The Google Play Store is full of useful apps, but if you stick to the usual suspects, you’ll usually end up paying for features or tolerating ads and trackers. That’s one of the reasons why I love open-source apps. They respect your privacy, give you control over your data, and deliver powerful features without hidden costs.
You may already be familiar with popular open-source apps like Firefox, Brave, Bitwarden, and ProtonVPN, but there’s a whole world of lesser-known gems out there. You’ll find apps that boost productivity, enhance media playback, improve photography, and even make day-to-day tasks easier.
Stop clicking blindly
If you’ve ever clicked a link and felt that little jolt of “hmm… is this safe?”, URLCheck can help calm those nerves. This lightweight Android app acts as an intermediary, so you can avoid links that are suspicious or unsafe.
Instead of opening a link blindly, you can run it through URLCheck first. The app can help remove tracking snippets from email links and can even scan URLs for viruses.
To use it, all you have to do is set URLCheck as your default browser. This also lets you pick which browser or compatible app to open the link with. So if you have multiple browsers installed or prefer a specific app, URLCheck gives you that flexibility.
Edit, convert, and batch like a pro
If you’ve ever downloaded one app just to resize an image, another to convert it, and yet another to compress it, Image Toolbox brings all of that together in one neat, free, open-source package. It’s like carrying a Swiss Army knife for your photos right on your Android device.
With Image Toolbox, you can rotate, resize, compress, convert, remove backgrounds, and much more—all without hopping between apps. Sure, your phone’s built-in editor can already handle some of these tasks, but the real power of Image Toolbox is batch processing. You can apply the same edit to dozens of photos at once.
Image Toolbox also lets you delete metadata to protect your privacy, watermark images, create collages, and apply filters. It can handle PDFs too, so you can convert PDFs to images or vice versa with ease.
Enjoy seamless file sharing across devices
Sharing or receiving files between Android phones is a breeze thanks to Google’s Quick Share. And now that it’s available on Windows, you can transfer files to your PC too. But what if you want to send something to an iPhone, a Mac, or even your TV?
LocalSend is a free, open-source app that lets you send files to virtually any device on the same Wi-Fi network. It works on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, and even Google TV. You just open the app, choose the file, and pick the nearby device. You can even share files with multiple devices at once.
LocalSend simplifies file transfers across devices, no matter what operating system they run. Once you start using it, you’ll barely notice yourself going back to native sharing options.
Your digital vault for strong passwords
Everyone needs a password manager, and while there’s no shortage of choices, KeePassDX stands out as a free, open-source option. It uses strong encryption standards to keep your credentials securely locked down.
You can organize your entries into folders, add tags for quick searching, and even generate complex passwords right in the app. It also supports autofill, so you can quickly log into apps and websites.
The best part is that everything is stored locally on your device, so you never have to worry about handing your sensitive information over to a third-party server.
Make your phone and PC work together
KDE Connect allows your phone and computer to communicate seamlessly. You can send and receive files, share your clipboard, reply to messages, and even turn your phone into a remote control for your PC. It works with both Linux and Windows machines.
Sure, Microsoft’s Phone Link already lets you connect Android phones to Windows PCs, but KDE Connect has some clear advantages. Unlike Phone Link, it doesn’t require a Samsung phone to sync your clipboard.
You can also turn your phone into a remote mouse and keyboard for your PC. There’s even the option to control your PC’s media player directly from your phone, so you can skip, pause, or adjust volume.
The best alternative to the stock camera app
If you’re tired of the limitations of your phone’s default camera app, Open Camera is a great alternative. Its interface may look a bit old-school at first, but that’s by design—it keeps everything simple and easy to use.
Of course, Open Camera comes packed with features you’d expect from a serious camera app, including RAW shooting, HDR with automatic alignment, and noise reduction. What really sets it apart, though, is the extra control it gives you.
You get a variety of grid overlays, automatic photo straightening, a customizable timer, and more, so every shot comes out just the way you want. It’s perfect for anyone who wants full control over their mobile photography.
Every video, every format, every time
VLC is a name that needs no introduction, and for good reason. This powerhouse media player can handle virtually any audio or video format you throw at it.
While I stick to Samsung Music for audio, VLC is my go-to for video. It supports subtitles, playback speed adjustments, gesture controls, and video filters, which means you have complete control over your viewing experience.
There’s even picture-in-picture mode, so you can keep watching while using other apps. VLC goes beyond simple playback. You can organize your media library, create playlists, and even stream content directly from networks. For anyone who wants ad-free, no-frills video playback, VLC is hard to beat.
Discover free and open-source gems
F-Droid is essentially a Play Store alternative, but with one key difference: it only lists apps that are free and open-source. That means you won’t find apps stuffed with ads, in-app purchases, or the sneaky monetization tricks that have become all too common in mainstream stores. Every app on F-Droid prioritizes transparency, privacy, and user control.
It’s a fantastic place to discover hidden gems you won’t find on the Play Store. F-Droid is run entirely by volunteers and funded purely through donations. If you’re passionate about privacy, enjoy tinkering with your device, or want apps like NewPipe, F-Droid is an essential download. It’s even available for smart TVs, so you can expand your app library there too.
Download media effortlessly
Downloading audio or video from an app or website is something you might need to do every now and then, and Seal is the perfect app for it. Built on the powerful yt-dlp engine, Seal lets you grab media in high quality, convert it to MP3 or MP4, and even download entire playlists with a single tap.
You can embed metadata and thumbnails into audio files, add subtitles to videos, and manage downloads using custom templates. It makes downloading videos or audio from platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud effortless—and all without annoying ads or pop-ups.
If you’re tired of the same old Android apps, the options above are a breath of fresh air. The best part is that these apps put you in control, free from ads, trackers, or unnecessary fees. With open-source tools like these, your Android can do more than you ever imagined.
