What is F-Droid? It is basically Play Store, but it offers you a absolutely ungoogled experience: You mustn't login with a Google account and it's open source, no ads, no moneys. It's also a nice thing for old devices, my tablet is stuck on Android 8 and most of the apps listed here do work!
Once you have the APK file, install it. You may need to allow your browser to install APKs, you can then try again. Once that's done you will notice Droid-Ify. This is our new guy that handles F-Droid from here out and you can insert the app titles i list here in it's search bar.
Some settings may be unusable out of the box. This app uncovers these and my use case is disabling system apps such as the ad menace we call YouTube..
Google Authenticator but with more features and security. Set up a password on top of your lock screen and export a text file to then copy it to safe storage.
Standard issue audio recorder that supports Opus and Bluetooth headsets.
This lets you download Play Store apps without having to login with a Google account.
A ordinary QR Code scanner and creator. This saves previously scanned codes and it shows up in the share dialog of any app - lots of possibilities.
A weather app.
A loyalty card wallet that unites your memberships and loyalty programs into one thing. Plastic cards are yesterday.
A keyboard that doesn't send your data anywhere. Do mind that this is still in it's early-beta phase, you cannot (yet) swipe with it.
A simple Live Wallpaper that lets you use any Gif saved on your device.
Check whether or not you get a GPS Signal.
Share files between other devices in the same LAN, abuse your phone as computer mouse, etc.
A note taking app that supports WebDAV for your NAS. Particulary fun if you got a stylus.
A file manager with FTP Server and 7z support.
Download apps straight from the developers on GitHub if you can't wait for F-Droid to update. Also works with APKPure and APKMirror.
Useful for when you do not have cell signal or any mobile data.
What it says on the tin. Why this basic feature was missing on my end is beyond me.
What it says on the tin. You can use 2 accounts on (x) social app at the same time. As a sweet extra it's isolated from your main profile, so you can test apk's you don't trust worryfree.
A decentralized cloud solution and imo the easiest and zero cost to date. Make your device a server, or client, or better yet, both. Example: DIY Google Photos. When you sync at least between 2 devices your photos are secure incase one device experiences data loss. Are you afraid both fail someday? Add a third device to the party. I think you see that this is a ton cheaper than say, RAID 1 NAS solutions. Tip: Enable file versioning found under each share setting to make the deletion or rewrite of each file 2-step: The old file will be moved to a offline folder for you to review once again for final deletion.
Adds a second layer when you tap on a link by opening a window and letting you review it. You can also enable auto cleaning.
This is not the official Wireguard app but something with extra features, such as autoconnect if you're on untrusted wifi or mobile data. Refer to Cool PC Apps if you're looking for a provider (spoiler: it's gonna be YOU).
A simple music player that supports Replaygain. There's also Retro Music if you prefer another UI.
A internet browser. I recommend to install uBlock Origin right away.
Want a different browser? This is your next address.
eReader app with emphasis of the Kindle/Kobo UI.
Tip: If you're on OLED, flip the lights via Profiles.
Liftoff! is a client for Lemmy that is simple to use. You can also try Jerboa if you prefer another UI.
A ad free YouTube frontend built from the ground up. Particulary useful for downloading videos and audios, in vp9 and opus each.
YouTube without the ads, content matcher and censorship. If you know any creators who get silenced, you know where to direct them to.
A client for Pixelfed, a federated image sharing platform.
I particulary like this one because you can tell it to reconnect incase the signal drops, ideal for a unattended 24/7 radio.
A multi account client for the social network Mastodon.
Audiobook player for locally saved files. Tip: Retro ignores folders named "audiobooks". Having seperate apps for music and audiobooks is the stuff, mate.
Stream music from YouTube Music adfree. Alternatively, with download feature: InnerTune
You think your phone can pack a punch and run GameCube/Wii games? Test it here.
What it says on the tin. Virtually anything that came before GameCube is in there.
It does not beat Windows XP Pinball by a long shot but hey it's Pinball.
The first messenger that does not use IDs, phone numbers or mail addresses. You're given a temporary invite link or QR you share to the recipients. Your invite went to the wrong place? No problem, you can trash it and create a new one without having to lose your contacts. There's a PC app as well.
The ad menace but without the ads.
The ad menace on tv but without the ads. Requirement: Android TV that allows apk installs. If you got a LG TV you can try webOS Brew instead.
Finally.
Pixel Phones take magical pictures despite the not-flagship camera sensor. It's their app, and anyone can get it now. Site instructions: Pick the latest release, then pick the thang that ends with "snap.apk".
A PS2 emulator. Unfortunately stomped due to miscommunication so this link leads to a archive.
Last Stable: v1.4-3060 / Last Nightly: v1.5-3668
Even mobile apps fall victim to abandonware: Say, apps you remember from your first phone, but it's nowhere to be found on Play Store anymore. Things like Age of Zombies, Where's my Water(1), etc. Here's one of many communities that aim to preserve.
To make sure your kid will only see kid things, do this:
Boom, no pipi and no ads. If you're on Android 8 or older you have to do that on the router's control panel.
The ad menace on i/MacOS but without the ads.
You can universally (excluding YouTube) block ads by changing the DNS:
I recommend dnsforge.de for the time being. You can use any other DNS, just look up their ipv4 address.