ctrl-f is your friend.
apps are often installed through:
io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager)all-in-one admin utility for standard phones. exposes many things that can be done via the android API, including ones hidden by com.android.settings. installs apks, uninstalls apks, lists detailed app permissions, dumps and backs up app storage, re-exports apks of installed apps, intercepts activity signals, etc. more options if phone is rooted.
an unexpected feature is comments on preinstalled packages left by the author (opened by tapping different badges on app details page), which are often oddly unprofessional and cute.
GPL-3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager/
https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager
com.aurora.store)custom foss frontend for google play store. allows installing through ephemeral session without owning/using a google account. literally just google play minus tap tracking and incessant ads.
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/
https://github.com/whyorean/AuroraStore
com.beemdevelopment.aegis)fully offline OTP/TOTP 2FA app. encrypted vaults. automatic backups. when rooted can import from the storage of every proprietary 2FA app under the sun (or at least try to).
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.beemdevelopment.aegis/
https://github.com/beemdevelopment/Aegis
com.github.axet.darknessImmunity)quoting,
Android Darkness Immunity Digital Amulet. Install and it will protect you from darkness. Works like a charm! no ads, open-source, GPLv3!
Works even when phone is turned off (since values are still presents in current physical reality of phone memory module, you just can't see them when phone has no power).
DON'T PANIC!
You can handle it all. It just a dream. Love is the only one truth.
(reality)<-(lie)<-(love)->(lie)->(reality)i don’t think there’s anything to add
GPL3.0
none
https://gitlab.com/axet/android-darkness-immunity
deleted from f-droid and GP, no builds available
me.lecaro.breakout)breakout roguelite. rare example of a foss game being made by people with at least a pinch of whimsy in their soul. i am somewhat ashamed to admit i have >15h in it
AGPL3.0
donation request
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/me.lecaro.breakout/
https://gitlab.com/lecarore/breakout71
com.b44t.messenger)encrypted instant messaging over email. whatsapp-esque UI/UX (minus voice calls), can be used as a drop-in replacement for your grandma. embedded WASM mini-apps with networking bridged over the same channel. reinvents no wheels, uses PGP encryption, can be used with any email server that supports IMAP, there is a default homeserver provided.
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.b44t.messenger/
com.github.yeriomin.dumbphoneassistant)lets you read/write your SIM cards’ builtin contacts storage, which is supported partially or not at all by normal contacts/phone apps.
GPL2.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.yeriomin.dumbphoneassistant/
https://github.com/yeriomin/DumbphoneAssistant
cl.coders.faketraveler)location app compatible with mock location service option from developer settings. can spoof your location readout and imitate drift/jitter. does not work very well with fused location enabled. useful if a sketchy app demands your GPS.
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/cl.coders.faketraveler/
https://github.com/mcastillof/FakeTraveler
com.futsch1.medtimer)fully offline medicine reminders. support for scheduled or periodic medication, delaying or cancelling doses, tracking remaining stock, custom notification options.
MIT
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.futsch1.medtimer/
https://github.com/Futsch1/medTimer
app.organicmaps)offline navigator based on OpenStreetMap project, with automatic object name transliteration into latin. extremely useful while travelling, especially in a non- english-first country. lets you pre-download maps by region.
OSM often has much better coverage of second- and third-world countries and rural areas compared to commercial map aggregators like google and yandex.
Apache2.0 (app)
ODbL/OSMF (map data)
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmaps&hl=en
com.emanuelef.remote_capture)rootless network monitor and packet analyzer using the VPN feature. lets you see what calls where, and decrypt TLS traffic with some limitations. can record traffic and export it for viewing in other tools ie Wireshark.
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.emanuelef.remote_capture/
https://emanuele-f.github.io/PCAPdroid/
https://github.com/emanuele-f/PCAPdroid
net.kollnig.missioncontrol.*)tracker service detector/blocker using the VPN feature. detects ad analytics and telemetry connections based on domain blocklists, gives you summaries for all proxied apps. blocklists have domains sorted by categories, selective blocking is available.
GPL3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid
https://github.com/TrackerControl/tracker-control-android
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kollnig.missioncontrol.play (limited)>
ohi.andre.consolelauncher)shell-esque launcher/homeapp packaged with gnu coreutils and touchscreen-friendly autocompletions. has not W^X warning, but, as far as i know, does not actually support running arbitrary binaries unlike termux. last updated in 2019, but seems to still work perfectly.
Apache2.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/ohi.andre.consolelauncher/
https://xdaforums.com/t/launcher-2-2-t-ui-linux-cli-launcher.3146288/#post-61606911
https://github.com/fAndreuzzi/TUI-ConsoleLauncher
org.breezyweather)weather app. widgets and everything else you expect. can render temperatures in kelvin.
LGPL-3.0
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.breezyweather/
https://github.com/breezy-weather/breezy-weather
org.jwz.xscreensaver)classic X11 screensavers repackaged as live wallpapers. there is an unreasonable number of them, and the style ranges from “retro (affectionate)” to “retro (derogatory)” to “retro?.. (what the fuck?)”.
my favourite is the slowly rotating green wireframe pizza slice.
X11
none
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.jwz.xscreensaver/
https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/
https://github.com/Zygo/xscreensaver
com.fsck.k9)POP3/IMAP email client. works with any standard email provider. Mozilla Thunderbird’s portable sibling.
Apache-2.0
none/donation suggestions
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.fsck.k9/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fsck.k9&hl=en-GB
org.ironfoxoss.ironfox)cryptoschizoid browser, akin in alignment to Librewolf. hardened Firefox without Mozilla mental decay. still supports Mozilla services like the bookmarks sync if you need them.
GPL-3.0
none
https://github.com/ironfox-oss/IronFox
not on GP or FD, can be installed and auto-updated via Obtainium.
org.fossify.*)did you know you can actually uninstall almost every pre-provided google app, including phone/sms/filemanager/gallery/camera/launcher, without needing root or even dev settings? now you do. this is what you replace them with. identical or better UX, 0% of the tracking.
the only issue i’ve had with those is the camera inexplicably dropping image quality. you can install a different camera app anyways.
GPL-3.0
none
all subprojects are on F-Droid under names such as Fossify Messages, Fossify Launcher, etc.
f.cking.software)bluetooth low energy device scanner. can be used to log discoverable bluetooth devices in the vicinity and analyze the logs. can also be used to detect if some of these devices are following you, or passively recording your encounters with a device. if you worry about stalkers, might be useful.
none
GPL-3.0
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/f.cking.software/
https://github.com/Semper-Viventem/MetaRadar
net.nhiroki.bluelineconsole)search-based launcher/homeapp. plain, simple, looks decent, no widgets, no quirks, has a calculator built in.
none
Apache-2.0
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.nhiroki.bluelineconsole/
https://github.com/nhirokinet/bluelineconsole
dasher.android)one-finger drag-only keyboard, made for people with serious physical impairments that only leave them with a single point input (such as an eye tracker), and ends up looking EXTREMELY cursed as a bonus. pull up to scare the hoes. discontinued as the author is dead.
none
GPL
https://www.inference.org.uk/dasher/
page.ooooo.geoshare)share pipe that converts google maps links into OSM/Organic links, so that you never have to open google maps again.
none
GPL-3.0+
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/page.ooooo.geoshare/>
https://github.com/jakubvalenta/geoshare
com.kunzisoft.keepass.libre)bratty and smug Material You child of the keepass bloodline. local-only password manager, no sync. AES-256 encrypted by default, compatible with KeePassXC on your desktop, handles vaults of most of its relatives. autocomplete packaged as a slightly goofy keyboard app. refuses to copy to clipboard by default (reasonably so).
none
GPL-3.0+
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.kunzisoft.keepass.libre/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kunzisoft.keepass.free
https://github.com/Kunzisoft/KeePassDX
com.craxiom.networksurvey)universal scanner supporting cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS/GNSS. sees and shows everything your phone sees about all these (LTE base stations with their vendors and capabilities, GPS constellation above you, MAC addresses around you), logs to storage or streams over a MQTT connection. more eyes and less mouths that f.cking.software, data analysis is up to you.
none
Apache 2.0
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.craxiom.networksurvey/
https://www.networksurvey.app/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.craxiom.networksurvey
https://github.com/christianrowlands/android-network-survey
com.example.barcodescanner)what it says on the box. supports a wide variety of 1D and 2D barcodes for reading, generating, exporting to images, printing, sharing, etc. for QR codes, supports all conventional sub-formats nested in it (links, wifi passwords, locations, etc). has a history feature in case you need to scan tags on 15 different laptop components in a row.
none
Unlicense
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.example.barcodescanner/
https://github.com/wewewe718/QrAndBarcodeScanner
org.sensorkraken)simple-minded sensor logger. does not care what it is or what it means. displays raw readouts and records them, no other features.
none
AGPL-3.0
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.sensorkraken/
https://gitlab.com/sensorkraken/android-app
https://sensorkraken.org/ (defunct)
org.videolan.vlc)the cone is back, and, to everyone’s surprise, the cone has actual UX to it this time. the cone plays every reasonable media format, every unreasonable media format, and almost every insane media format. the cone has proper music library this time, streaming in remote files, and anything else you may expect from the cone, besides -I rc.
none
GPL-3.0
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.videolan.vlc/
https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-android.html
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc