Fork me on GitHub

Droid-Break

Droid-Break is a list of free and open source Android apps inspired by prism-break.org. We want to show you high quality alternatives to the big proprietary solutions.
Please note that open source apps don't guarantee absolute freedom, e.g., an open source Twitter client still sends everything to Twitters' servers.
Anyway, we believe it's the best we can come up with and that in many cases it's the better choice.
If you think an app is missing please write an email, a tweet, a Disqus comment, or fork the project on GitHub and make a pull request.

You will find most of these apps in the F-Droid repository. Also, you might want to consider flashing a custom ROM like CyanogenMod or Replicant on your device.

Browser^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Chrome
    Chrome
  • Opera
    Opera
  • Dolphin
    Dolphin
  • Maxthon
    Maxthon
  • UC Browser
    UC Browser
  • Boat
    Boat
Firefox

Firefox

Firefox is a well known browser not only available for the desktop but also for Android.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
Tint

Tint

Tint is a fast and lightweight browser.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
Zirco browser

Zirco Browser

Browser with included ad-blocking.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
Mozilla Firefox uses Google Search by default. Also it promotes add-ons which can use proprietary services. Have a look at these add-ons instead.

Social Networks^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Twitter
    Twitter
  • Facebook
    Facebook
  • Tumblr
    Tumblr
  • Google+
    Google+
  • Pinterest
    Pinterest
Tinfoil

Tinfoil

Tinfoil is a wrapper for the Facebook mobile website.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
Twidere

Twidere

Twidere is an feature-rich, ad-free app in the holo-design and comes with a tablet mode.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
Tweet Lanes

Tweet Lanes

Tweet Lanes is a user friendly Twitter client with lots of functions

Google Playstore QR code
Impeller

Impeller

Impeller is one of the first open source mobile clients for pump.io and can be used e.g. with identi.ca.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
AndStatus

AndStatus

AndStatus is a very lightweight Twitter and StatusNet/GNU social client that derived from AndTweet. It does not work with identi.ca anymore.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code

Twidere might promote non-free add-ons.

Messenger^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • WhatsApp
    WhatsApp
  • Viber
    Viber
  • Facebook Messenger
    Facebook Messenger
  • ICQ
    ICQ
  • Kik
    Kik
  • Yahoo Messenger
    Yahoo Messenger
  • eBuddy
    eBuddy
Xabber

Xabber

Xabber is a famous XMPP client with OTR support.

  • Price: Free (supporter version: 3 €)
  • Min. Android version: 1.5
  • Source code
Google Playstore(free) Google Playstore(supporter) Google Playstore(dev) F-Droid repository QR code
chatsecure

ChatSecure

ChatSecure is an XMPP client with OTR support developed by the Guardian Project. It was formerly known as Gibberbot.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
surespot

surespot

surespot is an encrypting messenger that's supposed to be as easy as WhatsApp.
They provide their own infrastructure so no external account is needed.

Google Playstore QR code
textsecure

TextSecure

TextSecure was originally an SMS app but now supports push messages over the internet. They run their own server and the cryptography is based on the proven OTR and done by specialists. Group chat is supported and you can send media files. No iOS Version yet.

Google Playstore QR code
telegram

Telegram

Telegram is an unencrypted messenger just like Whatsapp but supports encryption when both participants are online. It also has all the other things you would want from a messenger like group chats and photo/video sharing .

Google Playstore QR code

Don't have a XMPP account yet? Have a look at the IM Observatory and register one at a server of your choice.

OTR stands for off-the-record, have a look at Wikipedia for more information.

Be careful with trusting telegrams encryption.

VoIP^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Skype
    Skype
  • Viber
    Viber
  • Google Hangouts
    Google Hangouts
  • Line
    LINE
  • Fring
    Fring
  • Talkatone
    Talkatone
  • Tango
    Tango
RedPhone

RedPhone

RedPhone uses end-to-end encryption and their own network. Very easy to use. Requires to sign up.

Google Playstore QR code
Sipdroid

Sipdroid

Easy to use SIP client

Google Playstore F-Droid Repository QR code
CSipSimple

CSipSimple

Easy to use SIP client that supports encryption.

Google Playstore QR code
Linphone

Linphone Video

Easy to use SIP client with video and encryption support.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
RedPhone uses special infrastructure, for all other apps you need a SIP account. Have a look on Wikipedia to find a SIP-provider.

Audio Players and Podcatcher^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Google Play Music
    Google Play Music
  • Winamp
    Winamp
  • Poweramp
    Poweramp
  • Podkicker
    Podkicker
  • iPP Podcast Player
    iPP Podcast Player
  • BeyondPod
    BeyondPod
  • Pocket Casts
    Pocket Casts
vanillamusic

Vanilla Music

Vanilla Music player is a simple but yet sufficient player for mp3, ogg, flac and pcm files. It also supports tags and folders. It's a rewrite of the abadoned original Vanilla Player.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
musicplayer

Music Player

The stock Android music player is actually open source. Not the prettiest but stable and well translated.

F-Droid repository QR code
andless

andLess

andLess plays lossless files(flac, ape, mpc, wv, Apple(.m4a)).

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
vlc

VLC

VLC is a well known media player.
It is still in early beta, but playback works fine.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
antennapod

AntennaPod

Podcast player for downloading and streaming audio and video podcasts.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS audio player via pull-request.

Video^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • mx player
    MX Player
  • winamp
    Winamp
vlc

VLC

VLC is a well known media player.
It is still in early beta, but playback works fine.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS video player via pull-request.

Email^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • gmail
    GMail
  • aquamail
    Aqua Mail
  • maildroid
    MailDroid
k9mail

K-9 Mail

K-9 Mail is a feature-rich client that supports POP3, IMAP, Exchange 2003/2007 (with WebDAV) and PGP-encryption.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS email client via pull-request.

Notes^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • evernote
    Evernote
  • googlekeep
    Google Keep
  • colornote
    Colornote
Tomdroid

Tomdroid

A port of the popular desktop application Tomboy.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository APK download QR code
oi notepad

OI Notepad

OI notepad is a simple and lightweight notepad app.

Google Playstore QR code
notecipher

NoteCipher

NoteCipher encrypts your notes too.

Google Playstore F-Droid Repository QR code

The Play store does not seem to be hosting the latest version of Tomdroid.

We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS note app via pull-request.

News Reader^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • flipboard
    Flipboard
  • google currents
    Google Currents
owncloud news reader

ownCloud News Reader

ownCloud News Reader connects to your ownCloud-instance and downloads the RSS-feeds.

  • Price: 1.96 €(Google Play), free(F-Droid)
  • Min. Android version: 2.1
  • Source code
Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
feedex

FeedEx

FeedEx is a light RSS/ATOM-reader that doesn't synchronize with an online feed reader (unlike ownCloud News Reader). It's based on SparseRSS.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
redreader

RedReader

RedReader is a news reader for the popular website reddit.com. It comes with multiple languages and tablet mode.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
ttrss-reader

TTRSS-Reader

An offline reader that works with the Tiny Tiny RSS web-based feed reader/aggregator.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code

File Manager^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • solid explorer
    Solid Explorer
  • es datei explorer
    ES Datei Explorer
  • astro file manager
    Astro File Manager
oi file manager

OI File Manager

OI File Manager is a file manager with everything you would expect and need.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
File Explorer

File Explorer

Simple File Explorer.

  • Price: Free
  • Min. Android version: varies
  • Source code
Google Playstore QR code
open manager

Open Manager

Simple File Manager. Also a version for tablets

  • Price: Free
  • Min. Android version: 1.6 (3.0 for tablets)
  • Source code
Google Playstore(Basic) Google Playstore(Tablet) F-Droid Repository(Basic) QR code
Ghost Commander

Ghost Commander

A feature rich file manager with dual panel navigation, compressed file support, plugins for samba, ftp and sftp and lots more.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
-

Navigation^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • google maps
    Google Maps
  • navigon
    Navigon
  • tomtom
    TomTom
osmand

OsmAnd

OsmAnd uses OpenStreetMap material, offline navigation is possible.

  • Price: Free for 10 regions (unlimited regions: 5.99 €)
  • Min. Android version: 2.1
  • Source code
Google Playstore(free) Google Playstore(pro) F-Droid repository QR code
Navit

Navit

Navit provides routing calculation, offline use, 3D or bird-view mode and Points of Interest(POI). It uses OpenStreetMap material as well.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code

Keyboards^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • SlideIT
    SlideIT
  • swype
    Swype
  • Swift Key
    SwiftKey
  • go
    Go
Hacker's Keyboard

Hacker's Keyboard

Hacker's Keyboard offers support for different languags and completion support. It's also great for Tab/Ctrl/Esc keys, a number bar and arrow keys, in case you are missing a hardware button.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
AnySoftKeyboard

AnySoftKeyboard

AnySoftKeyboard offers multiple anguages with completion support, swipe gestures, multitouch and much more.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS keyboard app via pull-request.

Cloud^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Dropbox
    Dropbox
  • Google Drive
    Google Drive
  • Sky Drive
    Sky Drive
  • Mega
    Mega
owncloud

ownCloud

Connects to an ownCloud instance.

  • Price: 0.79 €(Google Play), free(F-Droid)
  • Min. Android version: 2.2
  • Source code
Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
We are still missing some good alternatives here. Know any? Write an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS cloud app via pull-request.

Office^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Kingston
    Kingston Office
  • MS Office Mobile
    MS Office Mobile
opendocumentreader

OpenDocument Reader

An office application that can read .odf documents.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
mupdf

MuPDF

A lightweight PDF reader.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
vudroid

VuDroid

A document reader for DjVu and PDF files.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
fbreader

FBReader

FBReader supports the most common e-book formats as well as a couple of e-book stores. Expandable with add-ons. Does not read PDF files yet.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
coolreader

CoolReader

CoolReader is a powerful ebook app. It supports lots of formats and Asian languages.

Google Playstore QR code

FBReader add-ons might not be open source or use trustworthy services.

Misc^

Proprietary Free alternative Notes
  • Flashlights
  • Barcode Scanner
  • System Tools
  • Geocaching
  • E-book reader
  • Anti-theft
  • Flappy Bird
Minimal Open Source Flashlight

Minimal Open Source Flashlight

Minimalistic approach to a flashlight: just one switch in the middle of the screen.

Google Playstore QR code
barcode scanner

Barcode Scanner

Scans barcodes and QR-codes

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
cgeo

c:geo

Geocaching client for geocaching.com. With OpenStreetMap and offline support.

Google Playstore F-Droid repository QR code
prey

Prey

Prey tracks your stolen phone/tablet and gives you full control over it like camera, GPS, SMS, e-mail etc

Google Playstore QR code
flappycow

Flappy Cow

A clone of the famous Flappy Bird game that has been taken down in February 2014.

Google Playstore QR code

Any other interessting apps that people would use everyday? Write me an email or fork the project on GitHub and add your favourite FOSS app via pull-request.

Flappy Cow shows advertisements.

comments powered by Disqus
List of foss Android Apps on Wikipedia prism break eff OSI f-droid neocities