Android with Google
Privacy passport
- No tracking
- Yes
- Open source
- Yes
- Only you can read it
- On device
- No account
- Yes
- Free
- Yes
5 of 5 checks
- Android
Private phone operating systems
9 apps, each with a privacy passport
Most Android phones ship with Google services that sit deep in the system and report back constantly. These operating systems replace that layer: some harden Android and leave Google out entirely, some add microG so common apps still work, and a few are full Linux systems for phones. Device support is the main limit, so check your model first.
Leaving one of these?
If you only try two
Strongest security, and most apps still work
Privacy passport
- No tracking
- Minimal
- Open source
- Yes
- Only you can read it
- On device
- No account
- Optional
- Free
- Yes
4 of 5 checks- Android
Buy a phone with it installed, wide device list
All 9 phone operating systems
Passes
9 of 9 apps
GrapheneOSPick
Operating system
Hardened Android for Pixel phones with no Google services built in and optional sandboxed Play services.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- No account
- Free
- Android
/e/OSPick
Operating system
De-Googled Android with microG, its own app store and optional Murena cloud, sold preinstalled on several phones.
- Minimal tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- Account optional
- Free
- Android
CalyxOS
Operating system
Android without Google apps, using microG so common apps work, with a built-in firewall and VPN options.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- No account
- Free
- Android
iodéOS
Operating system
Android without Google services, with microG and a built-in blocker for ads and trackers across all apps.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- Account optional
- Free plan
- Android
LineageOS
Operating system4.7k
The widest-supported community Android, keeping older phones updated, with no Google apps unless you add them.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- No account
- Free
- Android
microG
App15.1k
Open-source stand-in for Google Play Services that lets many apps run on a phone without Google's code.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- Account optional
- Free
- Android
Ubuntu Touch
Operating system
Community Linux phone OS with its own app store and no Google services, for a set of supported phones.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- No account
- Free
- Android
Nura (formerly postmarketOS)
Operating system
Real Linux distribution for phones and tablets that aims to keep old devices useful for years.
- No tracking
- Open source
- Stays on device
- No account
- Free
- Android
Sailfish OS
Operating system
Finnish phone OS with a gesture interface and optional Android app support, installed on selected Sony and Jolla phones.
- Tracking not stated
- Partly open
- Stays on device
- Account needed
- Free plan
- Android
What to check in phone operating systems
- 1 Google services are absent or replaced, not just hidden
- 2 Security updates arrive promptly for your exact phone
- 3 The bootloader can be relocked after installing
