List of free and open-source Android applications

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Most Android phones, like the Nexus S, allow installation of applications from the Play Store, F-Droid store or directly via APK files

This is an incomplete list of notable applications (apps) that run on the Android platform which meet guidelines for free software and open-source software. For a more extensive list of apps, see the External links section below.

Communication

Application name Description Website Availability License API[lower-alpha 1] Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
AdAway Ad blocker website No Yes
github GNU GPLv3
Adblock Plus Ad blocker website page No Yes
github GNU GPLv3 L7 / 2.1+
  1. 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.

General communication

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
ConnectBot SSH, telnet, and terminal emulator website list Yes Yes github Apache 2.0 1.5+
CSipSimple SIP & VoIP client website list Yes
Yes
svn GPLv3 1.6+
Jitsi Videoconferencing and instant messenger website list No Pending zipballs
github
LGPLv2.1 ? Android version is experimental Alpha release.
K-9 Mail Advanced email client website list Yes
Yes
github Apache 2.0 2.2+ Supports OpenPGP integration with APG or OpenKeychain
Linphone Video SIP/VoIP client website list Yes
Yes
[1]
git GPLv2 2.2+
Sipdroid SIP/VoIP client website Yes
Yes
github GPLv3 2.0+ works on 1.5
WordPress Official WordPress client website ? Yes
[2]
Yes
[3]
github GPLv2 2.3+

Security / Privacy focused tools

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
APG OpenPGP and key management website Yes
Yes
github Apache 2.0 1.5+ Integrates with K-9 Mail. OpenKeychain available as more up-to-date alternative [4]
Conversations XMPP-based instant messaging client website Yes Yes github GPLv3 L14 / 4.0+ Supports TLS, OpenPGP and Off-the-Record Messaging
I2P Anonymizing network layer website page ? Yes
github
list
Apache 2.0 2.3+ Alpha release; do not rely upon it for strong anonymity. I2P also maintain their own F-Droid repo.[5]
Orbot Client and proxy for Tor anonymity network website apk Yes
Yes
git BSD/GPL 1.6+
Psiphon Client for internet censorship circumvention system website ? Yes No bitbucket GPLv3 ?
Signal Encrypted voice calling and instant messaging website Yes
[6]
No github GPLv3 Also available for iOS. The Android client is a merger of the former TextSecure and RedPhone apps.[1] An unofficial F-Droid build that is pending is based on a forked repo called LibreSignal.[2][third-party source needed]
surespot Encrypted instant messaging website Yes
[7]
Yes/No github GPLv3+ Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo [8]
Telegram Client for cloud-based messaging platform website ? Yes Yes/No github GPLv2 2.2+ Also available for iOS. F-Droid build is based on forked repo [9]

Web browsers

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
Chromium Web browser using Blink engine. website list Non-free Pending git [3] Available with additional proprietary components as Google Chrome.
Firefox for mobile Web browser customizable with add-ons, uses Gecko engine. website list Yes
Yes
mercurial MPL 2.2+ Planned to be removed from F-Droid
GNU IceCat GNU Project version of Firefox browser. website list No Yes git MPL 2.0 ? IceCat contains features not found in mainline Firefox release and eschews all usage of proprietary components.
Orfox / Tor Browser Mozilla-based browser enhanced for use on Tor anonymity network website ? Yes Partial
[10]
github MPL ? Beta-release; do not rely upon for strong anonymity

Emulators

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
DeSmuME Nintendo DS emulator upstream
android
list Yes
Yes
git GPLv2 2.3.3+ Port to Android as nds4droid
Dolphin Nintendo GameCube and Wii website page Yes
Yes
github GPLv2+ 4.0+ Requires device with support for OpenGL ES 3 or above
Mupen64Plus Nintendo 64 emulator upstream
android
Yes
[11]
Yes
[12]
github GPLv3 2.0+ Unofficial port as Mupen64 Plus AE.
openMSX MSX website page Yes
[13]
No github GPLv2+
PPSSPP PlayStation Portable website page Yes
Yes
[14]
github GPLv2+ 2.3+
RetroArch Emulates multiple platforms website list Yes
[15]
Removed github GPLv3[4] 2.3+
ScummVM Emulates multiple gaming engines website page Yes
Yes
svn GPLv2 1.5+
VICE Commodore hardware website list Yes
No svn GPLv2

Games

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
2048 Mathematics sliding block puzzle website Yes
[16]
Yes
[17]
github MIT 2.2+ Port of 2048
Angband Text-based roguelike main
port
list Yes
[18]
No code GPLv2 ?
Battle for Wesnoth Turn-based strategy game in a fantasy setting upstream
android
sourceforge
list Partial
[19]
No tarballs GPLv2 2.3+ Ported to Android with SDL
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup Roguelike website Yes
No github GPLv2+ Text-based version also available [20]
Fish Fillets NG Underwater puzzle game. website Yes
[21]
No tgz GPLv2 1.6+ Port of Fish Fillets NG
Freeciv A turn-based strategy game similar to Sid Meier's Civilization website apk Yes
[22]
No github GPLv2 2.0+
Frozen Bubble Knock the bubbles down by making clusters of three or more bubbles in the same color. website page Yes
Yes
svn GPLv2 1.6+ Port of Frozen Bubble
GLtron Lightcycle racing game. website page Yes
Yes
github GPLv2 2.2+ Port of GLtron
H-Craft Championship SciFi 3D racing game. website Yes
[23]
No
bitbucket zlib 3.2+ Media is proprietary, but free for personal use.
Nethack Android NetHack website list Yes
No svn GPLv2 1.5+ Port of NetHack
OpenArena First person shooter similar to Quake 3 (see: id Tech 3) upstream
android
list Yes
[24]
No github
[25]
GPLv2 1.6+ Unofficial port by "pelya" using SDL 1.2[5]
OpenTTD Business simulation game similar to Transport Tycoon Deluxe upstream
android
list Yes
[26]
No github GPLv2 1.6+ pelya SDL port[5]
OpenTyrian Vertical shoot 'em up upstream
android
list Yes
[27]
No github GPLv2 1.6+ pelya SDL port[5]
robotfindskitten A "Zen Simulation" website page Yes
Yes
Source Dir GPL 1.6+
Simon Tatham's Puzzles A portable collection of puzzle games, ported to Android website apk Yes
Yes
github MIT 2.1+
Warmux A turn-based artillery game website list Yes
[28]
No svn GPLv2 2.0+

General

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
Android's Fortune Quotes and Fortune Cookie program website list Yes
Yes
[29]
bzr GPLv3
BOINC Participate in distributed grid computing initiatives website ? Yes
[30]
No github LGPL/GPLv3+[6] 2.3+
Dasher Accessible text-input method website ? Yes
[31]
Yes
[32]
github GPLv3 ? Also available for iOS
Galaxy Zoo Classify galaxies in crowdsourced astronomy project website Yes Yes github GPLv3 3.0+
GCompris Educational activity suite for children aged 2–10 website list Yes
[33]
No git GPLv3 ? Member project of KDE
Google IO App for Google IO conference website Yes
[34]
No git Apache 2.0 4.0
ownCloud Client for synchronization server website ? Yes Yes github GPLv2 4.0+
PressureNET Crowd-sourced barometer network website Yes
[35]
No github GPLv3 Multi
SageMath Client for mathematical software website ? Yes
[36]
Yes
[37]
github GPLv3 2.0+
Sugar environment One Laptop per Child learning platform upstream
android
Yes
[38]
Yes
[39]
github Apache 2.0 2.3.3+ Ported as Sugarizer.
The White House The official White House app website Yes
[40]
No github MIT 2.2+
Channel NewsAsia The Channel NewsAsia app website Yes
[41]
No

Navigation

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
Avare GPS aviation application website Yes
Yes
[42]
github Apache 2.0 2.2+
MAPS.ME Offline mapping using OpenStreetMap data website list Yes
[43]
No github Apache 2.0
Mozilla Stumbler Data gathering for Mozilla Location Service website page Yes Yes github MPL2 2.3.3+
OsmAnd Offline mapping using OpenStreetMap data website Yes
[44]
Yes
[45]
github GPLv3 2.3+

Reading

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
DuckDuckGo Widget for privacy focused search engine website ? Yes Yes github Apache 2.0 2.2+
FBReader e-book reader website page Yes
Yes
github GPL 1.5+
iFixit Official iFixit reader website ? Yes Yes github GPLv3 2.2+
Kiwix Offline Wikipedia reader website page Yes Yes sourceforge GPLv3 4.0+
MuPDF PDF and XPS viewer website ? Yes Yes git AGPL 2.2+
Tomdroid Note taking application with online sync website list Yes
[46]
Yes
bzr GPLv3 1.6+ Port of Tomboy
Wikipedia Access to Wikipedia website list Yes
[47]
Yes github GPLv2 2.2+
Wiktionary Client for crowd-sourced dictionary website list Yes Yes
[48]
github GPLv2 2.2+

Utilities

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
Barcode Scanner Barcode reader website Yes
[49]
Yes
[50]
github Apache 2.0 4.0.3+
Impress Remote Presentation remote control for LibreOffice website ? Yes
[51]
Partial
[52]
git MPL2[7] 2.3+

Multimedia

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
AntennaPod Podcatcher website Yes
[53]
Yes
[54]
github MIT 2.3.3+
Kodi (formerly XBMC) Media player and center website list Yes
[55]
No github GPLv2+ Multi
Popcorn Time Media player utilizing BitTorrent protocol closed ? No No GPLv3+
(AGPL exception)[8]
? In Nov. of 2015 PopcornTime.io ceased operations after court order from the MPAA issued in Canada.[9]
Ringdroid Ringtone maker github Yes
Yes
github Apache 2.0 4.1+
Subsonic Streaming Media Player website list Yes
Yes
svn GPLv3 2.1+
Tribler Decentralized video sharing website ? Yes
[56]
No github LGPL v2.1+ 3.0+
Tux Paint Simple drawing program for children website page Non-free Yes cvs GPLv2 ? Version on Google Play is published by a 3rd-party & contains proprietary ad libraries in violation of upstream developers' license
VLC Media player website list Yes
Yes
git GPLv2+ 2.1+
Wikimedia Commons Client for free media repository website list
(old)
Partial Partial
original
fork
Apache 2.0 2.3+ Original no longer maintained.[10] Community developed fork has attempted to revive project[11]

Security

Application name Description Website Availability License API Note
APK Play Store F-Droid Sources
KeePassDroid Password manager website Yes
[57]
Yes
[58]
github GPLv3 1.5+ Port of KeePass
PasswdSafe Password manager website list Yes
Yes
git Artistic License 2.0 1.6+
Prey Anti-theft and monitoring website Yes
[59]
No github GPLv3

See also

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Notes

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 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.

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Get the Code: Checkout, Build, Run & Submit
  4. RetroArch / COPYING. github.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://github.com/pelya/commandergenius
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
    Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. F-Droid - Impress Remote. f-droid.org. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  8. Popcorn Time Foundation. android / LICENSE.md. git.popcorntime.io. Retrieved 19 August 2015. Archived September 7, 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Hartman, Derk-Jan WikimediaMobile Pulling the Commons app lists.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

There are a number of third-party maintained lists of open-source Android applications, including:

  • PRISM Break, curated list of security focused open-source alternatives.
  • Droid-Break, curated list of general purpose open-source alternatives. Inspired by PRISM-break.