Android phones come loaded with Google’s own apps, and most of them are pretty good, but that doesn’t mean they’re the ultimate choice. I tried swapping out nearly every Google app I use daily, and while some, like Maps and Drive, weren’t worth giving up, replacing YouTube, Chrome, Gboard, Google Photos, and Quick Share turned out to be an easy call, because the alternatives are just that good.
LibreTube gives me a better version of YouTube
It’s better without all the clutter
LibreTube is a free, open-source YouTube client that gives you all the YouTube Premium features for free. You get background playback, picture-in-picture mode, offline downloads, SponserBlock, you name it. And, of course, there are no ads anywhere.
But LibreTube isn’t all about saving money on YouTube Premium. It actually gives the flexibility that the official YouTube app doesn’t. First, there’s no annoying Shorts tab there to distract you. The main interface itself is customizable too, so you can hide tabs and re-order them however you like.
Another thing I love about LibreTube is that it can double as a music player. You simply have to turn on a toggle from its settings and the app turns into a YT Music client. The biggest benefit is that you don’t have to use a Google account at all. Your subscriptions, search history, and playlists are stored locally. That’s obviously not ideal for anyone who loves to watch YouTube on different devices, but that’s really not a problem for me.
Samsung Browser gives me features Chrome won’t
It’s not exclusive to Galaxy phones
Google Chrome gets the job done, but it’s not exactly the most feature-rich browser on Android. And while there are plenty of good alternatives, I like Samsung Browser the most. Unlike most other Samsung apps, this one is available for all Android phones. And now that it’s also on Windows, it’s even easier to recommend.
Samsung Browser has several features that Chrome doesn’t, and the biggest one is extensions. They are a big deal because you can use them to block ads, add subtitles to any video, fetch discount codes while shopping, and even force dark mode on sites.
Samsung Browser is also big on customization. It can show a tab bar and a bookmarks bar at the top like a desktop browser, and you can even rearrange the browser toolbar and the main menu options however you like. Its privacy dashboard is handy because it can tell you exactly how many trackers it blocked. And on the security side, it blocks pop-ups, automatic downloads, background redirects, and even CAPTCHA verification on certain sites.
Aves Gallery is the simpler alternative to Google Photos
A gallery app shouldn’t be confusing
Google Photos has some great features, but it can also feel like too much sometimes for something as simple as a gallery app. Google keeps adding new features to it every other week, and at this point, it’s no longer just an app for simply viewing photos and videos.
Aves Gallery is different. It’s free, open-source, and offers just about every useful feature you actually need without feeling overwhelming. Most importantly, there are no nagging prompts asking you to back up photos and try new AI features.
The app has four simple tabs — photos, collections, favorites, and albums — which make navigation and organization smooth. My favorite feature, though, is the stats tab. It shows interesting charts and graphs about the number of photos, file formats, storage used, and a lot more.
FUTO Keyboard respects my privacy better than Gboard
Every Gboard does, minus the data collection
Gboard has just about every useful feature you could want, be it autocorrect, clipboard, voice typing, translation, and even AI-powered writing tools. The only problem is, it’s owned by Google, which isn’t exactly reassuring from a privacy standpoint. After all, your keyboard is something you use to type everything from passwords to personal messages.
FUTO Keyboard is nothing like that because it doesn’t connect to the internet at all. Beyond privacy, it also has all the usual features, including autocorrect, word suggestions, clipboard history, and themes. It even offers voice typing, which uses a Whisper-based model to process everything locally.
The whole typing experience feels similar to Gboard too. You get different layouts, gesture typing, undo and redo shortcuts, and everything important. So yes, it’s not like you’re compromising on anything.
LocalSend is more capable than Quick Share
No need to think about compatibility
Quick Share isn’t exactly a Google app, but I think it counts since it’s something pretty much everyone needs. Quick Share is great for wireless transfers, but its biggest limitation is that it only works between Android and Windows devices. Sure, a few flagships can also share files with Apple devices, but the support is still fairly limited.
LocalSend is a free, open-source file sharing tool that doesn’t care about what device you’re using. It works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Google TV. You simply have to install the app on both devices, and it lets you transfer files wirelessly. The only requirement is that most devices need to be on the same network. There are also no file size cap, annoying ads, or premium subscriptions.
