My current open source Android setup

This is a list of open source Android applications on my phone which I use all the time and highly recommend to people.

I’d also love to hear what your favorite open source Android applications are or even some recommendations in the comments.

Communication

Conversations

License: GPLv3

Conversations is probably the best XMPP/Jabber client available for Android in my opinion. It is a beautiful client that supports just about everything you could ever need, has a very low impact on your battery, and even more importantly comes with support for three end-to-end encryption options for you to choose from.

These options include OMEMO, Off-the-Record (OTR), and OpenPGP.

Conversations also supports the following XMPP Extensions (XEP):

• XEP-0027: Current Jabber OpenPGP Usage
• XEP-0030: Service Discovery
• XEP-0045: Multi-User Chat
• XEP-0048: Bookmarks
• XEP-0084: User Avatar
• XEP-0115: Entity Capabilities
• XEP-0163: Personal Eventing Protocol
• XEP-0166: Jingle
• XEP-0184: Message Delivery Receipts
• XEP-0191: Blocking Command
• XEP-0198: Stream Management
• XEP-0234: Jingle File Transfer
• XEP-0237: Roster Versioning
• XEP-0245: The /me Command
• XEP-0249: Direct MUC Invitations
• XEP-0260: Jingle SOCKS5 Bytestreams Transport Method
• XEP-0261: Jingle In-Band Bytestreams Transport Method
• XEP-0280: Message Carbons
• XEP-0313: Message Archive Management
• XEP-0333: Chat Markers
• XEP-0352: Client State Indication
• XEP-0363: HTTP File Upload

While both versions listed below are identical, the version on Google Play will cost you $2.49.

K9 Material

License: GPLv3

This is a Material Design fork of the excellent K9 Mail email application.

Silence

License: GPLv3

Silence is a replacement for your default texting application and provides end-to-end encryption for your SMS/MMS messages via the Axolotl encryption protocol provided the other person is also using the application. Your messages are also locally encrypted as well.

Some of its features include:

• Importing your existing SMS messages as well as importing and exporting encrypted backups of your messages.
• Easily share your identity keys between users by displaying and scanning them with QR codes.
• Locally encrypt your messages with a passphrase.
• Block screenshots from being made while the application is running.

Internet

ConnectBot

License: Apache 2.0

ConnectBot is a SSH client and terminal emulator.

It supports multiple concurrent sessions, importing and generating keys pairs, persistent connections, various terminal emulation modes, full screen mode, audible bells, and more.

You can also change the font size on-the-fly by using your volume keys.

DNS66

License: GPLv3

DNS66 is a DNS-based ad blocker for Android which works by establishing a local VPN service on your phone and routing all requests through it. It has a a variety of host files to choose from and includes an application bypass option that allows the application to use the Internet normally.

Firefox

License: MPL 2.0

Mozilla Firefox for Android. Not much else to say. :)

TTRSS-Reader

License: GPLv3

TTRSS-Reader is a client for Tiny Tiny RSS, an open source online feed reader, which offers the ability to cache articles and their related images for offline reading.

Multimedia

AntennaPod

License: MIT

AntennaPod is an excellent and easy-to-use podcast manager.

Some of its features include:

• Episode streaming
• Automatic downloads and episode cleanup (including auto deleting episodes when finished)
• Adjustable playback speed using the built-in sonic player
• Viewing episode notes
• Chapter support
• OPML import and export
• RSS and Atom feed support
• Sleep timer

AntennaPod also allows you to quickly find new podcasts via integration with the gpodder.net libre web service.

LeafPic

License: GPLv3

A nice open source gallery replacement that offers a few extra features like password protection, item exclusion, etc.

NewPipe

License: GPLv3

NewPipe is a lightweight Youtube front-end that does not need the use of YouTube’s API or Google Play Services.

Open Camera

License: GPLv3

Open Camera is a really nice camera application with a lot of features.

Some of its features include:

• Auto-stabilization
• Face detection
• Multi-touch zooming
• Burst Mode
• Timer with optional voice countdown
• Customizable GUI

Shuttle

License: GPLv3

Shuttle is a great and fairly well-known music player which was recently open sourced as the developer wanted to give back to the community.

Some of its features include:

• Built-in equalizer
• Scrobbling
• Folder browser
• Album-artist support
• Artwork scraping (through Last.fm & iTunes)
• Sleep timer

Shuttle+, a version that adds a few extra features, is also available on Google Play as well for $0.99

VLC

License: GPLv3

VLC is a very well-known multimedia player which plays just about everything you can throw at it.

Some of its features include:

• Play locally or via network streams
• Supports subtitles, teletext, and closed captions
• Optional background playing
• Playback history
• Equalizer

Utilities

Amaze File Manager

License: GPLv3

Amaze File Manager is your fairly straightforward file manager and has everything you would need and expect to have including archive extraction and compression, bookmarks, and history.

It also has a built-in FTP server, root explorer, and application manager.

F-Droid

License: GPLv3

F-Droid is an awesome application manager and repository for free and open source software. The client allows you to easily browse, install, and update the packages they offer.

Financius

License: GPLv2

Financius is an easy to use expense manager that supports multiple accounts and currencies. The various sections within it (overview, transaction history, reports, etc.) are also easy to understand at a glance.

You can customize it to your liking with custom categories and tags. It also supports PIN entry for added security as well as back ups (including exporting it to a CSV file) and importing of its data.

Forecastie

License: GPLv3

Forecastie is a nice minimalistic weather application which gathers its data from OpenWeatherMap’s public API. It offers a five-day forecast, customizable date formats, the ability to differentiate days using color, and a dark theme.

KDE Connect

License: GPLv2

KDE Connect integrates a variety of things between your GNU/Linux system and Android devices.

Some of its features include:

• Synchronizing notifications
• Sharing clipboard and files
• Virtual touchpad
• Multimedia remote control
• Ability to reply to SMS from your desktop

It was designed for use with KDE Plasma Desktop, but it also work flawlessly on other desktop environments. I should note though that to get full advantage out of KDE Connect from within these other desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, etc.) you should install indicator-kdeconnect.

Keepass2Android Password Safe

License: GPLv3

Keepass2Android is a password manager that reads and writes .kdbx files which is the database format used by the KeePass Password Safe and its forks (e.g., KeePassX, KeePassXC, etc.)

Some of its features include:

• Optional integrated soft-keyboard which will type your user credentials in for you to prevent them from being pasted into the clipboard.
• Ability to reach your database file over the Internet via a variety of services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, WebDAV, FTP, etc.)
• Ability to block screenshots from being taken while it is open.
• Password generation

KISS launcher

License: GPLv3

KISS Launcher is an extremely fast and light-weight launcher which follows the KISS principle. It also learns as you use it and displays the your most commonly used items such as applications or contacts first.

Red Moon

License: GPLv3

Red Moon filters out the blue light from your screen while you use your device at night as research suggests that it can be harmful to your sleep when viewed before going to bed.

The version on Google Play costs $1.99

Syncthing

License: MPL 2.0

Syncthing is a really nice open source replacement for proprietary sync and cloud services. The nodes are identified using cryptographic signatures and only the ones explicitly set to connect will be able to do so.

Additionally, all communication is secured using TLS.

Reading

Document Viewer

License: GPLv3

A nice document viewer as the name implies which uses MuPDF as its backend. I use it to read my various ePUB-formatted books.

Slide

License: GPLv3

Slide is probably best open source Reddit client in my opinion.

Some of its features include:

• Multiple accounts
• Multireddits
• Wiki and sidebar support
• Customizable post layout
• Moderator controls
• Offline caching
• Filters
• Custom subreddit theme colors (use what the subreddit has selected or select your own color)
• Chrome custom tabs support

wallabag

License: GPLv3

A client for Wallabag which is a self-hosted read-it-later alternative to websites like Instapaper and Pocket.

Security

OneTimePad

License: MIT

OneTimePad is a two-factor authentication application which was originally forked from OTP Authenticator. It is the only open source OTP application that I am aware of that requires a passcode to use get access to.

OpenKeychain

License: GPLv3

OpenKeychain allows you to encrypt your files and communications with OpenPGP. As you would expect it stores, generates, and completely manages your keys as well as those of people you communicate with. It also optionally integrates with keybase.io.

Writing

Omni Notes FOSS

License: GPLv3

OmniNotes is a nice note and to-do list application.

Some of its features include:

• File attachments
• Tags and categories
• Sketch mode
• Import and export
• Share or merge notes

Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below. If you liked this article, please also consider sharing it with your friends.