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@KaKi87
Last active September 17, 2024 20:38
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Awesome list — Free, ad-free and in-app-free Android apps

Inspired by Awesome

Awesome

DISCLAIMER : this isn't really an awesome list, I don't care about guidelines, rules and etc. so I don't bother make a real repo and a real pull request.

About this list

This list uses the power of my advanced Google Play search engine to get some free, in-app-free and ad-free apps from it.

DISCLAIMER : these 3 criteria are the only one I use, what I mean is open source, decentralization and retrocompatibility aren't important in this list.

However, I sort these apps according to my own user experience.

Apps


Web browsers

Download managers

Content blockers

File explorers

  • MiXplorer* — Many many features, especially for geeks. 👍
  • Cx — Supports internal, external, network (last SMB version included) and cloud.
  • Fossify*

Notes

Office suites

Sorry I can't find any for now. You have one ? Please comment !

Music players

Video players

Cameras

Image gallery

Photo editors

YouTube

YouTube Music

Spotify

E-mail

  • BlueMail — Many compatible accounts, dark mode, advanced spam filtering, tasks & priority management
  • Spark Mail

SMS

Social networks

Others

Calculators

Dialers & Contacts

Device info

Firewalls

Cleaners

Password managers

Keyboards

GitHub

Terminal & SSH

Code editors

  • 920 (GitHub mirror) — Dead, last updated 2017-08-30
  • DeX (APKPure mirror) — Dead, last updated 2019-05-04, optimized for Samsung desktop but also compatible with smartphone format

Launchers

Calendars

GPS

Widgets

Games


(*) Not on Google Play

Contribute

Having an advanced search engine doesn't mean everything, experience does. Feel free to suggest your favourite apps in comments 😉

@colcol26
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What about a white noise generator?

@ukclearance
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ukclearance commented May 2, 2021

An ad free open source SSH server for Android is SSH Helper I used it regularly to copy files to and from an Android tablet connected to my TV.
Also Frozen Bubble puzzle game like Puzzle Bobble is FOSS

@ukclearance
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What about a white noise generator?

I don't know of any for Android, but Audacity is FOSS but only for PCs but it can be used to make white noise that can be exported to MP3 and copied over to an Android device

@tianalemesle
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What about a white noise generator?

How about Spotify playlists ?

Otherwise, I found this, tell me if it fits your need and I'll add it to the list.

An ad free open source SSH server for Android is SSH Helper I used it regularly to copy files to and from an Android tablet connected to my TV

Cx File Explorer features FTP between Android devices in same network.

Frozen Bubble puzzle game like Puzzle Bobble is FOSS

I'll definitely try this out, thanks !

@ukclearance
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An ad free open source SSH server for Android is SSH Helper I used it regularly to copy files to and from an Android tablet connected to my TV

Cx File Explorer features FTP between Android devices in same network.

I prefer SSH over FTP and the protocol supports more than just file transfers, it allows you run scripts or commands remotely on an Android device. Plus SSH is encrypted where as FTP isn't. So it can be used on networks such as office and schools where not everyone on the network might be trusted.

@tianalemesle
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it allows you run scripts or commands remotely on an Android device

What scripts can you possibly run on an Android TV device ? I do have a local terminal emulator on my Android smartphone because it's bootloader-unlocked, rooted and running a custom ROM.

SSH is encrypted where as FTP isn't. So it can be used on networks such as office and schools where not everyone on the network might be trusted

Well, it's actually using FTPS. ;)

@laurent-33
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Hello, I like your search engine with filters,
and I have just seen that same kind of filters with/without add, purchase, free in official google play games app (only for fames).

So maybe one day I hope this feature will be in play store too.

PS : in the list I would have like to see a PDF file reader with comment editor (it is why I came first here), so I will try some of them because some times even if free/no ads/no purchase, the loolike niceapp try to send info on web without ask.

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Apr 5, 2022

Hello,

I have just seen that same kind of filters with/without add, purchase, free in official google play games app

Sorry I don't understand.

maybe one day I hope this feature will be in play store too

It won't, because allowing users to search for ad-free apps, would decrease Google's income.

I would have like to see a PDF file reader with comment editor (it is why I came first here), so I will try some of them

If you find some, don't hesitate to tell about it here and it will be added.

some times even if free/no ads/no purchase, the loolike niceapp try to send info on web without ask

Remember that free, in-app-free and ad-free are the only criteria I use to make this list, some of these apps may not be privacy-friendly.

@vedavyawhss
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vedavyawhss commented Dec 31, 2022

Thank You for your favourite apps list dude! ❤️🙂

Cx File Explorer was A COMPLETE COPYCAT from original "Alphainventor's FILE MANAGER+ app, Korea" (and redesigned to ad-free), here's how:
[1.] FM+ released in 2015 Oct 19 where CxFE was released in 2018 Jul 11.
[2.] FM+ has provided developer LOCATION in play store where CxFE DOESN'T (purposefully).
[3.] No dark theme (again purposefully).
[4.] FM+ used their own domain email, CxFE DIDN'T.
[5.] CxFE is releasing exact features after release of FM+.
[6.] You cannot go back while using app for Accessing from network (otherwise FTP service will be stopped) in CxFE (and This does not happen in FM+ because of the "Always Show Navigation" option in settings)

So I replaced CxFE with FM+.

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Dec 31, 2022

Thanks for reporting this, I'll definitely add an anchor to your comment next to Cx.

If AlphaInventor's would be ad-free & in-app free, then I would have replaced Cx with the former, but as it's not the case, then the latter still deserves to keep its place in the list.

@vedavyawhss
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You can write as CxFileExplorer/FileManager+(alphainventor) then 👍

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Dec 31, 2022

Actually, I won't do anything, as it turns out Cx File Explorer is AlphaInventor's too.

@vedavyawhss
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Actually, I won't do anything, as it turns out Cx File Explorer is AlphaInventor's too.

Ohhhh, I see! Now I clearly understood why they didn't given DARK Theme 😆 Firstly I thought it was A COMPLETE COPYCAT from original "alphainventor's FILE MANAGER+, Korea" (and redesigned to ad-free), but now I knew because you said it both (CXFE & FM+) apps made by alphainventor.com 🤣

@Glider232
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WPS OFFICE goes alright 🤙🏼🤙🏼

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Jul 28, 2023

WPS Office isn't ad-free nor IAP-free.

@Glider232
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WPS Office isn't ad-free nor IAP-free.

My apologies, you are quite correct, I mistakenly confused it with the iOS libre app I was using earlier. It reminded me that there are still companies who support iOS exclusively. Love your list though... very thorough collection.

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Aug 4, 2023

Thanks !

@User-425
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User-425 commented Aug 9, 2024

Hello! That's a great list, actually. I wonder can you update the list? Some link are broken, such as pop and navi. And some of them is having ads / app purchase. Also I wanted to add this Spotube into the list, it's a great app. Thanks for sharing!

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Aug 9, 2024

That's a great list, actually.

Thanks !

Some link are broken, such as pop and navi

I checked all links, updated moved ones and added mirrors to dead ones.

And some of them is having ads / app purchase.

Which ones ? I can't rely on what the Google Play says though, because there are false positives.

Also I wanted to add this Spotube into the list, it's a great app.

Done !

Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome !

@User-425
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I really don't think u were going to reply that fast. Well, if there's false positives, then what I mean was that false positives. Thanks for updating again!

@User-425
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Found a free office suites (in google said it has IAP, but I'm not really sure, because I don't need em in android)

Website:
https://www.freeoffice.com/en/
Playstore:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=SoftMaker+Software+GmbH

@KaKi87
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KaKi87 commented Aug 27, 2024

IAP confirmed by app description.

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