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F-Droid

F-Droid is an Android app store client that lists free and open-source apps only. Apps in the main repository are built from source by F-Droid, and listings flag anti-features such as tracking or non-free network services. The client needs no account. You can add third-party repositories or host your own with F-Droid's server tools.

Code Fireworks render of the F-Droid repository, as of Nov 2026
As of Nov 2026Code Fireworks ↗

Why it fits

The client is licensed under GPL version 3 or later. The client installs without Google Play. You can also host your own package repositories with F-Droid server tools (separate docs).

Screenshot of F-Droid
Screenshot: Screenshot from the F-Droid client repository, GPL-3.0-or-later · terms · source

Getting started

Prerequisites (from the official docs):

  • An Android device
  • Permission to install an app from your browser

Steps:

  1. Download the F-Droid client APK from the official site.
  2. Allow your browser to install apps, then install F-Droid.
  3. Open F-Droid and let it update its repository index.
  4. Search for apps and install them; F-Droid notifies you about updates.

Official site: https://f-droid.org/

Documentation: https://f-droid.org/docs/

Notes

The license shown is that of the client repository. The server and repository tools are separate projects.

Sources

  1. f-droid.org
  2. github.com/f-droid/fdroidclient/blob/master/LICENSE
  3. f-droid.org/docs
  4. nlnet.nl/project/F-Droid-App
  5. nlnet.nl/project/Reproducible-F-Droid

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