List of known ROMs with Google-free option
Below is a list of ROMs with a quick overview about what they’re focusing on in their design. This list isn’t necessarily complete nor updated, and any recommendations are purely personal (this is a private blog after all).
If you are part of one of the mentioned projects and feel misrepresented, don’t hesitate to contact me! Most information about these projects do not come from first hand as I couldn’t test them all.
Recommendations
/e/ OS
Easy to use – Developed and maintained by a non-profit organization, /e/ OS is the only ROM that comes with a free cloud connection by signing up with an /e/ account. While just offering 1gb of space in their free plan, the simplicity and their stable and secure open-source ecosystem is an excellent choice for everyone who looks not for tinkering, but a flawless user experience.
Homepage | Device List | Wiki | Buy
CalyxOS
Simple & Secure – A highly secured Android system that, unfortunately, only supports a few Google devices at the moment. It gives you the choice during install to either install or omit microG. If not for the small amount of supported devices, this system would be a strong contender for the best ROM available.
Homepage | Wiki
LineageOS with MicroG
Highly Available – This ROM is, obviously, a direct offshoot of LineageOS that now also includes microG.
Homepage | Device List | Wiki
More Roms
iodé
Official Description:
iodéOS is a privacy-focused operating system powered by LineageOS and based on the Android mobile platform. iodéOS aims at protecting the user’s privacy with a built-in adblocker and by freeing the smartphone from snitches.
Homepage | Device List | Buy
LineageOS
One of the oldest and most well-known free Android systems and base for a lot if not almost all other ROMs. It got by far the largest library of supported devices and a great wiki explaining the install process for each device at one place.
However, the developers decided not to include microG for various reasons. Most Play Store Apps therefore won’t run.
Homepage | Device List | Wiki
GrapheneOS
Official Description:
“GrapheneOS is a privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility developed as a non-profit open source project. It’s focused on the research and development of privacy and security technology including substantial improvements to sandboxing, exploit mitigations and the permission model. It was founded in 2014 and was formerly known as CopperheadOS.”
Homepage | Device List | Buy
DivestOS
Official Description:
DivestOS is a full-time passion project (not a company) maintained solely by Tad (SkewedZeppelin) since 2014. It has many goals, but primarily: prolonging the life-span of discontinued devices, enhancing user privacy, and providing a modest increase of security where/when possible.
Homepage | Device List
MoKee
Official Description:
MoKee ROM is based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP) . All customizations follow the Material Design language by Google , which is maintained with the native Android interface. […] MoKee ROM follows Google to bring the latest Android system to users early. […]
Compared to [OEMs] bloated custom systems, MoKee ROM is simple and pure, with outstanding performance, making it easier for you to use your device.
Homepage | Device List
crDroid
Description from XDA:
“crDroid is designed to increase performance and reliability over stock Android for your device also attempting to bringing many of the best features existent today.”
Homepage | Device List
Bliss ROMs
Description from XDA:
“Our focus is to bring the Open Source community a quality OS that can run on all your devices as a daily driver, syncing your apps + settings + customizations across all platforms you run Bliss on.
Bliss ROMs comes with a wide selection of customization options from around the Android community as well as unique options developed by our team. With so many options available, you’ll find it hard not to enjoy the Blissful experience.”
Homepage | Device List (Phone) | Device List (PC)
AOSP Extended
Description from XDA:
“AOSP Extended is an AOSP based ROM which provides stock UI/UX experience with useful customizations. Being based on AOSP it provides a smooth experience. We have added useful customizations from various other open-source projects and have tried to keep our things simple. A ROM by a user, for a user.”
Homepage | Device List
DotOS
Official Description:
“DroidOnTime is a custom Android firmware. It was launched with an aim to provide Unique user interface and Optimum performance that too keeping in mind the balance between performance and battery life. dotOS is based on Google’s Android Open Source Project with Hand-picked goodies, innovative ideas and creative things that are added in the rom to enhance user experience!”
Homepage | Device List
HavocOS
Official Description:
“Havoc-OS is an after-market firmware based on Android Open Source Project, inspired by Google Pixel with a refined Material Design UI. We offer a smooth and stable experience for your device with a selected set of amazing features that provide an exceptional user experience.”
Homepage | Device List
Evolution X
Official Description:
“Evolution X allows users to experience Google’s latest Pixel updates while integrating useful features from known custom ROMs.
We are currently on Android 12.1, with the latest security patches from Google.”
Homepage | Device List
Project Sakura
Official Description:
“A completely free and OpenSource Custom ROM based on Lineage OS. It provides quick timely updates and more customizations with great stability.”
Homepage | Device List
Arrow OS
Official Description:
“ArrowOS is an AOSP based project started with the aim of keeping things simple, clean and neat. We added just the right and mostly used stuff that will be actually USEFUL at the end of the day, aiming to deliver smooth performance with better battery life.”
Homepage | Device List
Syberia OS
Official Description:
An AOSP/CAF based project built to enhance the stock Android experience.
Homepage | Device List
Potato Project
Official Description:
(or POSP, for short) is a buttery smooth aftermarket Android™ firmware.
Combining newest security patches, original features and wide device support, POSP is a product created to make your life easier and breathe some fresh air into the custom ROM scene.
Homepage | Device List
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