List of free and open-source Android applications
Open Source Android Applications From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable applications (apps) that run on the Android platform which meet guidelines for free software and open-source software.
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Web browsers
| 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] |
Office Suites and synchronisation
| 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 | 8.0+ | An enterprise-ready edition of LibreOffice |
| ownCloud | Client for synchronization server | Yes | Yes [13] | GPLv2 | 7.0+ | |
| Nextcloud | Client for synchronization server | Yes | Yes [14] | GPLv2 | 7.1+ | |
Communication
| 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 |
Privacy/security focused
| 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. |
Emulators
| 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 | ? | |
Games
| 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] |
General
| 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+ | |
Health
| 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] |
Multimedia
| 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] |
Navigation
| 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+ | |
Reading
| 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+ | |
Science and education
| 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 | ? | |
Security
| 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+ | |
System and utilities
| 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+ | |
Notes
- 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
External links
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