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+

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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

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References

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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.


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  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.
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  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.
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