Free and Open Source Software @beehaw.org bbbhltz @beehaw.org 2y ago

Little list of custom and alternative Android ROMs

The Fairphone 4 will be launching across the pond. It will sport the /e/OS "deGoogled" ROM.

The past few days, I've seen more and more users mentioning flashing their devices or changing ROMs because they may have fallen down the rabbit hole.

Here is a quick list of different custom ROMs for Android phones. I don't use any, so don't take anything written here as endorsement or suggestion.

Alternative/Custom ROMS

In no particular order, these ROMs usually change the UX/UI and maybe add some security enhancements.

LineageOS – LineageOS Android Distribution: successor to CyanogenMod, a good place to start
BlissRoms: Close to stock with "some" added privacy
OmniROM: Android with custom enhancements
ArrowOS: An AOSP project that is light and promises longer battery life
Evolution X: Android 13 with the Pixel UI
Paranoid Android: Android with custom enhancements
PixelExperience: Another Android 13 with the Pixel UI

Privacy|Hardened ROMS

Security-wise, LineageOS is a start but (correct me if I am wrong) you need to unlock the bootloader, which is not great. These ROMs purport heightened privacy or "hardened" security.

iodéOS: "deGoogled" LineageOS fork, uses lots of blacklists for ad- and tracker-blocking. Sells pre-installed devices.
CalyxOS: Provides a fair amount of privacy. Limited device support. microG is optional. Uses F-Droid and Aurora Store.
DivestOS: Soft fork of LineageOS. "Hardened" with things like the Mulch WebView, uses F-Droid repositories for updates. Comes loaded with a tracker blocker, Mull browser, removal of proprietary blobs to reduce attack surface. ROMs available for many devices.
/e/OS: A "deGoogled" Android experience. Uses microG, no telemetry sent to Google, modified NTP and DNS servers, modified GPS service. Uses the "App Lounge" which combines the Aurora Store with F-Droid and PWAs. Has a tracker blocker. Requires you to have an @murena.io account for some functionalities.
Replicant: Android distribution with an emphasis on freedom and privacy/security.
GrapheneOS: Private, secure, hardened... has a long list of features. Updates are fast, exploitations are quickly mitigated, non-profit. Probably the most recommended, but Pixel-only.

shameless promotion

If you are just getting started, perhaps an introductory guide to digital provacy would be something you're interested in. Let me know if you see mistakes, or want to propose updates for me to include.

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20 comments

Thanks for this list. Bookmarked.

There's also Replicant which is for those who want a totally blob (proprietary firmware) free phone. This is the Stallman-endorsed Android build.
- Added it, thanks for the reminder
- A very noble idea for a project, but given that it doesn't appear to support any devices from the last decade I'm not sure if it's really worth noting as something you might actually install on your phone!
  
  Yeah, good point. This is something that you install because you can and you need an evening project, not because you expect a completely usable phone for daily driving.
  
  My mother in law has a couple of the supported phones sitting in a drawer. These are all devices that were obsolete a decade ago.
  
  To be fair I also have a load of old phones and seeing a project that I can actually run on them rather than letting them carry on gathering dust is actually pretty appealing to the tinkerer in me!

20 comments