Best Open Source Android Apps in 2023

Although Android devices come in many different shapes and sizes, the common unifying factor is its apps. Android is known for its simplicity and great user experience. What has contributed to this is that the platform is open-source. This makes it easy for mobile developers from all walks of life to work and improve their mobile app development. The apps are easily customizable, and code is freely available for any app developer to assess and tweak. In this article, I am enlisting Android open-source apps that include multiple different strains developed by independent developers.

Some of these apps are a built-in form of custom ROMs.  Although they have not received the attention they deserve, these android apps are quite purposeful and very efficient. If you wish to improve your coding skills, you may use these apps as reference points or can add your features without starting from scratch. For Android consumers who love the way it operates, these open-source apps bring an ad-free experience. And without much ado here, some of the best open-source for your Android device.

VLC Media Player

Anyone who has not yet used the renowned and famous VLC media player, I don’t understand what planet you are from. This is an awesome Android open-source app that plays local media files, streams videos, audio, and other types of data over a local network. You can also use an internet directory to play your files using the VLC app.  Some of the added features that you will get with this app include the ability to jump to a specific time, change playback, add and pan subtitles, and also set the sleep timer. Besides that, videos are played in picture-in-picture mode, and an inbuilt equalizer can help you tune the audio playback. You can install it for free from GitHub.

A2DP Volume

Another tremendous open-source app for Android devices is the A2DP Volume. You can also call it the Android Bluetooth Volume Manager. The app is used to store data of your preferred volume per individual Bluetooth device. This makes it easier for users since they don’t need to adjust the volume manually every time; they connect a new device. There is also an option to read incoming alerts or set a timer to delay to prevent it from reading out loud when you are using your smartphone. There is also a feature to capture the GPS location every time a Bluetooth device is disconnected. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled stereo system, you can use this feature like a car locator. The app is not so common but is quite handy. It is available for free at GitHub.

Amaze File Manager

With a minimalistic nature, Amaze File Manager is an easy-to-use file manager. It has a clean interface, fast animations, and it allows you to pick different themes. A user can also select colors for elements individually, making this app very interesting. It also allows users to back up installed apps in the form of APK files to be restored later after a fresh install. Another great option is that you can also use its inbuilt FTP. In other words, it allows you to install additional plugins for extended functionality or utilize cloud transfer protocols like SMB, SCP, SFTP. You can download and install Amaze File Manager from GitHub.

AntennaPod

If you are impressed by the likes of iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts/iTunes podcasts, you will like AntennaPod. What this open-source app for Android users does is allow users to find podcasts from these open-source android apps in a single place. Your search for and subscribe to numerous podcast sources. Besides that, you can stream and download your favorite podcasts by manually entering the URL. This app is one of the most used Android apps since it offers a playback option. The playback option also allows you to fine-tune the speed, convert a stereo output to mono, and vary the volume between left and right channels. The sleep timer gives you the flexibility to set the alarm. This is to limit the time you spend listening to podcasts.

Kodi

If you like to stream movies, music, TV shows, and live TV, then this is your best open-source app to give you all the best in entertainment. This is a cross-platform media player that offers you nearly endless options to enhance your user experience. The app provides numerous add-ons and repositories to help you download, stream, and manage your media library. Retro games are also some of the games that will enjoy besides providing a platform to watch content from a vast number of sources. A theme can also be set to suit your mood. You can also install Kodi in other operating systems other than Android including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, numerous TV boxes, and streaming sticks.

Signal Messenger

A signal open-source app is a messaging platform that has end-to-end encryption. It is a popular app that is used for encrypted and protected conversations. It shares the podium with other major messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Allo. Signal Messenger uses a cryptographic protocol that guarantees users the secrecy of messages sent and received. It has a simplified messaging interface with an inbuilt dark mode. Still, on privacy, there is an auto-lock timer feature, an option to use the keyboard in incognito mode, enabling or disabling backup, and restricting screenshots.

Orbot

Orbot is an open-source proxy-resolving app for Android devices. This app helps you to hide your identity online and also counter forces that seek to hinder your online freedom. The app does this by routing internet traffic through more than 7,000 layers. If you care about your identity so much than your web speed, this app will serve you well since it tends to slow down the page loading speed. Moreover, the app allows you to choose the app that uses the network and which ones don’t.

NewPipe 

For YouTube fans who want to browse and play videos without signing into your Google account, NewPipe is the best open-source Android app to do that and more. Besides browsing for trending content, NewPipe also allows you to import your subscriptions from YouTube and SoundCloud. Subscriptions can also be exported and shared with friends without being tracked by Google. This Android app will enable you to download videos, and play them in the background, or a pop-up window.

Conclusion

Android always gives its users the best experience, and with these open-source android apps, the user will get the best user experience with more flexibility when interacting with their devices. If you are an Android app developer, you can expand your developing knowledge by examining how these apps work, so that you can also create such apps without starting from the bottom up.