Android comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, with nearly every vendor or smartphone manufacturer having their own take on the operating system. The fact that Android is an open-source platform gives them the freedom to customise it.
This list includes not only the Android variants designed by brands, but also the numerous strains developed by independent developers in the form of custom Android ROMs.
Amazing Open Source Android Apps in 2020
- SoundSpice
Let's begin with one of my favourite and best-designed open-source Android apps. SoundSpice is an offline music player app with a modern design aesthetic. The app's user interface is both functional and useful. It's also a lightweight app, making it suitable for older Android devices.
The app is completely free to use and even includes modern UI features like dark mode. One of my favourite features of this app is the ability to look up lyrics in real time. It enables me to quickly access song lyrics with a single tap. If you don't use online music streaming services and prefer to listen to your offline music collection, this app is for you.
- QKSMS
QKSMS is another beautiful and useful open-source Android application that I instal right away on a new Android device. It's a third-party texting app for standard messages. The ability to customise the app's look and feel is my favourite feature of this app. You won't have any issues because the app supports dual and multi-SIM devices.
It also supports the standard MMS protocol, which allows you to share media files such as photos and audio files. The ability to create group messages is one of this app's standout features. Overall, I enjoy this app and prefer it to the built-in messaging app.
- FairEmail
Look no further than FairEmail if you're looking for a privacy-friendly open-source email app for your Android device. It includes all of the
modern email features, such as unlimited accounts and email addresses, a unified inbox, conversation threading, two-way synchronisation, and more
It's also very small (>12MB) and uses few resources. Finally, I appreciate that it supports the material design language as well as the dark mode. Gone are the days when open-source email clients were unappealing and difficult to use. FairEmail gives your Android device a modern email experience.
- Lawnchair 2
The Pixel launcher that comes with Google Pixel phones is fantastic. I wish all Android smartphone launchers, whether from Samsung or Xiaomi, adhered to the same minimalist design aesthetic. Because that isn't the case, we must rely on third-party launchers, and Lawnchair launcher is the best choice for minimalism and high performance.
It incorporates the Pixel design language and all of its features, such as adaptive icons, drawer categories, automatic dark mode, notification dots, and more. And because it is open-source, it is free to use and does not contain any advertisements. It's definitely worth a look.
- Keepass2
In the year 2021, you should be using a password manager to generate, use, and store secure passwords for all of your accounts. However, if you are wary of third-party password managers that use their proprietary code, you should look into Keepass2. Keepass2 is a free and open-source password manager for Android.
It supports biometric authentication, which eliminates the need to enter your master password each time you log in. It also allows you to synchronise your vault with the cloud or your server (Dropbox, Google Drive, SFTP, WebDAV, and many more).
- VLC Media Player
VLC is a well-known media player that supports a wide range of audio and video codecs. VLC can be used to stream videos, audios, and other types of files over a local network or an internet directory in addition to playing local media files. Common enhancements to media playback include the ability to change playback speed, jump to a specific time, add and pan subtitles, and set a sleep timer.
- A2DP Volume
A2DP Volume, also known as Android Bluetooth Volume Manager, is used to save data about your volume preferences per Bluetooth device so that you don't have to adjust the volume manually every time a new device is connected.
If you don't want the notifications read out loud when you're using your smartphone, you can use an option to read incoming notifications or set a timer to delay this.
- Amaze File Manager
Amaze File Manager is a user-friendly and resourceful file manager that stands out from the crowd thanks to its minimal material design interface. Aside from a clean interface, Amaze File Manager's fast animations, as well as the ability to choose from various themes and even select colours for individual elements, are what make it interesting.
Aside from appealing aesthetics, the file manager dazzles (yes, cringe-worthy pun intended) with the ability to backup installed apps in the form of APK files and even restore them after a fresh instal. You can also use the built-in FTP option, as well as a variety of cloud transfer protocols such as SMB, SCP, and SFTP, or instal additional plugins to extend the utility.
- AntennaPod
If you enjoy podcasts, you may be familiar with popular podcast apps such as iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, and, of course, Apple Podcasts/iTunes. AntennaPod, on the other hand, is an open-source podcast player that allows you to subscribe to a variety of podcast sources. You can also enter the URL manually and begin streaming or downloading your favourite podcasts.
AntennaPod is without a doubt one of the most useful open source Android apps. The app allows you to adjust the playback speed, adjust the volume between the left and right channels, and convert a stereo output to a mono output. If you want to limit the amount of time you spend listening to podcasts, you can also set a sleep timer with the option of setting an alarm at the end of the timer.
- Kodi
Kodi is a cross-platform and open source media player that allows you to stream movies, music, TV shows, and even live TV. You can add a plethora of add-ons and Kodi repositories to help you download, stream, and manage content.
Aside from being able to watch content from a large number of sources, Kodi also allows you to play retro games and even theme the media player to suit your mood and preferences. Aside from Android, Kodi can be downloaded and installed for free on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and a variety of TV boxes and streaming sticks.
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