Private and open-source alternatives to Android
8 mobile operating systems rated against the same public privacy criteria as Android (Stock Android, Google Android), with our picks first.
Why look for an alternative?
- Open source: partial. The Android Open Source Project is mostly Apache-2.0, but Google Play services, Google apps and parts of the Pixel software are closed source.
- No trackers or telemetry: no. Google Play services and Google apps send usage and device data to Google, and some data is sent even with usage and diagnostics turned off; the website loads Google Tag Manager.
- No ads or data sales: no. Google is funded by advertising and uses an advertising ID and account data for ad targeting.
- Independent audit: partial. Android devices hold Common Criteria and FIPS 140 certifications from accredited labs, but no full audit report is published by Google.
The alternatives
GrapheneOS Grade B Our pick
A privacy and security focused mobile operating system with Android app compatibility, developed as a non-profit open source project for Google Pixel devices.
Why it is our pick: Hardened Android for Pixel phones with no Google services by default, sandboxed Google Play only if you choose it, and no analytics or telemetry. Open source and funded by donations.
GrapheneOS scores 80 out of 100 (grade B) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 3 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
LineageOS Grade C Our pick
A free and open source operating system based on Android that supports many phones and tablets, including ones no longer updated by their manufacturers.
Why it is our pick: Keeps many phones beyond Pixels updated with open-source, Google-free Android. Anonymous device statistics are on by default and can be turned off.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). LineageOS scores 65 out of 100 (grade C) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 2 of 4 criteria: open source and no ads or data sales.
CalyxOS Grade B
An open source, de-Googled Android OS with optional microG, a built-in firewall and encrypted backups.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). CalyxOS scores 80 out of 100 (grade B) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 3 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
iodéOS Grade B
Android-based mobile operating system derived from LineageOS, without Google apps, with microG and a built-in blocker that filters ads and trackers across all apps.
Based in France (Nine Eyes). iodéOS scores 80 out of 100 (grade B) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 3 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
Nura Grade B
Linux distribution for phones and other mobile devices, formerly named postmarketOS, based on Alpine Linux and aiming to keep devices usable long after vendor support ends, with a choice of mobile interfaces.
Nura scores 80 out of 100 (grade B) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 3 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales.
Ubuntu Touch Grade C
Mobile operating system for phones and tablets developed by the UBports community, using the Lomiri interface and running on devices originally shipped with Android.
Based in Germany (Fourteen Eyes). Ubuntu Touch scores 65 out of 100 (grade C) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 2 of 4 criteria: open source and no ads or data sales.
/e/OS Grade D
Android-based mobile operating system without Google apps or services, using microG for app compatibility and shipping its own app store, privacy controls and optional Murena cloud services.
Based in France (Nine Eyes). /e/OS scores 50 out of 100 (grade D) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: no ads or data sales.
Sailfish OS Grade D
Linux-based mobile operating system developed by Jolla, with a gesture-based interface and optional Android app support, available on Jolla phones and as a paid license for selected Sony Xperia models.
Based in Finland. Sailfish OS scores 50 out of 100 (grade D) on the mobile operating systems criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: no ads or data sales.