WILL BE UPDATE OFTEN Last update : 8/03/2025
THE GUIDE FOR DE-GOOGLED APPS
(🏆 = just the best app ; ❤️ = a more than excellent app)
REMEMBER : Do not install every apps you find, for your security and privacy only install needed apps.
ANDROID
1- Phone and messaging
Phone --> Fossify Phone 🏆
Messages --> Quik SMS 🏆
Contacts --> Fossify contacts 🏆
Whatsapp --> SimpleX ❤️ Briar (For advanced users, maximum privacy concerns)
2- Networking
Chrome (browser) --> Cromite (must be configured) Ironfox ❤️(slower but not chromium-based, must be configured)
Discord --> Element (matrix.org client)
Reddit --> Voyager (a Lemmy client) ❤️
3- Multimedia
YouTube --> Libretube Tubular (a NewPipe fork) ❤️
Spotify --> RiMusic ❤️
Google podcasts (podcasts) --> Antenna Pod 🏆
Gallery --> Fossify Galley ❤️ (Basic app) Aves ❤️ (Advanced gallery)
4- Tools
QrScanner --> Binary eye 🏆
Gboard --> HeliBoard ❤️ (OpenBoard fork)
IME keyboard --> Sayboard
Local sharing --> LocalSend ❤️
Google authenticator (2FA) --> Aegis 🏆
Lastpass (password manager) --> Bitwarden 🏆 (Self-hosted) KeePassDX 🏆 (local storage)
Gcam --> Open camera
5- Others
Clock --> Clock You
Google calendar --> Etar ❤️
PDF viewer --> MJ PDF
Office --> LibreOffice Viewer ❤️ (Only for reading)
LINUX
For more convenience, you can download your apps using the command line and flatpak (Flathub.org)
1- OS
Some Linux distributions recommendations :
- Linux Mint and Pop OS (for all levels)
- Arch (mainly for gaming but you can use it as working OS)
- Debian (for productivity (greatest compatibility) )
For most basic users I recommend using Gnome desktop environment
2- Softwares
Browser --> Firefox ❤️ (It’s recommended to tweaks and the settings and use custom user.js (Explanations about user.js)) Mullvad 🏆 (For an out-of-the-box great experience)
Office --> The LibreOffice Suite ❤️
File sharing --> Local Send ❤️
YouTube --> FreeTube
Adobe Illustrator --> Inkscape
Lemmy --> Photon
Matrix --> Element
That’s all, hope you enjoy, do not hesitate to save the post for future updates and comment your recommendations below ⬇️⬇️
Mull is a good browser. Basically the librewolf of android.
I actually use gcam cause it’s better but I will turn off network connectivity from it.
Same for gboard, I use it but cut internet connectivity from it off
For calendar I use proton calendar but that might be a service for paid customers
Qr code I’ve been using [qr code & barcode scanner](QRCode & Barcode scanner (QRCode & Barcode scanner (QR Code & Barcode scanner cross-platform application) https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.andremiras.qrscan/)
Youtube I switch between libretube and Tubular if libretube doesn’t work
If you want to use discord then Aliucord is a good hardened client for android, kind of like Webcord on desktop.
Spotify, I use a cracked one called Xmanager but I can also access my self hosted music in Synology Audio or Jellyfin.
For browser: Vanadium or Mull
I would also recommend firefox/firefox nightly as web browser and perhaps grayjay for youtube alternative (it still uses the youtube service tho)
For Privacy, Mull is better than FF out of the box, from F-Droid.
Do not use default firefox version there are horrible, if you want to stay on firefox pls consider using Mull 😃 And maybe grayjay is a good option but I dont know exactly the app…
you can configure firefox to be hardened pretty easily? I get that mull is preconfigured but the advantage of more fingerprinting protection becomes moot the second you change a setting. (as many are liable to do)
You cannot easily tweak deeply the browser, you can load user.js for example but you have to be rooted, Mull is almost ready to use (you just have to install some extensions and tweak some settings), so this is a better choice than default Firefox…
I’ve tried every FOSS QR scanner, and unfortunately, binary eye is total crap. They don’t fully support all formats, and you need to get a near perfectly illuminated shot of the code. Also doesn’t scan regular barcodes whatsoever.
Reverted back to a commercial app for lack of options. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scanteam.qrcodereader (adfree, despite the “contains ads” banner).
Shame really, I would like to have a FOSS alternative for such a seemingly simple application.
I think the graphite OS camera app comes with a QR scanner, might could try that
deleted by creator
Yes and no, its really cool but the ui is ugly, too complex and not useful for just viewing PDF…
deleted by creator
I tried it more deeply and I will say my recap : It’s a great app, not too complicated but the ui is ugly (a bit less when diving in the settings), it do not have more features than others, the actions are blocked by confirmation pop-ups. Not a recommandation for me, its more a e-book reader than a PDF viewer…
