What apps you install depends on your needs and preferences. It might help others if you include those in any future requests for suggestions.

I suggest not worrying too much about "removing your dependence on closed ecosystems" immediately. Just do as you did before, changing apps as you find better alternatives---only, this time, considering the advantages of FOSS. Simply by giving F-droid apps a chance before opening (I assume) the Play Store, you're already doing better than the vast majority of people.

Regarding discoverability and security, I believe participation in the community helps:

• The Venn diagram of "FOSS app users" and "software enthusiasts" is closer to a circle. People like talking about useful, good software they like. Word of mouth recommendations is how I got into this stuff.
• You'll be more likely to hear urgent actionable news (e.g. X app developer sold to bad company, here's the fork that will carry the torch onwards).

And so that this comment isn't completely useless... Mozilla are currently working on a mobile version of Thunderbird for Android, built on top of K9 mail. Been using the beta and liking it so far. If you want a FOSS e-mail app, keep an eye on that one.

P.S. I much prefer the dark side, and don't forget the cookies!

Wait until you find out about Obtainium.

Begin to de-google yourself. Research on FOSS alternatives to Google apps and services. Depending on your reliance, this may be a slow process. It's OK. Build an understanding that there will be lots of sacrificing, especially convenience around the brand ecosystem that Google and Apple are known for.

now install Droid-ify from Fdroid and you can uninstall Fdroid 😁

once you're on Droid-ify enable repos from Izzy, divestOs, newpipe, cromite, &c

have installed F-Droid

You should check out Droid-ify! It's a much more friendlier alternative to F-Droid, and also has more applications by default (gets some apps directly from Github).

Some of my favorite apps:

• mpv (Lightweight media player, better than VLC)
• NewPipe (ad-free YouTube / Peertube client)
• Open Camera (Camera app)
• SD Maid SE (Junk file/cache cleaner)
• Unexpected Keyboard
• WiFiAnalyzer (WiFi scanner, troubleshooter)

Remove gapps

ViMusic - ad free music streaming
TrackerControl - view and block app trackers
LibreTube - ad free youtube client
Termux - Terminal

There are also plenty of replacements for builtin apps like camera, gallery, maps, etc, although I personally haven't made that jump yet as there are some missing quality of life features.

Here is a very good collection of Foss apps for Android "40+ Best Open Source Android Apps" by itsfoss.com (almost all available in F-Droid)

It really comes down to what is your use case. Also, a bit of a mindset change since you have to do a bit more research on some apps yourself, nothing too bad, like checking on the App's Github if they have one, to see issues or bugs. Some of which may apply to you... or not. F-Droid has a link for most apps on their app.

Personally, I removed almost all apps on my phone that have ads and/or improved privacy in one way or another.

I used to use Nova but I found KISS launcher or it's fork TinyBit Launcher much better. Why? Because I do a lot of searches and liked that it is search focused and you can add all types of different searches once you know the proper syntax. From Wikipedia, to Youtube, to Searxng, to Dictionaries or DuckDuckGo, you can add almost all search engines. The app is really, really light on resources and it does what I want it to do.

I dropped all Google products, rooted my phone and removed them off my phone along with Google Play Services. Avoid all apps with any trackers. Albeit I still have a couple that I still need. But it is a great improvement.

Use K9 for mail, OpenVPN in lieu of my VPN provider's app, BraveNewPipe or NewPipe w/Sponsor block for Youtube and other services. Use Mull instead of Firefox, due to being more privacy focused. Eternity for Lemmy, as a, well, Lemmy client.

KDEconnect to send/ping/transfer/control PC's and phones over local Wifi. It's free. Now, I know that many people may not use it, but I set up a Nextcloud Instance on my server and thus have Notes, Maps, RSS reader, File and Bookmarks Sync all through that by using their free apps. All available for free from F-Droid. But you do need a server.

Also, Termux as terminal. You can do lots with it due to all the apps and services you can install and run. I used to run a Searx instance from my phone and I used that to search along with my VPN.

For weather I use either QuickWeather or Geometric Weather, with icons you can get for free from the Playstore.

i use:

• aves (gallery app)
• organic maps
• jellyfin
• openboard
• symphony (music player)
• syncthing
• nclientV2 (te best way to read 6-digit codes)
• fair email (easily the best e-mail app i've ever used)

also youtube revanced (not entirely open source or available on f-droid, but the best way to watch youtube without ads for my use case)

These are my main core apps. Not fully divested from closed ecosystems (YouTube & Google Maps are in there with alternative private frontends). But close enough for me.

• Mull - Private Firefox
• OrganicMaps & GMaps WV - Maps
• Eternity - Lemmy
• Meglodon - Mastadon
• ProtonVPN - VPN
• AntennaPod - Podcasts
• Bitwarden - Passwords
• Joplin - Notes
• NewPipe Sponsorblock - YouTube w/o ads or in-video promotions
  • Need to add the Izzy repo to get this one
• VLC - Music & video
• Yet Another Call Blocker - Spam calls
• Geometric Weather - Weather

What I have installed:

From Obtanium:

• Most Fossify Apps
• Nextcloud
• Material Files
• Immich
• DAVx & ICSx (nextcloud contacts and calendar sync)
• DNS66
• Jellyfin
• Spotube

From FDroid (really droidify from various repositories)

• FUTO Voice Input
• Breezy Weather
• K-9
• Libera Reader
• FFUpdater
• Joplin

The list is massive and I'm on mobile and hate tiny keyboards. I can finish the list later if you/y'all are interested. The only thing that I actively use that is not FOSS on my phone is Google Messages, which I guess is a bit hypocritical, but its too good. Just the ability to react to messages makes it worth it for me.

I also highly recommend Grayjay. It is the best (IMHO) YouTube replacement. It is cross service, like I have odysee, nebula, youtube, and various peertube instances added as sources.

As far as what apps to watch out for, someone mentioned Simple Mobile Tools. Otherwise, I would stay away from apps that are not being updated anymore or are otherwise way too old.

Important note: app developers don't publish their apps on the official F-Droid repository. Other people (maintainers) download source code and compiling these apps. Therefore, updates are delayed by a week. You cannot update the app from other source because F-Droid version signed by a different key, so you must reinstall the app, deleting all the data.

I started using Obtainium to get updates directly from GitHub. It also has support for F-Droid and many other sources. I use F-Droid website mostly to discover apps.

Beside concrete suggestions, I would suggest having a look at the applications you use. (Decide whether you actually use and need them first.) Search for the application on AlternativeTo or similar sites and look for a FLOSS alternative there. And also search the internet for general FLOSS replacements for the use-cases of the applications you use. No need to rush anything. Even replacing one application a week is good progress.

My first step is always to add the Molly and Bitwarden repos.

Syncthing FairMail FreeOTP+ Markor Voyager APK Explorer Kiss launcher Nekogram X Bitwarden

DavX5 and start keeping your contacts/calendar private with something like Nextcloud.

I can recommend https://f-droid.org/packages/wangdaye.com.geometricweather/ for weather. Otherwise, I dont really use stuff from fdroid.

I've heard good stuff about the "fenneck" (?) browser, it's like android firefox but good.

Here is a great list: https://github.com/nyas1/Material-You-app-list

Then you could search it up on Droidify or use Obtainium.

What's something you want to replace?