I wrote this up for another thread, but doing so brings up the fact that I should always check with the team to work together in order to see if you
have better (non root) privacy-aware 1:1 replacements for Google apps.

Do you have better alternatives than those below for replacing Google apps?

(Each of these apps provides more functionality than the native Google app
it replaces, but the goal here is privacy more so than functionality).

1. Google Play Store client ==> Aurora play store client
<https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/releases>
2. Google Play Store search engine ==> Skyica play store search engine
<https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/>
3. Android App Drawer ==> Muntashirakon App Manager
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager> (apk)
<https://muntashirakon.github.io/AppManager/vi/> (doc)
4. Google YouTube client ==> Newpipe youtube client
<https://newpipe.net>
5. Google Chrome web browser ==> Bromite web browser
<https://www.bromite.org/>
<https://github.com/bromite/bromite/releases>
<https://www.bromite.org/fdroid>
6. Google GBoard keyboard ==> OpenBoard keyboard or HeliBoard keyboard
<https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard>
<https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard>
7. Google Contacts ==> OpenContacts
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/>
8. Google GMail client (MUA) ==> FairEmail client (MUA) or K9 Mail
<https://email.faircode.eu/>
<https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.email/>
<https://k9mail.app/>
<https://github.com/thundernest/k-9/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.fsck.k9/>
9. Google Calendar ==> Etar calendar
<https://github.com/Etar-Group/Etar-Calendar>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ws.xsoh.etar>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/ws.xsoh.etar/>
10. Google Messenger SMS/MMS ==> Pulse SMS free version
(Pulse SMS 5.4.6.2816 by Luke & Jake Klinker - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/pulse/5.6.4.2880/>
11. NetGuard Firewall
<https://netguard.me/>
<https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases>
12. Pixel Launcher or Samsung One UI Home launcher ==> Nova free launcher
(Nova Launcher 7.0.57 by TeslaCoil Apps - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/nova-launcher/7.0.57/>
<https://filehippo.com/android/download_nova-launcher/7.0.57/>

What other Google apps should we strive to replace on a 1:1 basis
for privacy (and/or functionality) reasons? What do you know that I don't?

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On 20/03/2025 04:23, Marion wrote:

I wrote this up for another thread, but doing so brings up the fact that I should always check with the team to work together in order to see if you have better (non root) privacy-aware 1:1 replacements for Google apps.

Do you have better alternatives than those below for replacing Google apps?

(Each of these apps provides more functionality than the native Google app
it replaces, but the goal here is privacy more so than functionality).

1. Google Play Store client ==> Aurora play store client
<https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/releases>
2. Google Play Store search engine ==> Skyica play store search engine
<https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/>
3. Android App Drawer ==> Muntashirakon App Manager
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager> (apk)
<https://muntashirakon.github.io/AppManager/vi/> (doc)
4. Google YouTube client ==> Newpipe youtube client
<https://newpipe.net>
5. Google Chrome web browser ==> Bromite web browser
<https://www.bromite.org/>
<https://github.com/bromite/bromite/releases>
<https://www.bromite.org/fdroid>
6. Google GBoard keyboard ==> OpenBoard keyboard or HeliBoard keyboard
<https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard>
<https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard>
7. Google Contacts ==> OpenContacts
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/>
8. Google GMail client (MUA) ==> FairEmail client (MUA) or K9 Mail
<https://email.faircode.eu/>
<https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.email/>
<https://k9mail.app/>
<https://github.com/thundernest/k-9/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.fsck.k9/>
9. Google Calendar ==> Etar calendar
<https://github.com/Etar-Group/Etar-Calendar>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ws.xsoh.etar>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/ws.xsoh.etar/>
10. Google Messenger SMS/MMS ==> Pulse SMS free version
(Pulse SMS 5.4.6.2816 by Luke & Jake Klinker - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/pulse/5.6.4.2880/>
11. NetGuard Firewall
<https://netguard.me/>
<https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases>
12. Pixel Launcher or Samsung One UI Home launcher ==> Nova free launcher
(Nova Launcher 7.0.57 by TeslaCoil Apps - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/nova-launcher/7.0.57/>
<https://filehippo.com/android/download_nova-launcher/7.0.57/>

What other Google apps should we strive to replace on a 1:1 basis
for privacy (and/or functionality) reasons? What do you know that I don't?

A very useful list. I use F-Droid, but while checking something else
came across this website: <https://alternativeto.net/>. Looks like it
does the same sort of thing as F-Droid, but may some other apps, and
also has some news on its home page which might be of interest.

--
Jeff

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On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:23:24 -0000 (UTC), Marion wrote:

I wrote this up for another thread, but doing so brings up the fact that I should always check with the team to work together in order to see if you have better (non root) privacy-aware 1:1 replacements for Google apps.

Do you have better alternatives than those below for replacing Google apps?

10. Google Messenger SMS/MMS ==> Pulse SMS free version

A bunch of sites recommend Signal, which provides end-to-end
encryption. However, both parties need to have Signal installed, so I
haven't tried it yet.

What other Google apps should we strive to replace on a 1:1 basis
for privacy (and/or functionality) reasons? What do you know that I don't?

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

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On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:54:42 +0000, Jeff Layman wrote :

What other Google apps should we strive to replace on a 1:1 basis
for privacy (and/or functionality) reasons? What do you know that I don't?

A very useful list. I use F-Droid, but while checking something else
came across this website: <https://alternativeto.net/>. Looks like it
does the same sort of thing as F-Droid, but may some other apps, and
also has some news on its home page which might be of interest.

Thanks for bringing up alternative repos.

F-Droid is fine but it doesn't *replace* the Google Play Store app.
The Aurora app *replaces* the Google Play Store app.

It's not a different repository. Both use the same repository.
It's just a different way of getting apps off of the repository.

It's easier to see with mail user agents. You have an underlying Google
Account filled with email where it doesn't matter if you use the GMail app
or the K9 app or the FairEmail app to access the data. It's the same mail.

But if you use FairEmail, you're use is more private than if you use the
GMail app. But the only thing that changed was the client. Not the data.

Likewise with the Bromite browser versus the Chrome browser.
Both are just clients. Both access the same web pages.

Similarly with NewPipe versus the YouTube app.
Both are just clients. The underlying data is the same.

Same with Bboard and OpenBoard.
It's the same text in the end, but a different client typing it.

Same with Open Contacts & Google Contacts.
The contacts are the same. Only the client is different.

The goal is to find a 1:1 replacement for every Google app.
It has to replace the exact functionality of that Google app.

What else is missing that is a Google app we need to replace?

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On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:22:27 -0700, Stan Brown wrote :

10. Google Messenger SMS/MMS ==> Pulse SMS free version

A bunch of sites recommend Signal, which provides end-to-end
encryption. However, both parties need to have Signal installed, so I
haven't tried it yet.

Stan, you're 100% on the money. Everything you said is correct.

You've hit upon the key issue for most SMS/MMS/RCS apps, which is that the other guy has to be using the same protocols, so that's the problem with
most VOIP solutions (e.g., Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, etc.).
<https://i.postimg.cc/ryGLXggQ/rcs-mls.jpg>

But the beauty of SMS/MMS apps is they work with everything.
So we need a privacy-aware messaging app.
I don't know what it will be, but it won't be a Google app.

It might be signal, based on the Copilot response above.
Or PulseSMS. Or SimpleSMS. Or Hancecent Next SMS. We don't know yet.

In the future, we'll have a wider choice but now, we have zero choices.

I just asked Copilot what SMS/MMS messenger apps will support RCS/MLS, to
which it couldn't find any but the strange thing is it said it'd keep an
eye out on that topic for me. So, maybe, in the future, we'll know.
<https://i.postimg.cc/q7mY13vX/copilot-tracking.jpg>

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On 2025-03-20, Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

I wrote this up for another thread, but doing so brings up the fact that I should always check with the team to work together in order to see if you have better (non root) privacy-aware 1:1 replacements for Google apps.

Do you have better alternatives than those below for replacing Google apps?

(Each of these apps provides more functionality than the native Google app
it replaces, but the goal here is privacy more so than functionality).

1. Google Play Store client ==> Aurora play store client
<https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/releases>
2. Google Play Store search engine ==> Skyica play store search engine
<https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/>
3. Android App Drawer ==> Muntashirakon App Manager
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager> (apk)
<https://muntashirakon.github.io/AppManager/vi/> (doc)
4. Google YouTube client ==> Newpipe youtube client
<https://newpipe.net>
5. Google Chrome web browser ==> Bromite web browser
<https://www.bromite.org/>
<https://github.com/bromite/bromite/releases>
<https://www.bromite.org/fdroid>
6. Google GBoard keyboard ==> OpenBoard keyboard or HeliBoard keyboard
<https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard>
<https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard>

Hacker's Keyboard Four- or five-row soft-keyboard https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard/

7. Google Contacts ==> OpenContacts
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/>

Fossify contacts
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.contacts/

8. Google GMail client (MUA) ==> FairEmail client (MUA) or K9 Mail
<https://email.faircode.eu/>
<https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.email/>
<https://k9mail.app/>
<https://github.com/thundernest/k-9/releases>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.fsck.k9/>
9. Google Calendar ==> Etar calendar
<https://github.com/Etar-Group/Etar-Calendar>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ws.xsoh.etar>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/ws.xsoh.etar/>

Fossify Calendar
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.calendar/

10. Google Messenger SMS/MMS ==> Pulse SMS free version
(Pulse SMS 5.4.6.2816 by Luke & Jake Klinker - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/pulse/5.6.4.2880/>

QUIK SMS
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/dev.octoshrimpy.quik/

11. NetGuard Firewall
<https://netguard.me/>
<https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases>
12. Pixel Launcher or Samsung One UI Home launcher ==> Nova free launcher
(Nova Launcher 7.0.57 by TeslaCoil Apps - last known good version)
<https://mobile.softpedia.com/apk/nova-launcher/7.0.57/>
<https://filehippo.com/android/download_nova-launcher/7.0.57/>

What other Google apps should we strive to replace on a 1:1 basis
for privacy (and/or functionality) reasons? What do you know that I don't?

Fossify Phone
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.phone/

Fossify Notes Beta (I don;t think this replaces anything) https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.notes/

Fossify File Manager
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.notes/

Fossify Gallery
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.gallery/

I've not tries the Fossify Clock yet https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.clock/

OSMand~ Map App
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/

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On 2025-03-21, Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

I just asked Copilot what SMS/MMS messenger apps will support RCS/MLS, to

I'm surprised that someone who professes concern for privacy uses uses microsoft copilot. Or do you just have issues with Google and Privacy?

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On Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:05:02 -0000 (UTC), Jim Jackson wrote :

I just asked Copilot what SMS/MMS messenger apps will support RCS/MLS, to

I'm surprised that someone who professes concern for privacy uses uses microsoft copilot. Or do you just have issues with Google and Privacy?

I wonder if you know something that I don't know, with respect to privacy?
If so, I'd love to learn from you, as I do care about privacy.

Tell me, how is asking Copilot to run a search for me any different than
asking that same question using a web browser pointed to a search engine?

If you know of appreciable differences in privacy, please let me know.

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Marion <[email protected]> ha scritto:

But the beauty of SMS/MMS apps is they work with everything.
So we need a privacy-aware messaging app.
I don't know what it will be, but it won't be a Google app.

https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages

--
Qihe

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Qihe <[email protected]d> ha scritto:

Marion <[email protected]> ha scritto:

But the beauty of SMS/MMS apps is they work with everything.
So we need a privacy-aware messaging app.
I don't know what it will be, but it won't be a Google app.

https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages

And more...
https://www.fossify.org/apps/
--
Qihe

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On Wed, 26 Mar 2025 03:17:40 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Qihe wrote :

But the beauty of SMS/MMS apps is they work with everything.
So we need a privacy-aware messaging app.
I don't know what it will be, but it won't be a Google app.

https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages

Thanks for that suggestion to replace the Google Messages app with the FossifyOrg Messages app - which looks good - but has no RCS/MLS just yet.
<https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages/releases/download/1.1.6/messages-9-foss-release.apk>

The lack of RCS/MLS isn't really a problem, yet - but it needs to be added before it's a 1:1 replacement for the Google Messages app (IMHO).
<https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages/discussions/34>
"there are no open-source players in the RCS game, and when RCS
becomes more popular, people will have no choice but to use
Google Messages."

Just so others know, while you can only have one messaging app be the
default at any one time, you can have many installed at the same time.

Switching between messengers is as simple as changing the default.
So they're relatively easy to test. Especially if you use contacts.

I don't use contacts. So, for me, testing messengers is more difficult.
But nobody will understand that statement without knowing what I do.

Suffice to say, from the conversation linked above, so far, we don't know
of any open source RCS/MLS client. We just have to wait for it to come.

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On 2025-03-25, Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

On Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:05:02 -0000 (UTC), Jim Jackson wrote :

I just asked Copilot what SMS/MMS messenger apps will support RCS/MLS, to >>

I'm surprised that someone who professes concern for privacy uses uses
microsoft copilot. Or do you just have issues with Google and Privacy?

I wonder if you know something that I don't know, with respect to privacy?
If so, I'd love to learn from you, as I do care about privacy.

Tell me, how is asking Copilot to run a search for me any different than asking that same question using a web browser pointed to a search engine?

If you know of appreciable differences in privacy, please let me know.

Copilot is a microsoft app that shares whatever you do with microsoft.
Is there anything else to be said.

Which search engine would you use? I use DuckDuckGo for a bit of extra protection. So yes there is an appreciable difference.

I'm interested - you seem to use Microsoft if your using copilot. Have
you gone to the same efforts to de-microsoft windows by finding
alternative apps to the Microsoft ones?

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On 3/31/2025 7:20 PM, Qihe wrote:

Marion <[email protected]> ha scritto:

5. Google Chrome web browser ==> Bromite web browser
<https://www.bromite.org/>

What about Brave... and its cryptos "rewards experience" ? https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018123651-How-do-I-setup-Brave-Rewards

Brave is a monstrosity, pretending to support rivacy,
but Brendan Eich's vision is that the Internet should be a
shopping mall and he wants his browser to be a middleman --
browser as ad syndicate.

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Marion <[email protected]> ha scritto:

5. Google Chrome web browser ==> Bromite web browser
<https://www.bromite.org/>

What about Brave... and its cryptos "rewards experience" ? https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018123651-How-do-I-setup-Brave-Rewards

--
Qihe

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