A Complete Review On F-Droid Apps
What do you know about F-Droid apps? Google’s Play Store is the largest app store and does a significant amount of tracking as well. Also, the Mountain View company is the largest ad broker in the globe. Rather than that, there are many apps in Google Play that act on the company’s security policies or privacy to monitor user data and perform virus attacks.
What is F-Droid Or is it safe or harmful?
F-Droid is an applications repository that provides Fully Open Source Software (FOSS) with no hidden costs or tracking. Also, it offers to focus on security or privacy with safety precautions such as ignoring browsing data leakage, sharing all data via HTTPS, Tor support, and modifying compatible languages in the metadata so as to not reveal your place. Well, F-Droid seems like a good bet when we talk about data safety.
List Of F-Droid Apps:
You can install or download F-Droid like any other app on your mobile and browse over 2000 apps that are available for download for free.
Here is a complete list of the best apps that you can download or install from F-Droid. Some of the apps given below can also replace the app that you’re using now while the others will add too much productivity or functionality features on your mobile.
NewPipe
NewPipe is an app that is an open-source alternative to watch YouTube movies or videos. However, the app not only allows you to watch YouTube but also compatible with floating player, subscriptions, installing videos and audio, check history, queue videos, local playlists, and subtitles.
Rather than that, the app offers more privacy than YouTube. Also, it stores your data offline by not using proprietary Google APIs that generally gather your watch history data. NewPipe doesn’t need any sign-in to Google policy.
Download: NewPipe
K-9 Mail
This application is a fully-featured email client. Also, it is compatible with IMAP, POP3, and Push IMAP accounts. You can also log in using various accounts and can export your account configurations or settings when switching between packages. It provides features like flagging, multi-folder sync, signatures, BCC-self, filing, and PGP/MIME.
Download: K-9 Mail
Face Slim
If you want to access Facebook without its own invasive or tracking features, F-Droid offers a Face Slim feature. It is a lightweight replacement. The app size is 1.3MB but adds full Message functionality and offers features that are not present on the official app. Some extra app features are low-speed networks, dark mode support, personalization inside the feed, and much more.
Download: Face Slim
Twidere for Twitter
Twidere is another open-source app that’s officially compatible with Twitter. But is the only app that supports Twitter. The app also comes with a built-in map viewer, direct messages, or image that is compatible with conversations, various account support, direct/secure login with a password or username. It also offers a night mode option that allows you to enjoy dark themes or different options to schedule tweets, mute filters, customize tabs, avoid promotions/ads in your timeline.
Download: Twidere
Fennec F-Droid
Firefox preview probably an open-source app but Fennec F-Droid is a variant of Firefox stripped of any proprietary bits that are found in Mozilla’s builds.
Download: Fennec F-Droid
Slide
An open-source option for Reddit is Slide. It is ad-free, offers a material-designed, and wraps an array of features for power users. The app also comes with support for more than 10,000 theme combinations, provide offline capabilities complete with pictures and gifs, shadowbox or Gallery modes, Synccit integration, various accounts support, and much more. If we talk about additional features, Slide offers Image Flair support, replying to comments without open the latest window, a filter system to block content, checking and removing browsing history, and casual subscriptions that won’t display up on the front page.
Download: Slide
ownCloud
ownCloud is another self-hosted cloud storage alternative that allows you to manage files, calendars, contacts, music, pictures, and much more using the app. The service lets you browse all your ownCloud synced files, make new ones, edit old files, and share files with others. ownCloud compatible syncing of content on all devices and you can also define various paths for different types of files before uploading.
Download: ownCloud
Open Camera
Open Camera as the name suggests is an open-source camera app that provides you customizable hotkeys, full manual controls, widgets, HDR support, external mic support, and multitouch zoom. The app also comes with an auto-stabilize option, various face detection, focus modes, burst mode, and silenceable shutter.
Download: Open Camera
Amaze – File Manager
If you want to replace your existing file manager, F-droid mentions the Amaze app which is a file manager that follows the Material Design guidelines. If you talk about the latest features such as cut, delete, copy, compress, and extract, the app also provides the ability to work on various tabs, theme support, a navigational drawer, and an app manager. Using Amaze, you can instantly access history, bookmarks, and search for any files that are present on your mobile with Root explorer compatible with advanced users.
Download: Amaze
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is another Google Maps option that utilizes OpenStreetMap for taking maps data and it is available for free. The app offers voice guidance, turn-by-turn directions, automatic re-routing, offline support, lane guidance, and looking for places such as museums, gas stations, restaurants, and also any geographical coordinates. The app also offers offline viewing using data consumption of under 200MB for a particular region.
Download: OsmAnd
OpenVPN for Android
OpenVPN is another open-source client for android to create a VPN without root. The app can also be used to connect to any services via OpenVPN certificates.
Download: OpenVPN for Android
AntennaPod
AntennaPod is another open-source podcast manager. It also offers you quick access to both paid or free podcasts from independent podcasters or publishers. You can also export or import feeds via OPML, gPodder, RSS URLs, and the iTunes podcast database. The app also provides users with robust automation controls that you can use to save power, effort, download episodes, and remove them.
Download: AntennaPod
SimpleRT
You probably used to tether your mobile data for use on your PC but what if we tell you can easily reverse the whole process and use your PC Wifi connection on your mobile device via SimpleRT. The app, besides many others, works without root and can use custom DNS servers, and sports various tethering.
Download: SimpleRT
DNS66
However, AdAway is another open-source option, it works only on rooted mobiles. That’s the reason, we have mentioned the DNS66 app that can block malware, ads, and trackers after creating an encrypted server to filter ads. It includes intrusive Ads, popup ads, and also advertisements across the apps or web.
Download: DNS66
BaldPhone
If you w\ever thought to gift a mobile to the elderly ones in your family? That’s a very good idea but you must know that they probably find it complex to get through their day using the advanced UI that iOS or Android offers. BaldPhone fixes that issue as it dumbs down your mobile with simple tools that you can access easily by the elderly.
Whenever you install or open the application, you will be welcomed with large-sized shortcuts or icons and that is basically shown as the default launcher. Also, the app offers shortcuts for Phone or Contacts, Alarms, Voice Assistant, Voice Assistant, Notifications, and WhatsApp. However, the BaldPhone highlights come in the form of timely reminders for the SOS button or pills in case of an emergency, both of which can help the elderly in an efficient way.
Download: BaldPhone
Conclusion:
Here’s all about ‘F-Droid Apps’. I hope you find it helpful. Share with others and lets us know your feedback below!
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