Cool Android Apps
The apps listed here are coming from F-Droid. It is basically Play Store, but it offers you a absolutely ungoogled experience: You don't have to login anywhere and it's open source, no ads, no moneys. Just apps that do their app thing.
If you don't have a F-Droid client yet:
Tap Me if you're on Android
Else scan this QR code
Scroll down until you see 'Download APK' and tap it. Once you have the APK file, install it. You may need to allow your browser to install APKs, you can then try again. Once that's done you will find Droid-Ify. This is our new guy that handles F-Droid from here on out and you can insert the app titles i list here in it's search bar.
🌅 Utility:
Activity Manager
Some settings may be unusable out of the box. This app uncovers these and my use case is disabling system apps such as the ad menace we call YouTube..
Aegis Authenticator
Google Authenticator but with more features. Set up a app password on top of your lock screen, as well as a universal import and export feature to make sure you never lose your 2FA access incase you lose your phone.
AirGuard
Detects AirTag and more tracking devices. It is very unlikely to have someone take a liking to you so much that they'd slip a AirTag in your belongings, but it can't hurt to check if you're concerned.
Audio Recorder
Standard issue audio recorder that supports Opus and Bluetooth headsets.
Aurora Store
This lets you download Play Store apps without having to login with a Google account.
Barcode Scanner
A ordinary QR Code scanner and creator. This saves previously scanned codes and it shows up in the share dialog of any app - lots of possibilities.
Breezy Weather
A weather app. It's simple. It's awesome. (And has pretty looking widgets for your homescreen)
Catima
A loyalty card wallet that unites your memberships and loyalty programs into one thing. Plastic cards are yesterday.
FlorisBoard (early-beta)
A keyboard that doesn't send your data anywhere. Do mind that this is still in it's early-beta phase, you cannot (yet) swipe with it.
GIF Live Wallpaper
A simple Live Wallpaper that lets you use any Gif saved on your device.
GPSTest
Check whether or not you get a GPS Signal.
KDE Connect
Share files between other devices in the same LAN, abuse your phone as computer mouse, etc.
Linwood Butterfly
A note taking app that supports WebDAV for your NAS. Particulary fun if you got a stylus.
Material Files
A file manager with FTP Server and 7z support.
Obtainium
Download apps straight from the developers on GitHub if you can't wait for F-Droid to update. Also works with APKPure and APKMirror.
Organic Maps Offline Hike, Bike, GPS Navigation
Have you found yourself in a no cell area where you needed Maps? On Organic Maps you will pre-download map data, so it's always here for you no matter if you have cell signal. Comes with GPS as well.
Share to Clipboard
What it says on the tin. Why this basic feature was missing on my end is beyond me.
Shelter
Picture it like a second save slot for apps: Use a second instance of any app that is isolated from the main app, for example when you want to use 2 WhatsApp accounts on the same phone.
Syncthing
A decentralized cloud solution and imo the easiest and zero cost to date. Make your device a server, or client, or better yet, both. Example: DIY Google Photos. When you sync at least between 2 devices your photos are secure incase one device experiences data loss. Are you afraid both fail someday? Add a third device to the party. I think you see that this is a ton cheaper than say, RAID 1 NAS solutions. Tip: Enable file versioning found under each share setting to make the deletion or rewrite of each file 2-step: The old file will be moved to a offline folder for you to review once again for final deletion.
URLCheck
Adds a second layer when you tap on a link by opening a window and letting you review it. You can also enable auto cleaning.
Wireguard Tunnel
This is not the official Wireguard app but something with extra features, such as autoconnect if you're on untrusted wifi or mobile data.
🌅 Media & Internet:
Auxio
A simple music player that supports Replaygain. There's also Retro Music if you prefer another UI.
Fennec F-Droid
A internet browser. I recommend to install uBlock Origin right away.
FFUpdater
Want a different browser? This is your next address.
KOReader
eReader app with emphasis of the Kindle/Kobo UI.
Tip: If you're on OLED, flip the lights via Profiles.
Liftoff for Lemmy
Liftoff! is a client for Lemmy that is simple to use. You can also try Jerboa if you prefer another UI.
NewPipe
A ad free YouTube frontend built from the ground up. Particulary useful for downloading videos and audios, in vp9 and opus each.
Odysee
YouTube without the ads, content matcher and censorship. If you know any creators who get silenced, you know where to direct them to.
PixelDroid
A client for Pixelfed, a federated image sharing platform.
RadioDroid
I particulary like this one because you can tell it to reconnect incase the signal drops, ideal for a unattended 24/7 radio.
RiMusic
A fork of ViMusic with more features and languages. Stream YouTube Music without ads! Also check out InnerTune.
Tusky
A multi account client for the social network Mastodon.
Voice Audiobook Player
Audiobook player for locally saved files. Tip: Retro ignores folders named "audiobooks". Having seperate apps for music and audiobooks is the stuff, mate.
🌅 Gameing:
Dolphin Emulator
You think your phone can pack a punch and run GameCube/Wii games? Test it here.
Lemuroid
All in one emulator. Virtually anything that came before GameCube is in there.
Vector Pinball
It does not beat Windows XP Pinball by a long shot but hey it's Pinball.
🌅 Communication:
SimpleX Chat
The first messenger that does not use IDs, phone numbers or mail addresses. You're given a temporary invite link or QR you share to the recipients. Your invite went to the wrong place? No problem, you can trash it and create a new one without having to lose your contacts. There's a PC app as well.
🌉 Honorable Mentions / Not on F-Droid:
Awesome Android Apps
We are far from over! Check out this awesome list of the best open source Android according to Psyhackological and other users.
YouTube ReVanced
The ad menace but without the ads.
SmartTubeNext
The ad menace on tv but without the ads. Requirement: Android TV that allows apk installs. If you got a LG TV you can try webOS Brew instead.
Space Cadet Pinball for Android
Picture this: Playing Windows XP Pinball on your very Android phone. A dream come true.
BSG's GCam
Pixel Phones take magical pictures despite the not-flagship camera sensor. It's their app, and anyone can get it now. Site instructions: Pick the latest release, then pick the thang that ends with "snap.apk".
AetherSX2
A PS2 emulator. Unfortunately stomped due to miscommunication so this link leads to a archive.
Last Stable: v1.4-3060 / Last Nightly: v1.5-3668
Archive.org's APK Archive
Even mobile apps fall victim to abandonware: Say, apps you remember from your first phone, but it's nowhere to be found on Play Store anymore. Things like Age of Zombies, Where's my Water(1), etc. Here's one of many communities that aim to preserve.
🛑 Say No to ads (and adult stuff for kids)
Adblock DNS
You may already have a adblocker on your browser, but did you know you can block ads on virtually every other app on your phone?
- Settings
- Connection & sharing
- Private DNS
- Private DNS provider hostname > dnsforge.de (adult.dnsforge.de to block adult stuff as well)
That's it. If you're on Android 8 or older i recommend AdAway.
🍎 I did not forget about you! Apps and tips for iOS:
Yattee
The ad menace on i/MacOS but without the ads.
Adblock DNS
You can universally (excluding YouTube) block ads by changing the DNS:
· Tap on Wi-Fi.
· Tap on “i” next to the connected Wi-Fi name or any other Wi-Fi.
· Tap on Configure DNS.
· Tap on Manual → Add Server.
· Next, type the DNS server address 176.9.93.198 / 176.9.1.117
· Finally, tap on Save.
I recommend dnsforge.de for the time being. You can use any other DNS, just look up their ipv4 address.