The Open-Source community is always an opportunity for amateur developers to learn software/app development. Since the code is open-source and available for the public, users can unravel the code and learn the working of an app from scratch. Moreover, they can customize it and add their own personal touch to enhance user-experience.
The best part about open-source apps is that they are secure, flexible, and genuine. They might not be as popular as other mainstream apps, but they provide better safety against data harvesting, spyware, and privacy violations. In this definitive guide, we have compiled a list of the 7 best open-source apps for Android and iOS.
You might want to read: Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) | Safe or Not?
7 Best Open-Source Apps for Android and iOS
You might already be aware that Android is an open-source OS, but Apple’s iOS isn’t. In simple words, Android is accessible to all and everyone. While Apple’s iOS is a closed-source OS, this does not mean that all the apps available for Apple’s mobile platform are also closed source. There’s a pretty good selection of free and open-source applications for both the Mobile OSes.
1. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
Price – Free
Vendor – DuckDuckGo, Inc
iOS Compatibility – iOS 14.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 6.0 or above
In this digital world, privacy is a serious concern we all face. If you prioritize privacy and security over everything, then DuckDuckGo is one of the best open-source apps you need to have. It allows you to erase all your browsing history with a single tap. The app efficiently, blocks third-party trackers that are hidden and stores your data. It also forces websites to use encrypted HTTPS versions when available.
Key Features:
- Built-in private search to surf anonymously.
- Stop the hidden trackers.
- Built-in email protection.
- Fingerprint protection to stop a search engine from fingerprinting you.
Download DuckDuckGo for Android
2. VLC for Mobile
Price – Free
Vendor – VideoLAN
iOS Compatibility – iOS 9.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Varies with the device
VLC for Mobile is one of the best open-source apps for Android and iOS that is widely popular and recognized for its easy interface and cutting-edge features. The app is designed with adaptive streaming that not only allows you to stream videos online but also play local videos. It supports all video formats, subtitles, Teletext, and multi-track audio. Besides all these, it also promotes playback speed control and rendering through Chromecast.
Key Features:
- Allows you to play local audio and video files.
- Designed with adaptive streaming and playback speed controls.
- Includes popular codecs with no separate downloads.
- Supports multi-track audio and subtitles.
- Supports popular formats like MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, Ogg, TS, M2TS, FLAC, Wv, and AAC.
3. OsmAnd Maps
Price – Free
Vendor – OsmAND B.V.
iOS Compatibility – iOS 12.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 6.0 or above
If you travel a lot but don’t trust apps phishing your data, OsmAnd Maps is the best open-source app for you. OsmAnd allows you to utilize extremely detailed offline maps of the whole planet. This covers things like sites of interest, sharing, GPS navigation, public transit routes, day/night modes, and so on. OsmAnd allows you to store maps on your device. Having OsmAnd on your Android or iPhone is the best way to ensure that you don’t get lost anywhere in the world.
Key Features:
- Displays your favorite places on the map to locate food, health places & other attractions.
- Different map styles for different activities. It includes touring view, winter and ski, topographic, desert, nautical map, off-road, and more.
- Plots a route to places without active Internet connection.
- Allows you to plot a route point by point using one or multiple navigation profiles.
Download OsmAnd Maps for Android
You might want to read: Google Maps Alternatives: Which One Will You Try?
4. Bitwarden Password Manager
Price – Free
Vendor – Bitwarden Inc
iOS Compatibility – iOS 10.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 5.0 or above
Passwords are the one thing that helps us keep safe and secure. Losing one can put your privacy and security in jeopardy. But in this modern and digital world, it is difficult to create and manage a password. This is where the Bitwarden app proves to be most useful. Security is at the heart of it. The app helps you create, store, secure, share, and manage unlimited passwords across unlimited devices from anywhere. It is designed with world-class encryption, a built-in password generator, and cross-platform applications.
Key Features:
- Protects passwords with advanced end-to-end encryption. It includes salted hashtag, AES-256 bit, and PBKDF2 SHA-256).
- Built-in password generator helps you create strong, unique, and random passwords.
- Bitwarden translations exist in 40 languages.
- Comes with a Secure Vault.
Download Bitwarden for Android
5. ProtonMail
Price – Free
Vendor – Proton AG
iOS Compatibility – iOS 11.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 6.0 or above
ProtonMail is one of the most secure and best open-source apps for iOS and Android. It follows end-to-end encryption and uses PGP protocols to provide maximum security for your mail. The app also provides you with maximum protection against phishing, spam, and tracking. Besides all these, ProtonMail makes it safe and easy to read, organize, and write your emails.
Key Features:
- Provides unmatched protection against phishing, spam, and tracking.
- Rigorous encryption keeps your inbox secured.
- ProtonMail doesn’t spy on your communications to show you targeted ads
- Easy to read, organize, and write your emails
Download ProtonMail for Android
6. Firefox
Price – Free
Vendor – Mozilla
iOS Compatibility – iOS 13.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 5.0 or above
Firefox is supported by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that the internet remains a worldwide public resource open to all. Firefox protects your privacy when you browse the web. Trackers such as social media trackers and cross-site cookie trackers are all banned by default in Firefox. Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection stops tracking content from being displayed in all windows. You may also search in private browsing mode.
Key Features:
- Streamlined home screen for effortless use.
- Solid protection against cross-site cookie trackers, social media trackers etc.
- Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks tracking content in all windows.
- Private browsing mode for secure browsing.
7. SimpleLogin
Price – Free
Vendor – SimpleLogin
iOS Compatibility – iOS 15.0 or above
Android Compatibility – Android 5.0 or above
There are instances when we all have shared email addresses to instantly access anything, knowing you’ll never use the service again. This might expose that inbox to an endless stream of spam. And this is when SimpleLogin proves to be most useful. When you sign up for a new online service, SimpleLogin assigns you a new anonymous email address (aka email alias), allowing you to disguise your actual email address from spammers.
Key Features:
- Supports PGP encryption, multiple mailboxes, and in-app alias management
- Truly open source and independently audited for security
- Manage multiple mailboxes from a single destination.
- Filter out unwanted communications.
Download SimpleLogin for Android
Final Takeaways,
Open-source apps for Android and iOS offer a lot of advantages. These apps often inspire open-source communities to develop features that are new and disruptive. There are plenty of outstanding open-source apps accessible for both Android and iOS. And if you know or use any other great open-source application for any Operating System, feel free to share them below!
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