]

Office Suites and synchronisation

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
Collabora OnlineOffice suite with Microsoft Office compatible word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and vector graphics editorYesYes MPLv25.0+An enterprise-ready edition of LibreOffice
ownCloudClient for synchronization serverYesYes GPLv24.0+
NextcloudClient for synchronization serverYesYes GPLv24.0+

Communication

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
ConnectBotSSH, telnet, and terminal emulatorYesYes Apache 2.01.5+
CSipSimpleSIP & VoIP clientNoNoGPLv31.6+
ElementFederated instant messaging and group chat client using the Matrix protocol.YesYes Apache 2.04.1+
JitsiVideoconferencing and instant messengerYesYesLGPLv2.1?
K-9 MailAdvanced email clientYes
Yes
Apache 2.02.2+Supports OpenPGP integration with OpenKeychain
LinphoneVideo SIP/VoIP clientYes
Yes GPLv22.2+
Mastodonfederated social networkYesYesGPLv36.0+
Sessiondistributed blockchain-based messenger??GPLv3?Also available for iOS, Linux, and Windows
SipdroidSIP/VoIP clientYes
Yes GPLv32.0+works on 1.5
WordPressOfficial WordPress clientYesNoGPLv22.3+
Zulipgroupware and chatYesNoApache 2.0[8]5.0+Also available for iOS

Privacy/security focused

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
APGOpenPGP and key managementYes
YesApache 2.01.5+OpenKeychain available as more up-to-date alternative
BriarPeer-to-peer encrypted messaging and forumsYesYes[9]GPLv34.0+
ConversationsFederated encrypted instant messaging and group chatYesYes GPLv34.0+Interoperable with any Jabber/XMPP clients. End-to-end encryption using OMEMO, OpenPGP (and OTR for versions under 2.0 and the legacy version).
Element (formerly Riot)Decentralised, encrypted chat & collaboration powered by MatrixYesYes Apache 2.05.0+
I2PAnonymizing network layerYesYes Apache 2.02.3+I2P also maintain their own F-Droid repo.[10]
IVPNPrivacy-focused VPN serviceYesYes GPLv3?Also available on Windows, macOS, and iOS; and undergo independent security audit.[11][12]
JamiSoftphone and messenger utilizing DHT and strong cryptographyYes[13]Yes[14]GPLv3?Formerly named "GNU Ring" and "SFLphone".
LanternPeer-to-peer internet censorship circumventionYesNoApache 2.0?
Mozilla VPNVPN serviceYes?MPL 2.0?Also available for iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
MullvadPrivacy-focused VPN serviceYesYes GPLv3?Also available for Windows, macOS, and iOS
OpenKeychainOpenPGP and key managementYesYes GPLv3?Integrates with K-9 Mail.
OrbotClient and proxy for Tor anonymity networkYesYesBSD, GPL1.6+
PsiphonClient for internet censorship circumvention systemYesNoGPLv3?
ProtonMailClient end-to-end encrypted email serviceYesNoGPLv3?Open source apps on WEB app, Android, IOS, Bridge app.
ProtonVPNPrivacy-focused VPN serviceYesYes GPLv3?Also available for Windows, macOS, and iOS; and undergo independent security audits.[15]
SignalEncrypted instant messaging, voice and video callingYesNoGPLv32.3+Also available for iOS. The Android client is a merger of the former TextSecure and RedPhone apps.[16]
SurespotEncrypted instant messagingYesNo Archived 2019-02-08 at the Wayback MachineGPLv3+?Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo.
TelegramClient for cloud-based messaging platformYesYes GPLv22.2+Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo.[17] Server uses closed source software.
ToxPeer-to-peer instant-messagingYesYes GPLv3+4.0+Alpha release
TutanotaClient for end-to-end encrypted email serviceYesYes GPLv3[18]?
WireEncrypted instant messaging, voice and video callingYesYesGPLv3?Also available for iOS, Windows and OS X. Server uses closed source software.

Emulators

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
CitraNintendo 3DSYesNoGPLv2?
DolphinNintendo GameCube and WiiYesYesGPLv2+5.0+Requires device with support for arm64-v8a ABI and OpenGL ES 3 or above
Mupen64PlusNintendo 64 emulatorYesYesGPLv32.0+Unofficial port as Mupen64 Plus AE.
openMSXMSXYesYesGPLv2+?
PPSSPPPlayStation PortableYesYesGPLv2+2.3+
RetroArchEmulates multiple platformsYesRemovedGPLv3[19]2.3+
ScummVMEmulates multiple gaming enginesYesYesGPLv21.5+
TermuxTerminal emulatorDeprecatedYesGPLv3?
VICECommodore systems emulatorYesYesGPLv2?

Games

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
2048Mathematics sliding block puzzleYes YesMIT2.2+ Port of 2048
AngbandText-based roguelikeYesYesGPLv2?
Battle for WesnothTurn-based strategy in a fantasy settingPartialYes GPLv22.3+Ported to Android with SDL
BrogueRoguelikeYesYesGPLv3?
Dungeon Crawl Stone SoupRoguelikeYesNoGPLv2+?Text-based version also available
Fish Fillets NGUnderwater puzzle game.YesNoGPLv21.6+Port of Fish Fillets NG
FreecivTurn-based strategy game similar to Sid Meier's CivilizationYesNoGPLv22.0+
Frozen BubbleTile-matching puzzle gameYes
Yes
GPLv21.6+Port of Frozen Bubble
GLtronLightcycle racing gameYes
Yes
GPLv22.2+Port of GLtron
H-Craft ChampionshipSciFi 3D racing gameYesNo
zlib3.2+Media is proprietary, but free for personal use.
HyperRogueRoguelike in hyperbolic plane?YesGPLv2+?
MinetestSandbox similar to MinecraftYesYes?
OpenArenaFirst-person shooter similar to Quake 3 (see: id Tech 3)YesNoGPLv21.6+Unofficial port by "pelya" using SDL 1.2[20]
OpenTTDBusiness simulation game similar to Transport Tycoon DeluxeYesNoGPLv21.6+pelya SDL port[20]
Pixel Dungeon[21]Roguelike with pixel art graphicsYesYesGPLv3?Also available for Linux, iOS, Windows 10, Mac OS X
OpenTyrianVertical shoot 'em upYesNoGPLv21.6+pelya SDL port[20]
robotfindskittenA "Zen Simulation"YesYesGPL1.6+
Simon Tatham's Puzzle CollectionCollection of puzzle gamesYes
Yes
MIT2.1+
Ur-Quan MastersSource-port of 3DO version of Star Control II?NoGPLv2+,
CC by 2.0,
CC by-nc-sa 2.5[22]
?Game engine is free, but Star Control art assets are released under a Creative Commons non-commercial license.[23][22] pelya SDL port[20]

General

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
DasherAccessible text-input methodYesYesGPLv3?Also available for iOS
FetLifeSocial network catering to the BDSM, fetish, and kink communitiesNoNoMIT [24]5.0Also available for iOS [25]
GNU EmacsExtensible self-documenting text editor?YesGPLv3+5.1+May be compiled to run on Android 2.3 and earlier.[26] Also available for Unix-like systems (GNU, Linux, macOS, BSDs, Solaris), Haiku, Windows, MS-DOS[27]
Google IOApp for Google IO conferenceYesYesApache 2.04.0
OpenLPWorship presentation softwareYesYes Archived 2019-02-12 at the Wayback MachineGPLv3?
The White HouseThe official White House appYesYesMIT2.2+

Health

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
COVID AlertCanadian digital contact tracing appYesNoApache 2.0?Also available for iOS [28]
DP-3TProtocol and reference implementation of decentralized European contact tracing app?NoMPL 2.0[29]?Also available for iOS
PEPP-PTProtocol and reference implementation of centralized European digital contact tracing app?NoMPL 2.0[30]?
TraceTogetherSingaporean contact tracing app?NoGPLv3?Available for iOS[31] Data collected is available to police, and may be used in criminal or other types of investigations[32]

Multimedia

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
AntennaPodPodcatcherYesYes MIT2.3.3+
Butter ProjectMedia player utilising the BitTorrent protocol??AGPLv3?
JellyfinClient for the Jellyfin Media ServerYesYes[33]GPLv2+5.0+
Kodi (formerly XBMC)Media player and centerYesYes GPLv2+Multi
KritaGraphics editor for art and animation?Yes[34]GPLv3?Optimized for tablets and may behave poorly on phone screens.[34] Member project of KDE.
Popcorn TimeMedia player utilizing BitTorrent protocolNoNoGPLv3+
(AGPL exception)[35]
?In Nov. of 2015 PopcornTime.io ceased operations after court order from the MPAA issued in Canada.[36]
RingdroidRingtone makerYesYesApache 2.04.1+
RockboxMedia player??GPLv2+?
TriblerDecentralized video sharingYesYesGPLv3[37]3.0+
Tux PaintSimple drawing program for childrenNon-freeYesGPLv2?Version on Google Play is published by a 3rd-party & contains proprietary ad libraries in violation of upstream developers' license
VLCMedia playerYesYes GPLv2+4.2+
Wikimedia CommonsClient for free media repositoryYesYes Apache 2.04.4+Old CommonsLab app no longer maintained. Current app is community-developed.[38]
Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
AvareGPS aviation applicationYesYesBSD[39]4.4+Complete *Aviation* EFB & nav app with all official current U.S.A. FAA VFR & IFR charts & data, plus limited free unofficial non-US materials.
CycleStreetsBicycle navigation using OpenStreetMapYesYes GPLv36.0+
MAPS.MEOffline mapping using OpenStreetMap dataYesNoApache 2.0?
Mozilla StumblerData gathering for Mozilla Location ServiceYesYesMPL22.3.3+
Organic MapsOffline mapping using OpenStreetMap dataYesYes Apache 2.05.0+Fork of MAPS.ME with proprietary bits removed.
OsmAndOffline mapping using OpenStreetMap dataYesYes GPLv32.3+Only parts of the software are available at no cost, this cause the software to get a few arbitrary limitation as limited portion maps of openstreetmap may be loaded. There is an unlimited paid version. The unlimited version is also available for free on F-Droid.
NavitCar navigation using OpenStreetMapYesYes GPLv22.3.3+

Reading

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
FBReadere-book readerYesYesGPL1.5+
iFixitOfficial iFixit readerYesYesGPLv32.2+
KiwixOffline Wikipedia readerYesYesGPLv34.0+
MuPDFPDF and XPS viewerYesYesAGPL2.2+
WikipediaAccess to WikipediaYesYes GPLv22.2+
WiktionaryClient for crowd-sourced dictionaryYesYesGPLv22.2+
XOWAOffline Wikipedia readerYesYesAGPLv34.4+

Science and education

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
BOINCParticipate in distributed grid computing initiativesYesYes[40]LGPL, GPLv3+[41]2.3+
Galaxy ZooClassify galaxies in crowdsourced astronomy projectYesYesGPLv33.0+
GComprisEducational activity suite for children aged 2–10YesYesGPLv3?Member project of KDE
GNU OctaveScientific programming language syntax with built-in plotting and visualization tools?NoGPLv3?[42][43]
micro:bitInteract with a micro:bit device via BluetoothYes[44]No[45]Apache 2.0[46]?Developed by Samsung.[47] Depends on proprietary Google frameworks.[45]
phyphox[48]Conduct physics experiments using device sensorsYesYes[49]GPLv3[50]?Developed by RWTH Aachen University. Also available for iOS.
PressureNETCrowd-sourced barometer networkDiscontinuedDiscontinuedGPLv3MultiService and software discontinued
SageMathClient for mathematical softwareYesYesGPLv32.0+
Sky MapPlanetarium software developed by Google, and Carnegie MellonYesYesApache 2.0?Tracks user telemetry data via Google Analytics[51]
StellariumPlanetarium softwareYesNoGPLv2?
Sugar environmentOne Laptop per Child learning platformYesYesApache 2.02.3.3+Ported as Sugarizer.
AnkiDroid Flashcard spaced repetition for memorizationYesYesGPLv3?

Security

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
BitwardenPassword managerYesYesGPLv34.4+
HavenMonitoring system to protect against evil maid attacksYesYes[52]GPLv34.1+Developed by Edward Snowden under the auspices of The Guardian Project, and Freedom of the Press Foundation[53]
Kali NetHunterDigital forensics and mobile penetration testing platform ROM overlayNoNoVarious5.1+Developed by Offensive Security
KeePassDroidPassword managerYesYes GPLv31.5+Port of KeePass
PasswdSafePassword managerYesYesArtistic License 2.01.6+
PreyAnti-theft and monitoringYesYesGPLv34.0+

System and utilities

Application nameDescription AvailabilityLicenseAPI[lower-alpha 1]Note
Google PlayF-Droid
Barcode ScannerBarcode and QR Code readerYesYes Apache 2.04.0.3+
F-DroidGraphical package manager for app repositoriesNoYesGPLv3+4.0+F-Droid team also maintain an application repository
Impress RemotePresentation remote control for LibreOfficeYesYesMPL2[54]2.3+
IntraExperimental DNS over HTTPS clientYes?Apache 2.0[55]4.0.3+
microGReplacement for proprietary Google Play ServicesNo?Apache 2.0?
MycroftVoice assistant companion??GPLv3[56]?
TWRPCustom recovery image and boot manager??GPLv3[57]?
TalkBackAccessibility services for blind and low-vision usersdiscontinuedYesApache 2.0?Integrated into Android and provided by other proprietary Google components
UserLAndCompatibility layerYesYesGPLv35.0+

Notes

  1. The API column is used to describe which versions of Android each individual application is compatible with. If API column shows "5.1" then the application is compatible with Android version 5.1 or higher; "L7" or "L14" mean specific Android API versions.

See also

References

  1. Multiple sources:
  2. "Learn About Brave and Our Team - Brave Browser". brave.com.
  3. "Add Brave to F-Droid". GitHub.
  4. "DuckDuckGo Android". June 10, 2022 via GitHub.
  5. "Firefox". f-droid.org. F-Droid. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  6. "Guardian Project Fdroid repo". guardianproject.info. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  7. "Is Tor Browser available on F-droid?". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  8. "Zulip Mobile". June 10, 2022 via GitHub.
  9. "Installing Briar via F-Droid - Briar". briarproject.org.
  10. "I2P Official App Repository". f-droid.i2p.io.
  11. Yen, Andy (2020-02-10). "IVPN applications are now open source". ivpn.net. IVPN. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  12. Pestel, Nick (2020-01-23). "Independent security audit concluded". ivpn.net. IVPN. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  13. "Ring - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
  14. "Ring - F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository". f-droid.org.
  15. Yen, Andy (2020-01-21). "All ProtonVPN apps are now open source and audited". protonvpn.com. ProtonVPN Technologies AG. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  16. Greenberg, Andy (2 November 2015). "Signal, the Snowden-Approved Crypto App, Comes to Android". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  17. "Telegram-FOSS-Team/Telegram-FOSS". GitHub. 21 June 2022.
  18. mpfau (12 August 2014). "tutanota/LICENSE.txt". github.com/tutao/tutanota. Tutao GmbH. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  19. RetroArch / COPYING. github.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  20. "pelya/commandergenius". GitHub. 14 June 2022.
  21. Linux Magazine Issue #220 / Mar 2019 FOSS Picks
  22. "COPYING". sourceforge.net/p/sc2/. The Ur-Quan Masters Git Repository. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  23. "The Ur-Quan Masters Project FAQ - Ultronomicon". wiki.uqm.stack.nl.
  24. fetlife/android/README.md. GitHub.
  25. "FetLife for iOS". June 12, 2022 via GitHub.
  26. android.texi (texinfo). git.savannah.gnu.org. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  27. "Emacs machines list".
  28. "COVID Alert Mobile App". June 2, 2022 via GitHub.
  29. "DP^3T". GitHub.
  30. "PEPP-PT". GitHub.
  31. "OpenTrace iOS App". April 16, 2022 via GitHub.
  32. Andreas Illmer (5 January 2021). Singapore reveals Covid privacy data available to police. BBC News, Singapore.
  33. "Fdroid - Jellyfin - your media in your hands!".
  34. F-Droid.org | Krita Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  35. Popcorn Time Foundation. android / LICENSE.md. git.popcorntime.io. Retrieved 19 August 2015. Archived September 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  36. Gardner, Eriq (3 November 2015). "MPAA Touts Big Legal Success Against Popcorn Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  37. "Tribler Android - Beta Port". GitHub. tribler-android/LICENSE.txt.
  38. "Commons mobile app". commons.wikimedia.org. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  39. apps4av (Oct 5, 2016). apps4av / avare / License; commit 02924c7. github.com.
  40. f-droid.org package for edu.berkeley.boinc. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  41. Anderson, David Pope (8 August 2008). "boinc / COPYING". github.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
    Walton, Rom (7 November 2015). "boinc / README.md". github.com/BOINC/boinc. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  42. Champion, Corbin. "corbinlc/octave4android". github.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  43. Treichl, Thomas (21 October 2013). "Octave on Android". Octave Maintainers mailinglist. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  44. "micro:bit - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
  45. "Request for adding the official BBC micro:bit application". 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
  46. "License text in source code repository". GitHub. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  47. "Samsung Launches the Official BBC micro:bit App". 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  48. Multiple sources:
    • Christoph Stampfer; Heidrun Heinke; Sebastian Staacks. "A lab in the pocket." Nature Reviews Materials 5, 169–170 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41578-020-0184-2.
    • Ryan Carroll; James Lincoln (1 November 2020). "Phyphox app in the physics classroom". The Physics Teacher, 58 (8): 606–607. doi:10.1119/10.0002393.
    • Staacks, S; Hütz, S; Heinke, H; Stampfer, C. (6 May 2018). "Advanced tools for smartphone-based experiments: phyphox". Physics Education. IOP Publishing. doi:10.1088/1361-6552/aac05e. "The sensors in modern smartphones are a promising and cost-effective tool for experimentation in physics education, but many experiments face practical problems. Often the phone is inaccessible during the experiment and the data usually needs to be analyzed subsequently on a computer. We address both problems by introducing a new app, called ‘phyphox’, which is specifically designed for utilizing experiments in physics teaching. The app is free and designed to offer the same set of features on Android and iOS."
    • Sebastian Staacks; Dominik Dorsel; Simon Hütz; Frank Stallmach; Tobias Splith; Heidrun Heinke; Christoph Stampfer (June 2022). "Collaborative smartphone experiments for large audiences with phyphox". European Journal of Physics, 43 (5), 055702. doi:10.1088/1361-6404/ac7830.
    • Bunga Lili Annisa; Sarah Miriam; Suyidno Suyidno (2022). "The Effectiveness of A Multiple Representation-Based Flipbook to Improve Students’ Problem-Solving Ability on The Topic of Wave." Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika Dan Teknologi, 8 (2), 122–129. doi:10.29303/jpft.v8i2.3796.
    • Rhett Allain (16 August 2018). "Three Science Experiments You Can Do With Your Phone". wired.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
    • Sven Gregori; Sebastian Staacks (29 December 2019). "36C3: Phyphox – Using Smartphone Sensors For Physics Experiments". hackaday.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  49. https://f-droid.org/packages/de.rwth_aachen.phyphox/
  50. https://github.com/phyphox/phyphox-android/blob/39397ae4fead0fa7733c56100f51043fe38a14e0/LICENSE
  51. "Sky Map". June 8, 2022 via GitHub.
  52. "Guardian Project Official App Repository". guardianproject.info.
  53. https://freedom.press/news/introducing-haven-open-source-security-system-your-pocket/
  54. F-Droid - Impress Remote. f-droid.org. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  55. "Intra". June 13, 2022 via GitHub.
  56. "Mycroft-Android". June 7, 2022 via GitHub.
  57. "TeamWin/Team-Win-Recovery-Project". June 13, 2022 via GitHub.

There are a number of third-party maintained lists of open-source Android applications, including:

  • Droid-Break – curated list of general purpose open-source alternatives. Inspired by PRISM-break.
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