Covering free and open source software has always had a degree of fun, but there was a time when we were starved for choice. These days, it’s just the opposite. There are many excellent open source apps out there, but without marketing budgets, it’s easy for these gems to fall through the cracks. Here are some of the ones I’ve been genuinely impressed by recently.

Like most open source Android apps, you can find each of these in F-Droid—Android’s defacto home for FOSS mobile apps. Still, I’ll link to the Play Store where possible.

Lotus

A gorgeous music player that could have come straight from Google

Most of us open a music streaming app when we want to play an album, but with those major platforms, none of us have a say in which app we use. Things are different for those of us who have our own library of downloaded MP3s. Our storage is filled with thousands of files, and we need an app powerful enough to not only play them, but preferably do so instantly, while also looking good in the process.

There are many open source music players I can point you toward. I used Auxio for years, and I’ve since been quite impressed by Symphony, but Lotus is my current go-to. This deceptively simple app fully embraces Android’s Material 3 Expressive design language, offering large buttons and plenty of white space. Yet behind that facade, there is a powerful music player that not only allows you to toggle an equalizer and customize the interface, but it can also display lyrics.

You won’t find Lotus in the Play Store, so head over to the Lotus F-Droid page for the download.

PhotonCamera

Higher quality photos than you typically get from open source camera apps

I have these apps installed on my repairable Murena Fairphone 6 running a /e/OS/, a de-Googled version of Android. While the phone does come with Fairphone’s version of the camera app, de-Googling your phone often means taking a hit in camera quality. Fortunately, PhotonCamera can take photos that look like those you once had to leave behind.

I have a Google Pixel 10a on hand for testing. Out of the box, there is a noticeable difference in quality between the photos that come out of the Pixel 10a and the Fairphone 6. Yet when I take photos using PhotonCamera, the gap is small enough that it’s largely a non-issue. PhotonCamera isn’t perfect. It takes a moment longer to capture a shot and do all the processing, but it’s still fast enough to be the app I default to when double-tapping my phone’s power button.

Brand

Murena

Display

6.31 inches

The Murena Fairphone (Gen. 6) is the perfect option to bring together privacy and sustainability. Powered by the /e/OS operating system, the Fairphone (Gen. 6) protects you and your data at all times, while at the same time protecting the planet.

You’ll not only need F-Droid to download this one, but the third-party IzzyOnDroid repo as well.

Aves Gallery

A powerful photo management app for your phone

There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all, especially when it comes to gallery apps. While I’m quite content with a simple camera roll with limited options to crop and rotate, there was a time not that long ago when such an app would have been too simple for me, and I know many will only consider ditching Google Photos for a similar self-hosted alternative. If you merely want a local gallery app with all the bells and whistles, Aves Gallery should be one of the first options you consider.

Aves Gallery can display detailed metadata, supports all kinds of album organization, handles geolocation, and supports tags. You can modify the interface in all manner of ways, and it also doubles as a video player. Give this a go if you feel Fossify Gallery has become a bit too basic. That said, don’t expect AI features. When I say all the bells and whistles, I don’t mean the new bells or the new whistles.

Grit

A task and habit tracker with style

Not too long ago, if you had asked me to recommend a to-do list app, I’d point you toward Tasks.org. That app is still around, and it remains a solid choice, but the field has diversified. I’m currently intrigued by Grit, a to-do list app that also helps you stay on top of habits. Think of the tasks that you want to do every day, like drinking more water or taking up journaling. You can set recurring reminders for these, check them off, and view your streaks.

While there’s nothing stopping you from making a recurring task in any to-do list app, I like the presentation here. This is an app that feels great to open on my phone. That matters a lot when we’re talking about a piece of software that is ultimately tasked with helping me keep track of the more mundane aspects of life.

Searching for free and open source apps sparks a different kind of joy

It has been a long time since I felt any excitement when opening the Play Store. Too many of the apps are manipulative and exploitative, designed to maximize attention or collect information. But open source apps? They’re just intended to be useful and fun. They put the enjoyment back in using my phone, and I hope they do the same for you.