This is a list of notable applications (apps) that run on the Android platform which meet guidelines for free software and open-source software.
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aptoide | Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
AdAway | Ad blocker | No | No | Yes [1] | GNU GPLv3 | L16 / 4.1+ | |
Adblock Plus | Ad blocker | ? | No [2] | No | GNU GPLv3 | L7 / 2.1+ | Standalone filtering app was removed from Google Play for breaching Play terms of service. [2] |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aptoide | F-Droid | Google Play | |||||
Brave | Chromium-based web browser with emphasis on tracking prevention, and reforming ad-blocking [3] | Yes | No [4] | Yes | MPL | 4.1+ | Has in-built ad blocker |
Chromium | Primary code-base of Chrome; uses Blink and V8 engines | No | No | No | BSD | 4.4+ | |
DuckDuckGo | Chromium-based; focuses on privacy & tracking protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Apache 2.0 | 5.0+ | [5] |
Fennec F-Droid | Rebadged fork of Firefox; aims to remove proprietary components | No | Yes [6] | No | MPL | 4.1+ | Same with Firefox for Android, but some proprietary code removed. |
Firefox for Android | Customizable with add-ons; uses Gecko engine | Yes | No [7] | Yes | MPL | 4.1+ | Removed from F-Droid |
Firefox Focus/Klar | Privacy centered browser; uses Gecko engine (GeckoView) | Yes | No | Yes | MPL | 5.0+ | |
GNU IceCat | GNU Project version of Firefox | No | No [8] | No | MPL | 4.0.3+ | IceCat contains features not found in mainline Firefox release and eschews all usage of proprietary components. |
Tor Browser | Mozilla-based browser enhanced for use on Tor anonymity network | Yes [9] | Yes [10] | Yes | MPL | 4.0.3+ | Available in F-Droid by activating the extra Guardian Project repository [11] |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Collabora Online | Office suite with Microsoft Office compatible word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and vector graphics editor | Yes | Yes [12] | MPLv2 | 5.0+ | An enterprise-ready edition of LibreOffice |
ownCloud | Client for synchronization server | Yes | Yes [13] | GPLv2 | 4.0+ | |
Nextcloud | Client for synchronization server | Yes | Yes [14] | GPLv2 | 4.0+ |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
ConnectBot | SSH, telnet, and terminal emulator | Yes | Yes [15] | Apache 2.0 | 1.5+ | |
CSipSimple | SIP & VoIP client | No | No | GPLv3 | 1.6+ | |
Element | Federated instant messaging and group chat client using the Matrix protocol. | Yes | Yes [16] | Apache 2.0 | 4.1+ | |
Jitsi | Videoconferencing and instant messenger | Yes | Yes [17] | LGPLv2.1 | ? | |
K-9 Mail | Advanced email client | Yes | Yes [18] | Apache 2.0 | 2.2+ | Supports OpenPGP integration with OpenKeychain |
Linphone | Video SIP/VoIP client | Yes | Yes [19] | GPLv2 | 2.2+ | |
Mastodon | federated social network | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 6.0+ | |
Session | distributed blockchain-based messenger | ? | ? | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for iOS, Linux, and Windows |
Sipdroid | SIP/VoIP client | Yes | Yes [20] | GPLv3 | 2.0+ | works on 1.5 |
WordPress | Official WordPress client | Yes | No | GPLv2 | 2.3+ | |
Zulip | groupware and chat | Yes | No | Apache 2.0 [21] | 5.0+ | Also available for iOS |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
APG | OpenPGP and key management | Yes | Yes [22] | Apache 2.0 | 1.5+ | OpenKeychain available as more up-to-date alternative |
Briar | Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and forums | Yes | Yes [23] | GPLv3 | 4.0+ | |
Conversations | Federated encrypted instant messaging and group chat | Yes | Yes [24] | GPLv3 | 4.0+ | Interoperable with any Jabber/XMPP clients. End-to-end encryption using OMEMO, OpenPGP (and OTR for versions under 2.0 and the legacy version). Uses traditional login/password with any provider account, instead of quicksy/phone number |
Element (formerly Riot) | Decentralised, encrypted chat & collaboration powered by Matrix | Yes | Yes [16] | Apache 2.0 | 5.0+ | |
I2P | Anonymizing network layer | Yes | Yes [25] | Apache 2.0 | 2.3+ | I2P also maintain their own F-Droid repo. [26] |
IVPN | Privacy-focused VPN service | Yes | Yes [27] | GPLv3 | ? | Also available on Windows, macOS, and iOS; and undergo independent security audit. [28] [29] |
Jami | Softphone and messenger utilizing DHT and strong cryptography | Yes [30] | Yes [31] | GPLv3 | ? | Formerly named "GNU Ring" and "SFLphone". |
Lantern | Peer-to-peer internet censorship circumvention | Yes | No | Apache 2.0 | ? | |
Linphone | SIP client, plus optional ToIP free service | yes | can be used with any SIP provider | |||
Mozilla VPN | VPN service | Yes | ? | MPL 2.0 | ? | Also available for iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows |
Mullvad | Privacy-focused VPN service | Yes | Yes [32] | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for Windows, macOS, and iOS |
OpenKeychain | OpenPGP and key management | Yes | Yes [33] | GPLv3 | ? | Integrates with K-9 Mail. |
Orbot | Client and proxy for Tor anonymity network | Yes | Yes | BSD, GPL | 1.6+ | |
Psiphon | Client for internet censorship circumvention system | Yes | No | GPLv3 | ? | |
ProtonMail | Client end-to-end encrypted email service | Yes | No | GPLv3 | ? | Open source apps on WEB app, Android, IOS, Bridge app. |
ProtonVPN | Privacy-focused VPN service | Yes | Yes [34] | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for Windows, macOS, and iOS; and undergo independent security audits. [35] |
Quicksy | privacy-focused and federated secured xmpp client, using phone number | Yes | yes | Equivalent of conversations, interoperable, but using phone number instead of traditional id/password; support both PGP or OMEMO encryption plus Jingle for voice/video communication, and file transfers. | ||
Signal | Encrypted instant messaging, voice and video calling | Yes | No | GPLv3 | 2.3+ | Also available for iOS. The Android client is a merger of the former TextSecure and RedPhone apps. [36] |
Surespot | Encrypted instant messaging | Yes | No [37] | GPLv3+ | ? | Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo. |
Telegram | Client for cloud-based messaging platform | Yes | Yes [38] | GPLv2 | 2.2+ | Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo. [39] Server uses closed source software. |
Tox | Peer-to-peer instant-messaging | Yes | Yes [40] | GPLv3+ | 4.0+ | Alpha release |
Tutanota | Client for end-to-end encrypted email service | Yes | Yes [41] | GPLv3 [42] | ? | |
Wire | Encrypted instant messaging, voice and video calling | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for iOS, Windows and OS X. Server uses closed source software. |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Citra | Nintendo 3DS | Yes | No | GPLv2 | ? | |
Dolphin | Nintendo GameCube and Wii | Yes | Yes | GPLv2+ | 5.0+ | Requires device with support for arm64-v8a ABI and OpenGL ES 3 or above |
Mupen64Plus | Nintendo 64 emulator | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 2.0+ | Unofficial port as Mupen64 Plus AE. |
openMSX | MSX | Yes | Yes | GPLv2+ | ? | |
PPSSPP | PlayStation Portable | Yes | Yes | GPLv2+ | 2.3+ | |
RetroArch | Emulates multiple platforms | Yes | Removed | GPLv3 [43] | 2.3+ | |
ScummVM | Emulates multiple gaming engines | Yes | Yes | GPLv2 | 1.5+ | |
Termux | Terminal emulator | Deprecated | Yes [44] | GPLv3 | ? | |
VICE | Commodore systems emulator | Yes | Yes | GPLv2 | ? |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
2048 | Mathematics sliding block puzzle | Yes [45] | Yes [46] | MIT | 2.2+ | Port of 2048 |
Angband | Text-based roguelike | Yes | Yes | GPLv2 | ? | |
Battle for Wesnoth | Turn-based strategy in a fantasy setting | Partial | Yes [47] | GPLv2 | 2.3+ | Ported to Android with SDL |
Brogue | Roguelike | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | ? | |
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup | Roguelike | Yes | No [48] | GPLv2+ | ? | Text-based version also available |
Fish Fillets NG | Underwater puzzle game. | Yes | No [49] | GPLv2 | 1.6+ | Port of Fish Fillets NG |
Freeciv | Turn-based strategy game similar to Sid Meier's Civilization | Yes | No [50] | GPLv2 | 2.0+ | |
Frozen Bubble | Tile-matching puzzle game | Yes | Yes [51] | GPLv2 | 1.6+ | Port of Frozen Bubble |
GLtron | Lightcycle racing game | Yes | Yes | GPLv2 | 2.2+ | Port of GLtron |
H-Craft Championship | SciFi 3D racing game | Yes | No [52] | zlib | 3.2+ | Media is proprietary, but free for personal use. |
HyperRogue | Roguelike in hyperbolic plane | ? | Yes [53] | GPLv2+ | ? | |
Luanti | Sandbox similar to Minecraft | Yes | Yes [54] | ? | ||
OpenArena | First-person shooter similar to Quake 3 (see: id Tech 3) | Yes | No [55] | GPLv2 | 1.6+ | Unofficial port by "pelya" using SDL 1.2 [56] |
OpenTTD | Business simulation game similar to Transport Tycoon Deluxe | Yes | No [57] | GPLv2 | 1.6+ | pelya SDL port [56] |
Pixel Dungeon [58] | Roguelike with pixel art graphics | Yes | Yes [59] | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for Linux, iOS, Windows 10, Mac OS X |
OpenTyrian | Vertical shoot 'em up | Yes | No [60] | GPLv2 | 1.6+ | pelya SDL port [56] |
robotfindskitten | A "Zen Simulation" | Yes | Yes | GPL | 1.6+ | |
Simon Tatham's Puzzle Collection | Collection of puzzle games | Yes | Yes | MIT | 2.1+ | |
Ur-Quan Masters | Source-port of 3DO version of Star Control II | ? | No [61] | GPLv2+, CC by 2.0, CC by-nc-sa 2.5 [62] | ? | Game engine is free, but Star Control art assets are released under a Creative Commons non-commercial license. [63] [62] pelya SDL port [56] |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Dasher | Accessible text-input method | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | ? | Also available for iOS |
FetLife | Social network catering to the BDSM, fetish, and kink communities | No | No | MIT [64] | 5.0 | Also available for iOS [65] |
GNU Emacs | Extensible self-documenting text editor | No | Yes | GPLv3+ | 2.2+ | Version support is decided at compile-time and individual binaries may require more recent releases of Android. [66] Also available for Unix-like systems (GNU, Linux, macOS, BSDs, Solaris), Haiku, Windows, MS-DOS [67] |
Google IO | App for Google IO conference | Yes | Yes | Apache 2.0 | 4.0 | |
OpenLP | Worship presentation software | Yes | Yes [68] | GPLv3 | ? | |
The White House | The official White House app | Yes | Yes | MIT | 2.2+ |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
COVID Alert | Canadian digital contact tracing app | Yes | No | Apache 2.0 | ? | Also available for iOS [69] |
DP-3T | Protocol and reference implementation of decentralized European contact tracing app | ? | No | MPL 2.0 [70] | ? | Also available for iOS |
PEPP-PT | Protocol and reference implementation of centralized European digital contact tracing app | ? | No | MPL 2.0 [71] | ? | |
TraceTogether | Singaporean contact tracing app | ? | No | GPLv3 | ? | Available for iOS [72] Data collected is available to police, and may be used in criminal or other types of investigations [73] |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
AntennaPod | Podcatcher | Yes | Yes [74] | MIT | 2.3.3+ | |
Butter Project | Media player utilising the BitTorrent protocol | ? | ? | AGPLv3 | ? | |
Jellyfin | Client for the Jellyfin Media Server | Yes | Yes [75] | GPLv2+ | 5.0+ | |
Kodi (formerly XBMC) | Media player and center | Yes | Yes [76] | GPLv2+ | Multi | |
Krita | Graphics editor for art and animation | ? | Yes [77] | GPLv3 | ? | Optimized for tablets and may behave poorly on phone screens. [77] Member project of KDE. |
Popcorn Time | Media player utilizing BitTorrent protocol | No | No | GPLv3+ (AGPL exception) [78] | ? | In Nov. of 2015 PopcornTime.io ceased operations after court order from the MPAA issued in Canada. [79] |
Ringdroid | Ringtone maker | Yes | Yes | Apache 2.0 | 4.1+ | |
Rockbox | Media player | ? | ? | GPLv2+ | ? | |
Tribler | Decentralized video sharing | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 [80] | 3.0+ | |
Tux Paint | Simple drawing program for children | Non-free | Yes | GPLv2 | ? | Version on Google Play is published by a 3rd-party & contains proprietary ad libraries in violation of upstream developers' license |
VLC | Media player | Yes | Yes [81] | GPLv2+ | 4.2+ | |
Wikimedia Commons | Client for free media repository | Yes | Yes [82] | Apache 2.0 | 4.4+ | Old CommonsLab app no longer maintained. Current app is community-developed. [83] |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Avare | GPS aviation application | Yes | Yes | BSD [84] | 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. |
CycleStreets | Bicycle navigation using OpenStreetMap | Yes | Yes [85] | GPLv3 | 6.0+ | |
MAPS.ME | Offline mapping using OpenStreetMap data | Yes | No | Apache 2.0 | ? | |
Mozilla Stumbler | Data gathering for Mozilla Location Service | Yes | Yes | MPL2 | 2.3.3+ | |
Organic Maps | Offline mapping using OpenStreetMap data | Yes | Yes [86] | Apache 2.0 | 5.0+ | Fork of MAPS.ME with proprietary bits removed. |
OsmAnd | Offline mapping using OpenStreetMap data | Yes | Yes [87] | GPLv3 | 2.3+ | Some of the software is available at no cost. There is an unlimited paid version. |
Navit | Car navigation using OpenStreetMap | Yes | Yes [88] | GPLv2 | 2.3.3+ |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
FBReader | e-book reader | Yes | Yes | GPL | 1.5+ | |
iFixit | Official iFixit reader | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 2.2+ | |
Kiwix | Offline Wikipedia reader | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 4.0+ | |
MuPDF | PDF and XPS viewer | Yes | Yes [89] | AGPL | 2.2+ | |
Wikipedia | Access to Wikipedia | Yes | Yes [90] | GPLv2 | 2.2+ | |
Wiktionary | Client for crowd-sourced dictionary | Yes | Yes | GPLv2 | 2.2+ | |
XOWA | Offline Wikipedia reader | Yes | Yes | AGPLv3 | 4.4+ |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
BOINC | Participate in distributed grid computing initiatives | Yes | Yes [91] | LGPL, GPLv3+ [92] | 2.3+ | |
Galaxy Zoo | Classify galaxies in crowdsourced astronomy project | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 3.0+ | |
GCompris | Educational activity suite for children aged 2–10 | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | ? | Member project of KDE |
GNU Octave | Scientific programming language syntax with built-in plotting and visualization tools | ? | No | GPLv3 | ? | [93] [94] |
micro:bit | Interact with a micro:bit device via Bluetooth | Yes [95] | No [96] | Apache 2.0 [97] | ? | Developed by Samsung. [98] Depends on proprietary Google frameworks. [96] |
phyphox [99] | Conduct physics experiments using device sensors | Yes | Yes [100] | GPLv3 [101] | v3.0 | Developed by RWTH Aachen University. Also available for iOS. |
PressureNET | Crowd-sourced barometer network | Discontinued | Discontinued | GPLv3 | Multi | Service and software discontinued |
SageMath | Client for mathematical software | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 2.0+ | |
Sky Map | Planetarium software developed by Google, and Carnegie Mellon | Yes | Yes [102] | Apache 2.0 | ? | Tracks user telemetry data via Google Analytics [103] |
Stellarium | Planetarium software | Yes | No | GPLv2 | ? | |
Sugar environment | One Laptop per Child learning platform | Yes | Yes | Apache 2.0 | 2.3.3+ | Ported as Sugarizer. |
AnkiDroid | Flashcard spaced repetition for memorization | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | ? |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Bitwarden | Password manager | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 4.4+ | |
Haven | Monitoring system to protect against evil maid attacks | Yes | Yes [104] | GPLv3 | 4.1+ | Developed by Edward Snowden under the auspices of The Guardian Project, and Freedom of the Press Foundation. [105] [106] |
Kali NetHunter | Digital forensics and mobile penetration testing platform ROM overlay | No | No | Various | 5.1+ | Developed by Offensive Security |
KeePassDroid | Password manager | Yes | Yes [107] | GPLv3 | 1.5+ | Port of KeePass |
PasswdSafe | Password manager | Yes | Yes | Artistic License 2.0 | 1.6+ | |
Prey | Anti-theft and monitoring | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 4.0+ |
Application name | Description | Availability | License | API [a] | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Play | F-Droid | |||||
Barcode Scanner | Barcode and QR Code reader | Yes | Yes [108] | Apache 2.0 | 4.0.3+ | |
F-Droid | Graphical package manager for app repositories | No | Yes [109] | GPLv3+ | 4.0+ | F-Droid team also maintain an application repository |
Impress Remote | Presentation remote control for LibreOffice | Yes | Yes [110] | MPL2 [111] | 2.3+ | |
Intra | Experimental DNS over HTTPS client | Yes | ? | Apache 2.0 [112] | 4.0.3+ | |
microG | Replacement for proprietary Google Play Services | No | ? | Apache 2.0 | ? | |
Mycroft | Voice assistant companion | ? | ? | GPLv3 [113] | ? | |
TWRP | Custom recovery image and boot manager | ? | ? | GPLv3 [114] | ? | |
TalkBack | Accessibility services for blind and low-vision users | discontinued | Yes | Apache 2.0 | ? | Integrated into Android and provided by other proprietary Google components |
UserLAnd | Compatibility layer | Yes | Yes | GPLv3 | 5.0+ |
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)There are a number of third-party maintained lists of open-source Android applications, including: