Confessions of an F-Droid Addict
I went looking for a simple app to play classic text adventures like Zork on my Android phone. Instead, I ended up completely changing how I use my device—and how I think about privacy.
It started with an app I used to have called Text Fiction. When I tried to reinstall it, I found a copy on F-Droid, but it wasn’t compatible with my version of Android. That could have been the end of it—but instead, it led me to install the F-Droid app itself.
I had no idea at the time that this one decision would reshape my entire mobile experience.
The first app I downloaded was SuperTuxKart—an open-source alternative to Super Mario Kart, which I already had installed.
I expected something basic. What I got was a genuinely fun, polished game.
In fact, I ended up uninstalling Super Mario Kart. No more in-app purchases, no upsells—just a complete game, free and open-source. That was my first hint that F-Droid wasn’t just an alternative app store—it was a different philosophy.
Discovering Privacy-Friendly Apps
As I explored further, I started noticing a whole category of apps labeled “Privacy Friendly.”
There were quite a few of them—Solitaire, a notepad, a sketchpad—and they all shared something in common: they worked entirely offline and had no ads.
That simplicity was refreshing. No accounts, no tracking prompts, no constant notifications—just apps that did exactly what they were supposed to do.
At that point, I started thinking more critically about the apps I’d downloaded from Google Play.
What were they doing when I wasn’t actively using them?
Like many people, I began to wonder how much data “free” apps might be collecting in the background—and whether the convenience was worth it. It wasn’t a sudden rejection of mainstream apps, but it did change how I evaluate them.
One of my favorite finds has been the apps from Fossify.
Their apps are simple, clean, and focused. The music player could use some improvement, but their keyboard stands out—basic, yes, but also extremely secure. Their launcher has completely replaced my phone’s default, and their calculator even includes a built-in unit converter, which I use more often than I expected.
I’ve also been using AnySoftKeyboard, which is great for multilingual typing. It’s been especially helpful for my Spanish practice, thanks to its predictive text and language support—all while respecting user privacy.
As I spent more time with F-Droid, I realized I was also saving money.
I had been considering buying Geometry Dash, but instead found a similar open-source alternative that lets me import my own music and create custom levels. The same thing happened with other games—simple concepts, well executed, and completely free.
It wasn’t just about saving money, though. These apps often felt more flexible and user-focused than their commercial counterparts.
These days, I check F-Droid regularly—not just for updates, but to discover something new.
Every now and then I come across something unexpected, like Nontrinsic, where users share and browse completely random, often nonsensical content. It’s strange, a little chaotic—and somehow part of the charm.
You really never know what you’ll find.
And yes—after all that, I did eventually find what I was originally looking for.
An app called Fabularium now lets me play Zork and other classic text adventures on my phone.
But by the time I found it, F-Droid had already done something bigger.
What started as a simple search for one app turned into a complete shift in how I use my phone—less clutter, fewer distractions, more control, and a lot more awareness of what my apps are actually doing.
And honestly, I don’t think I’m going back.
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