Welcome to my list for replacing apps that depend on Google Services on your Android Phone.
Remember: your data is YOUR data. Always.
This list provides you with good alternatives but it also gives you a list of great open source apps, not only alternatives. Note: all apps below have been tested successfully on an Android Phone with NanoDroid.
Operating systems for Android/Custom firmware
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| Havoc OS | Havoc-OS 3.x is based on AOSP, inspired by Google Pixel. Has a refined Material Design 2 UI crafted by @SKULSHADY. Many useful features that will blow your mind. All you can dream of and all you'll ever need. |
| CrDroid | crDroid is a customized fork of LineageOS Android. It is one of the first to provide unofficial Android 10 ROMs. |
| /e/ | deGoogled unGoogled mobile OS and online services |
| Sailfish | Sailfish OS is a Linux-based operating system based on open source projects such as Mer and including a closed source UI. |
System/Google Apps/GApps
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| NanoDroid | tool to "ungoogle" your Phone automatically. It replaces all apps with Safe and OpenSource alternatives. Needs root! |
| *To install NanoDroid, you need to flash it with TWRP. Remember to always backup your system with TWRP first. |
Security apps Firewall
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| NetGuard | NetGuard provides simple and advanced ways to block access to the internet - no root required. |
Browsers
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Bromite |
| Firefox | Fennec |
| Other options |
|---|
| Lightning Web Browser |
| JQuarks |
Launchers
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Pixel Launcher | Bliss Launcher |
| KISS Launcher |
WebView
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Android SystemWebView | Bromite Webview* |
| *Bromite webview might not work with Banking apps, Fitness apps, Uber etc |
Automation
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Tasker | MacroDroid |
| Easer | |
| Automate |
Messaging (SMS, Skype etc) SMS
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Android SMS | Silence |
Email clients
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Gmail, Outlook, | FairEmail |
| etc | K-9 Mail |
| *Using email clients is not recommended since you might lose your phone and be blackmailed about your messages. |
PlayStore
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Google Play | F-Droid, Aurora Store |
| Other alternatives |
|---|
| APK Mirror |
| Amazon Store |
| *Amazon requires you to create an account in order to download apps while APK Mirror only lets you download APKs. |
Block ads, trackers and protect your privacy
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| AdAway | Ad blocker |
| Energized.pro | Allows AdAway, MagiskManager and other apps to block ads by changing system host files |
| *Blokada is not included because it's not free anymore. |
Entertainment Streaming
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| YouTube | [YouTube Vanced], New Pipe, SkyTube |
| NetFlix | Libreflix |
Video Players Jellyfin (required a Jellyfin server) Kodi VLC for Android
Podcasts
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Podcast Addict | AntennaPod |
Audiobooks
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| Voice | Simple audiobook player |
Spotify/Deezer/TuneIn/Tidal alternatives
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| MusicPiped | MusicPiped is a full-featured music player that streams from YouTube instead of playing local files. |
File Managers Amaze File Manager
Photo apps
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| LeafPic Revived | Advanced replacement for the default image gallery. |
| Simple Gallery Pro | Offline gallery without ads. Organize, edit, recover and protect photos & videos |
Keyboards
| App |
|---|
| AnySoftKeyboard |
| OpenBoard |
*Useful because AnySoftKey does not send what you type anywhere. It's also available in many languages. Beware of other Keyboard apps because they can send your type text to their cloud servers without your consent.
Alarms |Alarmio|A great alternative to stock alarm|
Launchers
|App | Description| |Bliss Launcher|A minimalist and FOSS Launcher| |Lawnchair|Pixel Launcher features plus customizability|
Transport and GPS
GPS Navigation
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| OSMand | Global Mobile Map Viewing & Navigation for Offline and Online OSM Maps |
Ridesharing apps
Note: this list of ridesharing apps is NOT free. I just present you with an alternative way to use those apps in a ungoogled phone.
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Uber | Access m.uber.com using Bromite. Create a desktop shortcut. |
| *Using Uber on Bromite will not track your system like Uber official app can do if they want to. |
Plex Media/Emby Jellyfin client app (needs Jellyfin server, which is also free and opensource, no paid version available :))
Social networks
| App | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Frost for Facebook | |
| Twidere | |
| Slide |
Phone automation (Tasker/Automate/Locale alternatives)
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| Easer | User-defined explicit automation for Android |
| WiFi Automatic | Turn off WiFi automatically |
Torrent
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| BiglyBT | Opensource torrent client for phones, tablets, Chromebook & Android TV |
VPN
| App | Description |
|---|---|
| RiseUP VPN | Anarchist VPN, based on Bitmask VPN |
| Bitmask VPN | Anarchist VPN |
| Orbot | connects to Tor and also has a powerful VPN option. Allows enabling Tor only on selected apps |
Emulators Retroarch PPSSPP
While we have some great alternatives and/or opensource apps above, allowing us to have a completely "Google-free" Android phone, most apps that rely on Google Apps infrastruture might not work such as Uber, Facebook, Runtastic etc. Below we have a list of apps that are NOT opensource but are known to work using a Google-free phone (i.e. using NanoDroid, /e/ OS etc). That means they don't require Google Play Services or can be used with microG only.
FaceApp MagiskManager Popcorn Time Sleep as Android Stellio MediaPlayer YouTube Vanced (needs microG) WhatsApp (needs microG)