blog/source/_posts/recommended-android-apps.md

---
title: Recommended open-source Android apps
excerpt: Apps I'm currently using and recommend to everyone.
date: 2019-01-07
updated: 2020-04-15
tags:
- android
---

Following my switch to [microG](https://microg.org/) (an open source re-implementation of Google Play), some Google Apps stopped working ({% post_link microg-google-play-replacement 'read here' %}). During my search for replacements, I discover many open source alternatives. These are the apps I'm currently using and recommend to everyone.

Aside from the below list, check out the NanoDroid's [list](https://gitlab.com/Nanolx/NanoDroid/blob/master/doc/Applications.md) of other great open source alternatives.

Name | Previous | Comment
--- | --- | ---
[F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/) / [Aurora Droid](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/auroradroid) + [Aurora Store](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore) | Play Store | F-Droid is an app store for open source apps; Aurora Droid is an alternative F-Droid client with more features, like the inclusion of many popular third-party repo. Aurora Store is to browse and install apps listed in Google Play *without* a Google account, while still offering support for Google account login to download purchased apps.
[Fennec F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/) | Firefox | It's an official build by Mozilla for F-Droid with less proprietary components (Google Services Framework?). Particularly suitable for [microG](https://microg.org/).
[Bromite](https://www.bromite.org/) | Chrome | Chrome sans Google proprietary components. Installable via F-Droid/Aurora Droid by importing [the repo](https://www.bromite.org/fdroid).
[Simple Calendar](https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Calendar) + [DAVx⁵](https://www.davx5.com/) | Google Calendar | Google Calendar doesn't work with microG. It's part of [Simple Mobile Tools](https://simplemobiletools.github.io/), so it's open source and include dark theme. Use DAVx⁵ to sync calendar and contact. Google uses proprietary protocols instead of CalDAV and CardDAV, so data migration is required.
[Simple Gallery](https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Gallery) | Google Photos | The only reason I use Google Photos is the ability to view panoramas, despite having no issue with microG. Since Simple Gallery is part of Simple Mobile Tools and supports panoramas, I gladly switched.
[Notepad](https://github.com/farmerbb/Notepad) | Google Keep | Get the job done without fuss. No note syncing, but I don't need it.
[KeePass DX](https://www.keepassdx.com/) / [Keepass2Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=keepass2android.keepass2android_nonet) | [KeePassDroid](http://www.keepassdroid.com/)  | KeePass DX utilises Material theme so it looks more modern and feels lighter. Currently, it does not support database with attachment well (see [#115](https://github.com/Kunzisoft/KeePassDX/issues/115) [#183](https://github.com/Kunzisoft/KeePassDX/issues/183)); alternative is the Keepass2Android. There is an [*online*](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=keepass2android.keepass2android&hl=en_US) version which supports opening database from the cloud backup.
[Librera](https://github.com/foobnix/LibreraReader) | FBReader | Most advanced e-book reader. Highly customisable. Supports ePUB, PDF and Kindle.
[Pdf Viewer Plus](https://github.com/JavaCafe01/PdfViewer) / Librera  | Google PDF Viewer | For a simple pdf viewer, I liked Google PDF Viewer due to its minimal size ([5MB](https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-pdf-viewer/google-pdf-viewer-2-7-332-10-release/google-pdf-viewer-2-7-332-10-40-android-apk-download/)). An open-source alternative is Pdf Viewer Plus. It uses vertical scrolling just like the Google's (and most desktop PDF viewers). Librera offers much options, but it's twice as big; I like the ability to switch text background colour, between day and night mode.
[Unit Converter Ultimate](https://github.com/physphil/UnitConverterUltimate) |  | The only unit converter app that you would ever need. Supports every practically possible units including currency.
[Aegis](https://github.com/beemdevelopment/Aegis) / [andOTP](https://github.com/andOTP/andOTP) | Google Authenticator | Open source and dark theme.
[Loyalty Card Keychain](https://f-droid.org/packages/protect.card_locker/) | Google Pay | Simply to store loyalty cards with barcode.
[OsmAnd](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/), [*Maps*](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.maps/)/MAPS.ME, Waze, HERE WeGo | Google Maps | **OsmAnd** and **MAPS.ME** are open source and utilise [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/). They do not have public transport info though. Use [**Transportr**](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.grobox.liberario/) for that. **Maps** is a fork of MAPS.ME without the proprietary bits and it's available on F-Droid. ~~Google Maps doesn't work with microG.~~ (Edit: Google Maps v10.6.2 works again on microG v0.2.6.13280)
docs: Add 'Recommended Android apps' post 2019-01-07 07:59:45 +00:00			`---`
post: add Bromite, Librera and Notepad 2020-04-15 00:27:10 +00:00			`title: Recommended open-source Android apps`
fix: post.excerpt can be specified in post https://github.com/hexojs/hexo/pull/3612 2019-08-09 04:25:10 +00:00			`excerpt: Apps I'm currently using and recommend to everyone.`
fix: date and time display * Add starting year to copyright * Remove unneeded creation time from posts 2019-05-19 02:05:03 +00:00			`date: 2019-01-07`
feat: 'updated_option' config - post.updated will be null if not set in front-matter - https://github.com/hexojs/hexo/pull/4278 2020-06-23 04:27:55 +00:00			`updated: 2020-04-15`
docs: Add 'Recommended Android apps' post 2019-01-07 07:59:45 +00:00			`tags:`
fix(tags): tag url in lowercase, display in titlecase * netlify uses lowercase url 2019-06-21 01:58:05 +00:00			`- android`
docs: Add 'Recommended Android apps' post 2019-01-07 07:59:45 +00:00			`---`

fix(excerpt): Reduce post excerpt to one-line 2019-06-06 11:22:43 +00:00			`Following my switch to [microG](https://microg.org/) (an open source re-implementation of Google Play), some Google Apps stopped working ({% post_link microg-google-play-replacement 'read here' %}). During my search for replacements, I discover many open source alternatives. These are the apps I'm currently using and recommend to everyone.`

docs: mention more FOSS apps 2019-04-30 09:04:13 +00:00			`Aside from the below list, check out the NanoDroid's [list](https://gitlab.com/Nanolx/NanoDroid/blob/master/doc/Applications.md) of other great open source alternatives.`
docs: Add 'Recommended Android apps' post 2019-01-07 07:59:45 +00:00
			`Name \| Previous \| Comment`
			`--- \| --- \| ---`
post: add Bromite, Librera and Notepad 2020-04-15 00:27:10 +00:00			[F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/) / [Aurora Droid](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/auroradroid) + [Aurora Store](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore) \| Play Store \| F-Droid is an app store for open source apps; Aurora Droid is an alternative F-Droid client with more features, like the inclusion of many popular third-party repo. Aurora Store is to browse and install apps listed in Google Play without a Google account, while still offering support for Google account login to download purchased apps.
docs: Mention Lithium 2019-01-08 07:57:15 +00:00			`[Fennec F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/) \| Firefox \| It's an official build by Mozilla for F-Droid with less proprietary components (Google Services Framework?). Particularly suitable for [microG](https://microg.org/).`
post: add Bromite, Librera and Notepad 2020-04-15 00:27:10 +00:00			`[Bromite](https://www.bromite.org/) \| Chrome \| Chrome sans Google proprietary components. Installable via F-Droid/Aurora Droid by importing [the repo](https://www.bromite.org/fdroid).`
docs: Replace Stocard with Loyalty Card Keychain update post excerpt 2019-01-12 09:41:57 +00:00			`[Simple Calendar](https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Calendar) + [DAVx⁵](https://www.davx5.com/) \| Google Calendar \| Google Calendar doesn't work with microG. It's part of [Simple Mobile Tools](https://simplemobiletools.github.io/), so it's open source and include dark theme. Use DAVx⁵ to sync calendar and contact. Google uses proprietary protocols instead of CalDAV and CardDAV, so data migration is required.`
docs: Mention Lithium 2019-01-08 07:57:15 +00:00			`[Simple Gallery](https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Gallery) \| Google Photos \| The only reason I use Google Photos is the ability to view panoramas, despite having no issue with microG. Since Simple Gallery is part of Simple Mobile Tools and supports panoramas, I gladly switched.`
post: add Bromite, Librera and Notepad 2020-04-15 00:27:10 +00:00			`[Notepad](https://github.com/farmerbb/Notepad) \| Google Keep \| Get the job done without fuss. No note syncing, but I don't need it.`
docs: mention more FOSS apps 2019-04-30 09:04:13 +00:00			[KeePass DX](https://www.keepassdx.com/) / [Keepass2Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=keepass2android.keepass2android_nonet) \| [KeePassDroid](http://www.keepassdroid.com/) \| KeePass DX utilises Material theme so it looks more modern and feels lighter. Currently, it does not support database with attachment well (see [#115](https://github.com/Kunzisoft/KeePassDX/issues/115) [#183](https://github.com/Kunzisoft/KeePassDX/issues/183)); alternative is the Keepass2Android. There is an [online](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=keepass2android.keepass2android&hl=en_US) version which supports opening database from the cloud backup.
post: add Bromite, Librera and Notepad 2020-04-15 00:27:10 +00:00			`[Librera](https://github.com/foobnix/LibreraReader) \| FBReader \| Most advanced e-book reader. Highly customisable. Supports ePUB, PDF and Kindle.`
			[Pdf Viewer Plus](https://github.com/JavaCafe01/PdfViewer) / Librera \| Google PDF Viewer \| For a simple pdf viewer, I liked Google PDF Viewer due to its minimal size ([5MB](https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-pdf-viewer/google-pdf-viewer-2-7-332-10-release/google-pdf-viewer-2-7-332-10-40-android-apk-download/)). An open-source alternative is Pdf Viewer Plus. It uses vertical scrolling just like the Google's (and most desktop PDF viewers). Librera offers much options, but it's twice as big; I like the ability to switch text background colour, between day and night mode.
docs: Replace Stocard with Loyalty Card Keychain update post excerpt 2019-01-12 09:41:57 +00:00			`[Unit Converter Ultimate](https://github.com/physphil/UnitConverterUltimate) \| \| The only unit converter app that you would ever need. Supports every practically possible units including currency.`
fix: mention Aegis https://github.com/beemdevelopment/Aegis https://www.reddit.com/r/androidapps/comments/b45zrj/dev_aegis_authenticator_secure_two_factor/ 2019-04-22 03:40:46 +00:00			`[Aegis](https://github.com/beemdevelopment/Aegis) / [andOTP](https://github.com/andOTP/andOTP) \| Google Authenticator \| Open source and dark theme.`
docs: Replace Stocard with Loyalty Card Keychain update post excerpt 2019-01-12 09:41:57 +00:00			`[Loyalty Card Keychain](https://f-droid.org/packages/protect.card_locker/) \| Google Pay \| Simply to store loyalty cards with barcode.`
docs: mention more FOSS apps 2019-04-30 09:04:13 +00:00			[OsmAnd](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/), [Maps](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.axet.maps/)/MAPS.ME, Waze, HERE WeGo \| Google Maps \| OsmAnd and MAPS.ME are open source and utilise [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/). They do not have public transport info though. Use [Transportr](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.grobox.liberario/) for that. Maps is a fork of MAPS.ME without the proprietary bits and it's available on F-Droid. ~~Google Maps doesn't work with microG.~~ (Edit: Google Maps v10.6.2 works again on microG v0.2.6.13280)