As already commented, the vast majority of apps are fine with Graphene and its optional sandboxed Play Services. Mainly some banking apps can be tricky, but otherwise you’re good. You can also use alternatives like Aurora Store rather than Google directly to get your existing apps which aren’t on F-Droid; the only real exception there is paid ones.
I got a Pixel and made the switch over about a year ago, and it has been pretty smooth sailing. I also really do appreciate having full control over which permissions to allow each app. I know some people do prefer to run Google’s stock camera app or keyboard, but it’s easy enough to not give those network access to phone home.
You can install any app on GOS. You can use sandboxed google play to use the gplay store as normal, or Aurora Store if you just want gplay apps but not services.
How do people feel about e/OS? I just started playing around with it on an old phone and it seems to work with most apps, including banking and Google apps (their store has an optional Google login).
I moved to GrapheneOS a few months ago and haven’t really looked back. Someone else below covered using the Sandboxed Google play / Aurora Store (I use both, in addition to fdroid).
Although I could conceivably install more apps, using GrapheneOS had made me think more deeply about whether I actually need an app, instead of using a web browser. It’s true that using the web is a degraded experience (likely intentionally so, in some cases), but this is a cost I’m willing to pay for better security and privacy.
Finally, I wanna rep Magic Earth as a solid alternative to Google maps. Route finding is accurate and includes traffic warnings, etc. It uses OpenStreetMap data FWIW.
GrapheneOS has the option to run sandboxed google play services which you can then download any google play store app. This allows for much greater security as the apps cannot see the other apps you download. Also, you could use Aurora Store which allows play store app downloads without a google account.
There are issues that can pop up and is something you’d need to look into on app by app basis. Lately, it seems they have most banking apps working though.
I feel like my local bank etc. is relatively shitty in terms of software, so I am expecting it to not work anywhere other than android & iOS.
Local map apps and local messaging app is the bigger issue for me, though.
Same as almost everyone, I need some apps that just won’t work, even with sandbox GSM and Play (ie: banking apps, ev charging, my kids’ school reporting app), so I just have a sub-200 dollars phone just for that (One Plus n200 is now 84 dollars).
Since I only use apps when there’s no other option (web version and PWA for everything else), it’s actually refreshing. I charge my car at home unless I’m on a road trip, and only use banking apps 1 day of the month to get paid and pay bills. Outside of that, I’m home free with everything self hosted and absolutely no social networks other than Lemmy and Mastodon.
Unfortunately, if you want privacy, you need to compromise. However, absolutely nothing will make me drop my GrapheneOS use for everything else.
I get it that’s not optimal, but the alternative, in my opinion is even worse.
Good luck degoogling, and I wish you enjoy the mental health improvement once you do.
F-droid works on any Android phone, doesnt need to be GrapheneOS. I have installed in on regular installs plenty of times.
i know its not as easy / inconvenient, but is there any way to use the companies website instead of the app? For example, i usually log into my banks website to check things or to make a transfer between accounts. Yes you cant scan a check or make desposits, but i also not use a lot of companies App’s in the first place. I just dont understand why everyone needs apps - do you really need an app for your ISP?
Yeah, I meant that most apps are not available from F-droid.
Local messaging app does not support web version. Silly/outrageous, I know; guess they want iron grip on the data. What can I do though, when everyone uses it.
You do not use banking through mobile at all? Seems that would be inconvenient at times.
You can get by for most apps with MicroG which is a cut down implementation of play services but some apps will absolutely refuse to run on a non-factory Android image.
Last time I was on a custom ROM I got most things to work to some extent but some jush didn’t work e.g. NFC payments via Google Pay.
IIRC there’s legislation being discussed in the EU that could compel Google to offer hardware signatures for custom ROMs in future.
For most of those things you could probably use the browser on a degoogled phone? I can’t speak to your specific banking or university apps.
You might want to set up a separate work profile to sandbox that browser usage and/or dodgy apps (see Shelter if you can’t do this through the Android settings).
I wish I could degoogle my android phone. Sadly, it would mean many of the apps I use would stop working…
As far as I understand, only F-droid apps would work on e.g. GrapheneOS - is this wrong? I believe there would be issues with
I feel so sad that I am locked to the platform…
As already commented, the vast majority of apps are fine with Graphene and its optional sandboxed Play Services. Mainly some banking apps can be tricky, but otherwise you’re good. You can also use alternatives like Aurora Store rather than Google directly to get your existing apps which aren’t on F-Droid; the only real exception there is paid ones.
I got a Pixel and made the switch over about a year ago, and it has been pretty smooth sailing. I also really do appreciate having full control over which permissions to allow each app. I know some people do prefer to run Google’s stock camera app or keyboard, but it’s easy enough to not give those network access to phone home.
You can install any app on GOS. You can use sandboxed google play to use the gplay store as normal, or Aurora Store if you just want gplay apps but not services.
How do people feel about e/OS? I just started playing around with it on an old phone and it seems to work with most apps, including banking and Google apps (their store has an optional Google login).
I moved to GrapheneOS a few months ago and haven’t really looked back. Someone else below covered using the Sandboxed Google play / Aurora Store (I use both, in addition to fdroid).
Although I could conceivably install more apps, using GrapheneOS had made me think more deeply about whether I actually need an app, instead of using a web browser. It’s true that using the web is a degraded experience (likely intentionally so, in some cases), but this is a cost I’m willing to pay for better security and privacy.
Finally, I wanna rep Magic Earth as a solid alternative to Google maps. Route finding is accurate and includes traffic warnings, etc. It uses OpenStreetMap data FWIW.
Yeah but some apps just do not have website equivalent, which is the main issue. For instance, the local messaging app does not have web version.
On the Magic Earth app, does it show multiple alternative routes? I found Organic maps problematic in that it only gave a single route.
It shows multiple routes, although I typically use the fastest / default.
For route finding, what about GraphHopper Maps?
GrapheneOS has the option to run sandboxed google play services which you can then download any google play store app. This allows for much greater security as the apps cannot see the other apps you download. Also, you could use Aurora Store which allows play store app downloads without a google account.
There are issues that can pop up and is something you’d need to look into on app by app basis. Lately, it seems they have most banking apps working though.
I feel like my local bank etc. is relatively shitty in terms of software, so I am expecting it to not work anywhere other than android & iOS. Local map apps and local messaging app is the bigger issue for me, though.
You should check out Sapio maybe someone has already checked if your banking app works!
Yea it can be tricky. If you have the time to test it out its worth the privacy upgrade.
Just be sure you have an accurate image of your default OS, for your carrier if applicable, so you can revert.
Same as almost everyone, I need some apps that just won’t work, even with sandbox GSM and Play (ie: banking apps, ev charging, my kids’ school reporting app), so I just have a sub-200 dollars phone just for that (One Plus n200 is now 84 dollars).
Since I only use apps when there’s no other option (web version and PWA for everything else), it’s actually refreshing. I charge my car at home unless I’m on a road trip, and only use banking apps 1 day of the month to get paid and pay bills. Outside of that, I’m home free with everything self hosted and absolutely no social networks other than Lemmy and Mastodon.
Unfortunately, if you want privacy, you need to compromise. However, absolutely nothing will make me drop my GrapheneOS use for everything else.
I get it that’s not optimal, but the alternative, in my opinion is even worse.
Good luck degoogling, and I wish you enjoy the mental health improvement once you do.
F-droid works on any Android phone, doesnt need to be GrapheneOS. I have installed in on regular installs plenty of times.
i know its not as easy / inconvenient, but is there any way to use the companies website instead of the app? For example, i usually log into my banks website to check things or to make a transfer between accounts. Yes you cant scan a check or make desposits, but i also not use a lot of companies App’s in the first place. I just dont understand why everyone needs apps - do you really need an app for your ISP?
Yeah, I meant that most apps are not available from F-droid.
Local messaging app does not support web version. Silly/outrageous, I know; guess they want iron grip on the data. What can I do though, when everyone uses it.
You do not use banking through mobile at all? Seems that would be inconvenient at times.
You can get by for most apps with MicroG which is a cut down implementation of play services but some apps will absolutely refuse to run on a non-factory Android image.
Last time I was on a custom ROM I got most things to work to some extent but some jush didn’t work e.g. NFC payments via Google Pay.
IIRC there’s legislation being discussed in the EU that could compel Google to offer hardware signatures for custom ROMs in future.
For most of those things you could probably use the browser on a degoogled phone? I can’t speak to your specific banking or university apps.
You might want to set up a separate work profile to sandbox that browser usage and/or dodgy apps (see Shelter if you can’t do this through the Android settings).