Table of contents
Open Source Philosophy
F-Droid focuses exclusively on free and open-source software, promoting transparency, community collaboration, and user control over their applications.
No Tracking or Ads
F-Droid does not include any forms of user tracking or advertisements in the apps it offers, ensuring user privacy and a cleaner experience.
Security and Privacy
The repository is curated with a strong emphasis on security and privacy, often including apps that respect user data and have minimal permissions.
Offline Usage
F-Droid's repository can be browsed, and apps can be installed and updated without a continuous internet connection, making it more flexible for offline use.
Custom Repositories
Users can add multiple repositories, allowing greater access to a variety of apps and increased customization of the app selection.
No Registration Required
No account or registration is needed to use F-Droid, making installation quick and straightforward without personal information risk.
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F-Droid is generally considered a good alternative app store for Android.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if F-Droid is good.
Check the traffic stats of F-Droid on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of F-Droid on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of F-Droid's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of F-Droid on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about F-Droid on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
The F-Droid store is usually already the first app I ever install on any Android device. https://f-droid.org/ Second app is often the Aurora Store, from within the F-Droid store. Aurora lets you install Google Play apps without having to have a Google Account: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.aurora.store/ With these two apps installed first, on any Android, without having to type-in any Google Account details,... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
Install F-Droid Go to f-droid.org and download the APK. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
You can have a very usable phone with https://f-droid.org/ Obviously, you will be able to find plenty of examples of things that don't work, and you probably have a bank app or some other thing that you need Google for, but alternatives do exist, and I'd argue that you can have a healthier, more productive, and more enjoyable experience if you can have all your needs met by software that isn't treating you as a... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
I've never had a Facebook account nor used an official market as the primary means of obtaining software, so I can't give any guidance on ditching them, but I can tell you what I do without them. Last time I owned an iOS phone, I was using Cydia to install software, but I haven't kept up, so I don't know what that scene is like. In the future, it may be possible to load software yourself, on an unmodified... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
I think this is a bit overkill for my taste with root but depends on use case. I'm SSHing regularly into my Android phone (and it does not need root) for backup purposes. Used various apps for that but settled for years on Termux. * Install https://f-droid.org/ store * Install Termux from there * Install ssh daemon and rsync in Termux with- Source: Hacker News / 10 months agopkg upgrade.
What version of Android is this? When I install an apk I only get a single confirm / cancel popup. Also, as a sibling comment pointed out, there are third party app stores with all the comfort of the Play store (and far less adware): https://f-droid.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
Install it from F-Droid and live free of this monopolistic bullshit https://f-droid.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. Download and install the F-Droid app from https://f-droid.org/. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
Head over to the F-Droid website and follow the instructions to install the app. Once that's done, open F-Droid and search for Termux and install the latest version. Please don't use Google Play Store to install Termux, as the version there is very outdated. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
The freedom, such as it is, comes from alternative app stores. I trust F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/) somewhat more than I trust apps on the Play Store so that's my first stop when I'm looking for something. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
You can find alternative apps for almost everything. Most of the opensource alternatives have no im built trackers. Use https://f-droid.org/ for free open source, adfree, tracker-free apps. Source: almost 2 years ago
F-Droid Basic (version 1.18.0): The minimal client app for the app store that respects freedom and privacy. Source: almost 2 years ago
This lockdown of what used to be a relatively accessible app distribution system is sad. At least we have F-Droid :) https://f-droid.org. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
f-droid, free and open source apps/games for android devices. Does not require any client app to use but the experience is better with one. Source: almost 2 years ago
It's a problem with "free as in beer" apps but not with "free as in freedom" apps. When the packages are built from source code by a trusted distributor like Debian or F-Droid [1], this kind of change is likely going to be noticed by the packager and not let through to users. [1] https://f-droid.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Wouldn't it be easier just to have this patch as a pull request to the official app or at least a simple fork that will be made available to F-Droid? Source: about 2 years ago
Termux is available on the app store fdroid https://f-droid.org/ not the playstore from google. Source: about 2 years ago
F-Droid. An alternate app store for Android. It's all open source apps. If you need an app for a specific task and you don't need a brand name app, you can trust these open source apps not to do any funny business like sell your data. Anything questionable they do is clearly labelled. Source: over 2 years ago
Could you surf fdroid https://f-droid.org/ and recommend some productive apps from there. Most if not all are open source,i.e; its entire code is in the public domain. I have limited bandwidth so not getting enough time to surf it. Thanks! Source: over 2 years ago
Once you're signed up there, if you're on android, install the f-droid app (https://f-droid.org), then search for 'Jerboa'. In Jerboa, you can choose the instance you signed up for and login to it from there. Source: over 2 years ago
Use F-droid repositories. https://f-droid.org/ It contain only free and open source apps without crap and bloatware. As basic apps you can use Simple apps set from Tibor Kaputa. Source: over 2 years ago
F-Droid, a renowned alternative to Google Play Store, has gained traction for its unique proposition of offering free and open-source software (FOSS) applications. It caters primarily to Android users who value transparency, privacy, and the ability to modify and distribute app code. Unlike the Google Play Store, F-Droid exclusively offers open-source apps, distinguishing itself with a repository that includes prominent FOSS apps like Signal, Firefox, and OpenStreetMap.
The broad public opinion of F-Droid is largely favorable, owing to its distinguishing features. First, the app store is heralded for its privacy-centric ethos; it does not track user activity or collect personal data. This appeals to users concerned about data privacy, particularly in contrast to larger proprietary app stores. The marketplace is driven by a community of volunteers, highlighting its non-commercial, community-led nature. Revenue for maintaining its operations primarily comes from donations, reflecting its grassroots, non-profit structure.
Users and developers alike appreciate F-Droid for accessibility to app source codes, facilitating modifications and fostering a collaborative tech community. This attribute has made F-Droid popular among developers who want to tinker, innovate, and contribute to app development without encountering restrictive regulations. Moreover, it provides a platform for programmers to create personal repositories, encouraging custom app development and distribution.
Nevertheless, F-Droid isn't without its limitations. It predominantly features productivity and utility-focused apps, with a noticeably limited selection of popular games and mainstream applications. Consequently, it caters less to general consumer demands typical in other app stores, like the Google Play Store, and more to niche markets and power users seeking specialized tools. Users are also informed that many paid apps and features customary on other platforms may not be available in F-Droid's library.
The user interface of F-Droid garners mixed reviews. While some highlight its simplicity and ease of navigation, others criticize it as somewhat dated compared to more commercial counterparts. However, it serves its primary function of offering reliable and secure application downloads effectively.
In terms of security, F-Droid distinguishes itself by ensuring all apps are free from adware and malware, a crucial concern for users wary of malicious software. Furthermore, it supports a secure downloading and installation process, mitigating risks associated with third-party app sources. For instance, users can manually verify updates and app modifications, adding an extra layer of control over app management.
In conclusion, F-Droid epitomizes a principled approach to software distribution, putting user control, security, and privacy at its core. While not a direct replacement for mainstream consumer app stores due to its limited app pool, it thrives as a haven for developers and privacy-conscious users seeking a trustworthy alternative where the user's freedom and choice are paramount. Its growing recognition in the tech community underscores an increasing public interest in open-source and privacy-respecting software alternatives.
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Is F-Droid good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss F-Droid here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
