https://itsfoss.com/open-source-alternatives-android/
If I say that Open Source mobile OS are ruling the world of mobile devices, it won’t be an exaggeration. Though many don’t consider, Android is still an open source project. This is another thing that the devices you use come with a bundle of proprietary software along with Android and hence many people don’t consider it open source.
So what are the alternatives to Android? iOS? Windows? May be but I am talking about open source alternatives to Android. Not one, not two. I am going to list five open source Linux based mobile OS that you may use even when I write this article.
Best Open Source alternatives to Android
Just to mention, the list is not in any priority or chronological order. Let’s see what open source mobile operating systems do we have.
1. Tizen
Tizen is an open source, Linux based mobile operating system which is often dubbed as official Linux mobile OS for the reason that the project is supported by the Linux Foundation. Apart from Linux Foundation, Tizen project is supported by tech giants Samsung and Intel. Initially slotted for late 2013 release, it was only in January’15 that the first Tizen phone, Samsung Z was released in South Asian market. Unfortunately, Samsung Z failed to get much attention in a competitive Indian market.
Despite being based on Linux, Tizen OS has been marred with security issues. Quite frankly, I don’t see a bright future for Tizen OS. It is just a matter of time that the plug is pulled off this project.
2. Plasma Mobile
Last week itself, KDE announced its own open source mobile OS Plasma Mobile. Based on Kubuntu, Plasma Mobile is the mobile version of desktop Plasma user interface that aims to provide convergence to KDE users. The OS is in the experimental phase and can be tested on Lg Nexus 5 devices. It will be interesting to see if Plasma Mobile gets a hardware deal in near future.
3. Librem
This one in the list is not an open source mobile OS but an open source mobile phone.
Security and Privacy focused Linux distribution PureOS has plans to launch a secure and encrypted smartphone. It’s called Librem and it will be running a touch optimized version of PureOS, Debian, Ubuntu, SUSE, Fedora and even Arch Linux.
Moto of LIbrem is to be a “phone that focuses on security by design and privacy protection by default. Running Free/Libre and Open Source software and a GNU+Linux Operating System designed to create an open development utopia, rather than the walled gardens from all other phone providers”.
It will be interesting to see how Librem turns out.
4. postmarketOS
postmarketOS, also pmOS in short, is a touch-optimized, pre-configured Alpine Linux with own packages, that can be installed on smartphones.
The idea is to provide 10-year life cycle to smartphones. You probably already know that after a few years, Android or iOS stop providing updates for older smartphones. At the same time, you can run Linux on older computers easily. postmarketOS wants to achieve the same on the mobile platform by tweaking Linux into a touch optimized platform.
Don’t get too excited. postmarketOS is in very early phases of development and it is most likely that you won’t be able to use it on your smartphone just yet.
5. LineageOS
LineageOS is an Android distribution. In other words, you can call it a custom ROM. It was created after the much more successful Android distribution CyanogenMod was discontinued. LineageOS is a fork of CyanogenMod.
Started in December 2016, LineageOS now supports 178 smartphone models and claims to have over 1.7 million installs.
6. eelo [Under Development]
eelo is an upcoming Android distribution based on LineageOS. It is being created by the developer of Mandrake Linux. The idea is to have an open source mobile operating system free from Google.
eelo promises to have its own cloud and email services to give you an Android free experience. eelo is in very early phases of development.
Sailfish OS [Not Open Source]
When Nokia decided to ditch the MeeGo mobile OS project, few unsatisfied Nokia employee decided to keep MeeGo alive in the form of Sailfish OS. Their flagship product Jolla has met with moderate success and has dedicated fan following. MeeGo was supposed to continue by Linux Foundation in the form of Tizen but over the time Tizen evolved on its own and cannot be termed as MeeGo derivative anymore. The same is true for Sailfish OS, core OS of which is based on Mer project which itself is based on the work from MeeGo.
While Sailfish OS created some buzz among early adopters thanks to Jolla devices, the company seems to be struggling.
Note: Sailfish OS is not open source. However, you could consider it as an option when you are looking for a mobile OS other than Android, iOS and Windows.
Firefox OS [Discontinued]
No need to guess that Firefox OS is an open source project from Mozilla Firefox, the parent of famous open source web browser. It created quite some ripples with the announcement of Firefox OS based smartphones that cost only $25. The aim was to target the emerging markets like Brasil, India etc. Unfortunately, the low price tag alone could not make Firefox OS the Raspberry Pi of mobile devices and like Tizen, Firefox OS too did not get any success with its ZTE devices. Firefox now plans to shift its focus from low cost device to user experience with Firefox OS.
Ubuntu Touch [Maintained by community]
The king of desktop Linux world, Ubuntu decided to expand its territories with its open source mobile operating system Ubuntu Touch. Keeping convergence in mind, Canonical (parent company of Ubuntu) ambitiously launched $32 million crowdfunding campaign to build the first Ubuntu Phone, Edge. Though it failed to get the destined amount, it still set a new record with over $12 million pledged in its campaign.
After the failed crowdfunding campaign, Canonical tied up with some device manufacturers to launch Ubuntu Phone. Spanish manufacturer bq became the first device running Ubuntu Touch in February’15. It was soon followed by Chinese manufacturer Meizu. It is too soon to gauge the success or failure of Ubuntu phones because these first few devices aim at developers. This is the reason why I advised to not buy bq Ubuntu Phone just now.
Two years and a few Ubuntu-based phones later, Canonical finally decided to call it quit on mobile OS. However, UBports is still trying to keep Ubuntu Touch alive.
What do you think?
When I first wrote this article a few years ago, I was hopeful of these alternative mobile OS. However, the scenario is gloomy and I don’t think any os listed here is going to make a mark. It’s not like I don’t want them to be a success, I am just being honest here.
What do you think of these Android alternatives? Do you think these Linux based mobile OS will leave their mark or will they struggle for a decent market share like desktop Linux? Do share your views.
About Abhishek Prakash
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Really want to see a mobile phone that doesn’t let corporate overlords spy on me, but it would have to have a healthy app “store” and be stable before I’d consider it.
What about Replicant? (https://replicant.us/). I haven’t tried it, but it sounds like it should be part of this list! (It’s is free, open source)
See also https://fsfe.org/campaigns/android/liberate.en.html#OS
I think for making these alternatives to work, they will need to have a lot of apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, installation, snapchat working (what of course makes the privacy a problem)… People want privacy, but are not prepared to give up on the comfort of their favorite apps. This will kill these Os’s like it killed windows phone. Maybe when in school kids learn to work in an opensource habitat (using Firefox, thunderbird,…) instead of in Microsoft or Google, they will be more likely to use this at home too…
I wish WebOS had a chance to beat iOS and Android. It was very fun to use better than iOS feeling. Only if more people used it.
People want their privacy back, it is a question of time that one alternative succeeds. If someone finds the right promotion they will find a breakthrough. The only question is when, and the sooner the better.
I come to your article because I have just opened my old Android Honor 4X, and once more noted that it was not my property but Google’s. Apple products are probably the same, just more expensive. Even Microsoft gave up their mobile OS.
I have no hope of seeing a FOSS mobile OS win a decent market share. Smartphones shortly became useless marketing and spying toys, and I hope FOSS will at least survive on desktop computers. Unsure.
Ummm…. Sailfish OS is open source? I even emailed them few years back and they gave me a link to download the source code so….. correction?
Correction, it’s called Librem 5 ;)
With the new revelations coming to light about Facebook google Instagram and others recording everything even more then the NSA does. It seems a new phone with a non android google Facebook affiliation where you could get just a little privacy would be in high demand very soon.
I have owned many Android devices over the years and the phones always run out of space when I hardly have any apps installed. The apps, I try to have as much as possible on the SD card. The apps that came with the phone and could not be moved, tend to grow over time from updates and I run out of space weekly. This even came down to only have one downloaded app installed in total. My WIndows phone never had this issue, but it is getting old. My most recent Android phone is now having daily space problems. Apple devices, I just cannot afford.