15 Best Free and Open-Source Android Apps for 2024

As another year rolls around, it’s time once again to spotlight some of the most innovative and useful free and open-source Android apps out there. These apps run the gamut from system customization tools to productivity aids to quality-of-life improvements—all developed by passionate developers and hobbyists in the open-source community.

Recently YouTuber Sam Beckman introduced the best 15 free and open-source Android apps, so let’s dive right into the standout apps for 2024 that deserve a spot on your home screen:

Here is a List of Open-Source Android Apps

System UI Tuner

Android’s system interface is highly customizable…if you have the right tools. System UI Tuner unlocks a suite of powerful mods and tweaks for your phone at the system level. Want to declutter your status bar by hiding non-essential icons? Done. Need to adjust timeout settings for your device lock? Easy peasy. You can even disable those annoying safe audio warnings. The amount of control this free app gives you is staggering, though be warned it requires ADB access.

JamesDSP

Don’t settle for tinny, subpar audio from your phone’s speakers or headphones. JamesDSP is an audio equalizer app on steroids, with granular adjustments to tweak frequency levels, bass boosts, virtual surround sound, and more. Dialing in your perfect settings can take some trial and error, but the payoff is crystal clear, room-filling sound even from your phone. Another ADB permission app, but well worth it for audio buffs.

Positional

This slick open-source app is a bonanza of geographical utilities and data for all your location needs. At a glance, you can view coordinates, compass headings, map data, and create waypoint trails. It’s a must-have for hiking, exploring new places, or simply indulging your curiosity about your surroundings. And despite its wealth of features, the app’s design is clean and approachable.

Telegram Themer

If you’re one of Telegram’s billions of users, you’ll want to get Telegram Themer. This deceptively simple app makes it easy to create and share customized color themes for the messaging app. Once you’ve tinkered with colors and backgrounds to your desired look, simply tap to send the theme to yourself on Telegram, then apply it right from the app. Freshen up Telegram’s interface whenever the mood strikes!

Save on Device

How many downloads and file transfers clutter up your phone’s downloads folder into a disorganized mess? Save on Device adds a new “save” option to Android’s share menu, allowing you to instantly file away any photos, documents, zips, and more into specified folders on your device. Never dig through a rat’s nest of random files again.

PlainApp

Here’s a powerful app that turns your phone into its own cloud-based device manager, all through a remote web interface. With the proper setup, you can access your phone’s full file system, leaving, editing, or fetching files from any browser. You can also take notes that sync between devices, mirror your phone’s screen, and more. It’s the ultimate all-in-one utility.

Octi

In a similar vein as Plan App, Octi monitors, syncs, and provides total insight into the other Android devices on your network. Once you authorize a phone or tablet, Octe lets you keep tabs on battery levels, temperatures, network status, app inventory, and more—incredibly handy for keeping household devices optimized.

Cashew

For something more straightforward, Cashew is simply a first-class expense and budget-tracking app with beauty to spare. The app’s gorgeous design work extends from stylish data visualizations all the way down to the slick micro-animations. But it’s not just eye candy—Cashew packs all the custom category, breakdown, and security features you need to stay financially solvent in style.

Hail

Sometimes you need to take drastic measures with nagging or battery-draining apps on your device. Hail gives you the power to simply make any app even system ones vanish from your home screen and app drawer with a tap. It’s a quick and easy way to disable distractions without root hassles. You can restore any frozen apps just as easily too.

Noto

There’s no shortage of note-taking apps, but Noto is a standout open-source option that nails all the fundamentals. The app’s minimalist design stays out of your way as you flex rich formatting tools to organize notes by type, category, or even locked vaults. You can set reminders within notes and enable reading mode for long-form reviews. For a free, lightweight note-taker, Noto has it all.

Dual Wallpaper

Android 14’s theming system is so flexible, why settle for a single static wallpaper? Dual Wallpaper automates the process of setting different home and lock screen wallpapers based on whichever theme is currently applied. The app is silky smooth and works flawlessly with the latest Android release.

Smart Spacer

If you’re rocking a Google Pixel phone, Smart Spacer is an app you need right now. It expands the usefulness of the At a Glance widget with unread notification counters for apps, digital well-being stats, Tasker plugin capability, and much more. Best of all, it accomplishes all this without requiring root access—just straightforward ADB permission.

Notification Dictionary

How often are you reading an article, book, or webpage only to stumble across an unfamiliar word? Notification Dictionary lets you simply select any word to instantly view its definition as a temporary notification banner. It’s an unobtrusive micro-feature that removes frustration from unknown vocabulary.

Audio Share

This clever little app allows you to wirelessly stream any audio playing on another computer or device directly to your phone’s speakers. That means you can listen to podcasts, videos, music, and more from your PC without being tethered to it. It’s perfect for moving freely while enjoying audio content.

OBTanium

Our final app pick is a utility that helps you maintain all the awesome open-source apps you’ll install after reading this article! OBTanium connects to app repositories to track updates to sideloaded apps that don’t appear on the Play Store. You can be automatically notified of any new app releases to keep your device ahead of the curve.

That’s a roundup of 15 top-tier free and open-source apps that can seriously upgrade both the functionality and aesthetics of your Android phone in 2024. Of course, this list merely scratches the surface of the incredible open-source ecosystem. Do you have personal favorite FOSS apps that deserve recognition? Share your picks in the comments below!

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