Regular applications, sporadic applications, to improve a specific aspect of the phone or even to pass the time in an entertaining way: our collection of Open Source apps is perfect for complement all the software you can download from Google Play. They are also safe apps, we have verified it one by one.

Over the years I have been accumulating a good collection of apps that I always install on the Androids I buy and also on the ones I review: It works very well for me to compare battery consumption between mobile phones. And not only do I download a list of favorite apps from Google Play, I also have a small collection of APKs that I find essential. All open source, useful, free and without the hassle of ads. They seem essential to me.

Safe applications that you will not find on Google Play

You have to be very careful with what you install from outside the Android store, because it is all too common to find APK files full of malware. To avoid problems, my advice is download only those applications that you trust, you have to run the APK through Virus Total and see that the repository on GitHub is active and updated frequently. Following these steps the installation is safe.

My recommendations regarding open source apps include software of all kinds that has helped me on more than one occasion. Currently I am left with the following:

• Aurora Store. Essential to download applications from Google Play that are not in my location. Or for those who have a Huawei mobile: I use it on my Huawei Mate 40 Pro to download most apps. Aurora Store is in your GitLab.
• F-Froid. This legendary Open Source application store is also open source. So it’s a great starting point for discovering new apps: it’s available here.
• OpenCalc. An Open Source scientific calculator that is a very good alternative to the standard app. It’s on their GitHub and on Google Play.
• NewPipe. An excellent YouTube client that, apart from playing the content, allows you to download the videos and even listen to them with the screen off. It is available on GitHub.
• Amaze File Manager. A complete file explorer that is very easy to use and is also powerful and compatible with ROOT access. It can be downloaded from its repository and from Google Play.
• Lawnicons. Designed for the Lanchar launcher, this highly composed icon pack is frequently updated and has a really neat design. You need a lauyncher that supports icon customization: Lawnicons can be downloaded from here.
• Organics Maps. Excellent Open Source alternative to Google Maps with offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation and even compatibility with Android Auto. Organics Maps is available in the public repository and on Google Play.
• kodi. It doesn’t need much of an introduction, this very composed multimedia center manages to rejuvenate a phone or, as happens to me, an Android TV. Kodi is available on GitHub and can also be downloaded from Google Play.
• VLC. The video player almost par excellence, there is no file that can resist it. And I usually carry it on my Androids for just that reason: it opens everything I have saved. The project is located on GitHub and the application can also be downloaded from Google Play.
• Data Monitor. Android already offers quite good management of the data consumed, but Data Monitor improves it with information that is pleasant to see, simple and varied. It even allows you to test the Internet: it is on GitHub and Google Play.

All the above apps are free, can be freely downloaded from the respective links, do not include in-app purchases and do not include ads. Perfect for managing any Android, customizing it and even finding new apps: they seem essential to me.

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In crast.net Android | This list is a mine for privacy: more than 100 free open source applications and services that do not collect personal data