What alternative Android apps do you use for online platforms that are currently in the enshittification phase?

3 years ago by AlmightySnoo ๐Ÿข๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ to c/android

Obviously the ideal thing to do would be to stop using them entirely, but if you're like me and you still have that one subreddit you still need to check on, some of your friends are still there, or you can't find alternatives to YouTube's content, then maybe you're also looking for alternative front-ends that would at least remove the ads and trackers while you look at those sites.

So I was wondering, what alternative apps do you use on Android for those services?

As for me, here's my small list (all of these are FOSS apps, and with the exception of OldLander, it is better to install them from F-Droid to have the automatic updates):

  • Reddit:

    • Geddit: native Android client for Reddit that allows you only to browse it anonymously, ie no account is needed;

    • RedReader: another native Android client that I discovered recently, and it's surprisingly good. Its UI is simple and sleek (though you might want to disable "link buttons" in the settings), and you can log in to post and comment;

    • OldLander: this one is not really a standalone app. Before RedReader, whenever I needed to comment, I used this userscript together with Tampermonkey on Firefox Android. It basically makes old.reddit.com mobile-friendly. There's also a Firefox extension version of it which should be even better when Firefox Android supports desktop extensions;

  • Twitter X:

    • Squawker: very good app to look at tweets without needing an account. You basically manage your followings locally on your phone, and you can even group them however you want. Overall it gives you an experience that is very similar to that of an RSS reader. (EDIT 2023-08-17: looks like another Elon change took place and Squawker is no longer able to load tweets, hope the dev can find a way around this ๐Ÿ™)
  • Youtube:

    • NewPipe: I probably don't need to present this one. No account needed.

(enshittification pic from The Hustle)

alphacyberranger 63 points 3 years ago

Google Playstore is also in the shittification phase. The amount of ads and sponsored apps is an eye sore. I use F-Droid as an alternative but most mainstream apps are not there.

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Zoidsberg 28 points 3 years ago

Aurora Store.

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protput 4 points 3 years ago

Worth mentioning that this is just a different (better) front for the Play Store. It is not like f-droid a completely different store.

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alphacyberranger 2 points 3 years ago

Thanks will check it out.

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redcalcium 10 points 3 years ago

If went downhill from the moment Google disallow system-wide ad blockers on Google Play. They still allow 3rd party web browser to include ad blockers as long as the ad blockers only work on that 3rd party web browsers, but how long until they decide to disallow that as well?

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Kushia 4 points 3 years ago

Not wrong. If I search for a particular app it gives me an advert based on that search at the top of my screen that looks mostly like the first search result. It's begining to remind me of schetchy warez websites I use to not use as a teenager.

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lukzak 2 points 3 years ago

It's really insane. The sponsored app even has a big fat "Install" button next to it! I've never actually clicked it, but I ALMOST click it every time.

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DontTreadOnBigfoot 39 points 3 years ago

YouTube ReVanced

A bit of work to get set up, but pretty damn good once it is.

I can't remember the last time I saw an ad.

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Surdon 6 points 3 years ago

I thought the devs no longer supported the project?

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Dudwithacake 23 points 3 years ago path: 0 2406054 2406151 2406706, hotness: undefined, score: 23, children: 0
WtfEvenIsExistence 3 points 3 years ago
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Nitrate55 18 points 3 years ago

The code for Vanced was never open source, so Revanced isn't technically a fork. They had to recreate all of Vanced's features manually.

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a1_15 2 points 3 years ago

and contrary to Vanced, if I recall correctly, ReVanced is open source

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glorious_albus 1 point 3 years ago

ReVanced Extended is the shit. Unfortunately the dev seems to have stopped work on it, so might have to switch back to ReVanced at some point.

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Justice 6 points 3 years ago

I see updates from as recent as last week on github?

On that note, if anyone sees this comment or another and wants to try YouTube revanced (or extended) DO NOT JUST BLINDLY GOOGLE AND CLICK THE WEBSITE THAT COMES UP FIRST

I have no idea if that site is owned by a legit dev or not. What I do know is the legit devs directly say on github, where the source code can be reviewed, to NOT download from any other place than github.

Sorry for the PSA but I just donโ€™t want people downloading possibly malicious code from random sites. Itโ€™s easy to fall into the blindly search, blindly install hole.

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glorious_albus 2 points 3 years ago

https://github.com/...

The dev has archived the repo now. I read somewhere he's irritated with people messaging him after installing from the auspicious sources you mentioned.

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sennmood 34 points 3 years ago

SmartTubeNext is an excellent alternative to the default YouTube app, especially on Android TV.

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godless 23 points 3 years ago

You mean, only on Android TV. They don't have a phone app, and explicitly stated they are not interested in developing one.

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redcalcium 6 points 3 years ago

It pairs well with YouTube revanced though. YouTube revanced can cast to SmartTube, so the cast button is functional again.

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godless 3 points 3 years ago

I'm using BubbleUPnp for screencasting.

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Justice 2 points 3 years ago

Which is annoying tbh.

Would be nice if the smart whatever (see I forgot their app name already while typing) team wouldโ€ฆ team up somehow with the revanced team and they agree on one name, one app. Having two apps for what is essentially the same OS with a different skin isโ€ฆ silly. Like an app for Apple TV and a different app that does essentially the same thing for iOS.

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godless 4 points 3 years ago

I'm pretty sure they do it to fly under the radar, since mobile clients are far more dominant than smart TV applications.

And there's also newpipe as an alternative to Vanced (or rather the other way around, I believe newpipe came earlier), and even a fork with sponsorblock integration. I personally vastly prefer them over vanced/revanced.

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Justice 1 point 3 years ago

Revanced has sponsorblock though and has for a while

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eroc1990 2 points 3 years ago

You can still install it on phones. It's janky though because it's designed (obviously) with the expectation of remote navigation, not touch.

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kratoz29 5 points 3 years ago

I agree with you, whether we can does not mean we should, that's what Revanced is for.

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doctortofu 25 points 3 years ago

LibreTube is another YouTube alternative - this one can also use Piped API

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AlmightySnoo 10 points 3 years ago

So from what I get LibreTube is one layer of privacy above NewPipe in that your phone will be interacting with a Piped instance instead of the Youtube servers directly?

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Perkele 7 points 3 years ago

LibreTube also let you read replies to comments.

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doctortofu 4 points 3 years ago

Yes, as far as I understand. I also like the interface more, but that's just personal preference.

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zipzoopaboop 18 points 3 years ago

I just use YouTube in Firefox with ublock origin

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siriusmart 13 points 3 years ago

Revanced for youtube, someone even uploaded prepatched apks and ofc newpipe

infinity for reddit, its on fdroid

aliucord for discord, vencord for browser (rip opencord)

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AlmightySnoo 4 points 3 years ago

infinity for reddit

Wait, it still works? I didn't know that!

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a1_15 5 points 3 years ago

yeah, you can use your own api incase the developer's grace period ends

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Bebo 8 points 3 years ago

I watch youtube on Mozilla with u block origin, on newpipe with sponsor block and also on freetube on pc

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teranex 2 points 3 years ago

This. YouTube app disabled, Firefox + ublock origin ftw

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got2best 8 points 3 years ago

Xtra instead of Twitch app, it's better in every way

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BaronDoggystyleVonWoof 6 points 3 years ago

I use Yattee as a YouTube alternative on iOS. Check out YouTube for a short tutorial.

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ijustdoeyes 5 points 3 years ago

I still use Friendly for Facebook rather than the app but bits keep breaking which I understand is Facebook's intention.

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blanketswithsmallpox 4 points 3 years ago

There ever been a decent alternative for YikYak made yet? I miss those days lol.

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flyoverstate 3 points 3 years ago

truly the real days of chaos, i loved that app

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mojo 3 points 3 years ago

Damn I haven't heard of that app since like the 8 years I was in college ago

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Rush 3 points 3 years ago
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IlIllIIIllIlIlIIlI 3 points 3 years ago

Slimsocial instead Facebook official app.

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pewgar_seemsimandroid 2 points 3 years ago

collabora office (may have incorrect spelling) count's right

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victron 2 points 3 years ago

I can't for the life of me add a single account to follow on squawker

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AlmightySnoo 2 points 3 years ago

I can confirm that it sadly broke today (EDIT: it seems it broke 2 days ago), might be another Elon change in how they show the tweets. Guess we'll have to wait for the squawk dev to update the app.

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victron 2 points 3 years ago

Thanks, I don't even have a Twitter account anymore, but there are some accounts I'd like to follow

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AlmightySnoo 1 point 3 years ago path: 0 2497801 2499123 2502904 2503031, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 1
victron 2 points 3 years ago

Good to know! Because the app looks pretty good

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pewgar_seemsimandroid 2 points 3 years ago

i use squawker for the calyx xmpp/jabber instance

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fne8w2ah 1 point 3 years ago
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