CalyxOS

Apps

📩 App stores, app compatibility, and apps special to CalyxOS

Contents

App Stores

F-Droid

F-Droid is the preferred app store for CalyxOS. All the apps available in F-Droid are free and open source software, and contain no trackers or advertising.

  • Install free software Android apps.
  • CalyxOS gives F-Droid special privileges to streamline app updates, installs, and uninstalls.
  • In addition to the standard F-Droid source for apps (aka “repo”), CalyxOS includes a source for CalyxOS apps, which allows us push out out-of-band updates for various apps when needed.

Aurora Store

Aurora Store is an alternative client to the standard Google Play Store. It uses the same standard catalog of apps and installs apps directly from the Google servers.

  • By default, Aurora Store accesses the Google app catalog anonymously.
  • If you want to install paid apps, or if anonymous mode is not working, you can additionally enter your Google account crendentials in the Aurora Store settings (paid apps don’t always work).
  • CalyxOS gives Aurora Store special privileges so that app updates can be automatically installed. New app installs and uninstalls still must be confirmed as normal.

App Compatibility

Many existing apps expect Google Play Services to be installed for the app to function properly. This is a problem, because Play Services is proprietary and leaks a ton of data to Google when you use it.

The approach that CalyxOS takes is to use something called microG, which is a open source replacement for many of the services and libraries provided by Play Services.

  • microG Disabled: This is the 100% de-Googled mode with no attempt to make apps work that expect Google services. Some apps will consume more battery without push notifications from Google. The presence of microG, even when disabled, will allow some apps to work that would not otherwise.
  • microG Enabled: This is the default for CalyxOS. In this mode, microG is used to implement the needed libraries to make many apps function, but in a way that does not leak your identifiable information to Google. In some cases (e.g. location), privacy-respecting services are used in place of Google services, and in other cases (e.g. push notifications), Google services are used semi-anonymously (not tied to a user identity).
  • microG with Google Account: With microG enabled, you have the option to configure it with a Google account. This will allow some additional apps and services to work, such as Google Fi, but you are no longer semi-anonymous with respect to Google services.

Check out the Plexus App Compatibility Database. In this database, the label “de-Googled” more or less corresponds to CalyxOS with microG disabled, and the label “Ό” corresponds to CalyxOS with microG enabled.

For more information, see microG.

Included Apps

CalyxOS comes with a list of suggested free software applications to facilitate private online access but the user always has the choice whether to install or not. They’ll always be available when needed, even when offline since they’re included with the OS.

Aurora Store

A Google Playstore Client

Briar

Secure Messaging, Anywhere

Calyx VPN

Free VPN Service offered by The Calyx Institute

DAVx⁔

CalDAV/CardDAV Synchronization and Client

DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser

Privacy, simplified

K-9 Mail

Full-featured email client

LocationPrivacy

privacy filters for shared location links

MuPDF viewer

Lightweight document viewer

Nextcloud

Synchronization client

OONI Probe

Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)

OpenKeychain

Encrypt your Files and Communications. Compatible with the OpenPGP Standard.

OpenTasks

Keep track of your list of goals

Orbot

Enhance your privacy, break through firewalls and communicate more safely.

Organic Maps

Offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation

Riseup VPN

Secure VPN powered by Bitmask

Scrambled Exif

Remove the metadata from your pictures before sharing them

Signal

Signal Private Messenger

Tor Browser

Experience real private browsing without tracking, surveillance, or censorship.

Weather

Get weather information and forecast

Yubico Authenticator

Generate OATH codes with YubiKey NEO over NFC

CalyxOS Apps

These applications were developed specifically for use with CalyxOS, although some people have also ported these to work with other distributions.

SeedVault (Secure Backups)

SeedVault allows you to securely backup your phone. All backups are encrypted and decrypted on your device, so you are the only one who is able to read the contents. CalyxOS gives SeedVault special permissions to allow full backup and restore.

  • File backup: documents, photos, all of your files are also backed up.
  • Supports local backups using USB Storage. (recommended)
  • Supports remote backups using NextCloud. (experimental)

Datura (Egress Firewall)

Datura gives you fine-grained control over how each app can access the network.

  • Block network access for an app completely
  • Block background network access for an app
  • Block Wi-Fi for an app
  • Block Mobile data for an app
  • Block VPN for an app

CalyxOS Dialer

  • Phone Dialer has built in optional support for Signal and WhatsApp calling.
    • You’re always shown the Signal option, and you can make a Signal call if the contact has Signal.
    • The WhatsApp option is only shown when you have WhatsApp installed, and you can make a WhatsApp call if the contact has WhatsApp.
    • If you don’t want these optons, they can be turned off from Menu (top right) -> Settings -> Display options -> Show call provider selection dialog.
  • Phone Dialer has support for ‘Sensitive Numbers’ feature, where calls to numbers for help lines such as domestic violence, child abuse, suicide hotlines are not recorded in the call log
    • These numbers are also available from a menu entry, Helplines