Android Starters - a 3rd Opinion
Fond of testing out new phones? Fond of using LineageOS and other custom ROMs? Yes, me too!
It can be just a pain to keep track of all those apps, so I created this list to help myself and others. I try to stay away from big companies that spy a lot and also rather tend to open source wherever possible.
PS: Don't run dry - always keep looking for alternatives. Always try to have another app as fallback. As so often in life, relying solely on one single thing will bring DOOM!
PS2: Still work in progress...
Basics
The very basic stuff to get you started and keep going
Probably your first stop to get more apps. It is an app store, has much less stuff than google play but it get's you covered for starters... and it opens the door to the next appAurora.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
Your second stop for even more apps: An alternative to google's play store - no account needed, of course.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- F-Droid
- OpenAPK
Best browser I have ever seen on android, its pro version is totally worth the money, rly! You might wonder, why is a browser essential? Well, check your cookies... a bare minimum of privacy is just not negotiable
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Proprietary
Application type
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
Firefox on Android, a good replacement for the builtin chrome. Also supports many good addons like ublock and noscript...
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
- F-Droid
- OpenAPK
Your swiss army knife to handle your files. Its free version only lacks network support (see mixplorer) and really easy to handle.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Proprietary
Application type
Platforms
- Android
+7
Your other swiss army knife to handle your files. And this one also supports a lot of networking (samba, webdav, sftp and file hosters). Needs some learning but its versatility pays off quickly.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Proprietary
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
+13
OPTIONAL but the way to go when you need or want root... and the special goodies for it are listed in https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/collection-of-magisk-modules-v2.3575758/
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
2nd Line of Defense
Still essential needs but with a hint of additinal luxury
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
They claim "The very last word in instant messaging". Well, centralized messengers are certainly not a solution and how can they be trusted without source code?
With a jabber-client like conversation you are in a federated space like email - it is as resilient as the internet itself without a single point of failure.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
+4
Weirdest keyboard ever but within a week you master it. After that you can write with a single hand on a bumpy bus ride or even on a horse. Bonus: Most people probably would never ask again for your phone once they fail at first :D
Cost / License
- Free
- Proprietary
Application type
Platforms
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
- OpenAPK
Quite frankly, the gold standard for email - the settings are so vast, you better bring some wine and cheese and lots of time! For exmaple, it can remove the tracking from your emails.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
- OpenAPK
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Flathub
- F-Droid
- Thunderbird
- OpenAPK
+1
Like fax machines - the more computers have it, the more useful it becomes. Share freely and quickly anything within your home network. Or shut down your computer. Or just use your phone's screen as mouse. And it just keeps getting better.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- iPad
- KDE Plasma
- F-Droid
- Sailfish OS
- Plasma Mobile
- Chocolatey
- OpenAPK
+4
The Finishing Touch
Absolutely optional but some apps I keep having for years now and dragging them from one phone to another...
Organize your notes, your ideas, perhaps even your entire life! Or at least your shopping list ;)
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
+3
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Mac
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- iPad
- Android Auto
- F-Droid
- Kindle Fire
- Apple Car Play
- OpenAPK
How to fill your 256GB memory card? Well, you can start with a complete copy of wiki - that'll be 80GB already - all the knowledge of the world at your fingertips! https://wiki.kiwix.org/wiki/Content_in_all_languages
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- Flathub
- Wine
- Mozilla Firefox
+4
Seomthing beeping? This might help to figure out if it's a coil in your computer or just tinnitus :D
Cost / License
- Free
- Proprietary
Platforms
- Android
Cost / License
- Free
- Proprietary
Application typeApplication types
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Google Docs
+6
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Platforms
- Android
