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Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. This registration will involve:
- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers
I'm not sure how I'll be responding to this because I'm not currently an Android app developer and not likely to be.
In principle I'd like to deGoogle, but it's not really an option for many, and it is the many that will be needed in order for developers to retain a user base.
I'd love to see this boost Android and iOS alternatives, and might switch as a way of supporting that. But which?
I looked at #GOS recently and it looked promising, but don't think it avoids this.
I've been using alt phone OSes for ten years. Here is my take.
#SailfishOS is hands down the best and most mature alternative. It is built from the ground up along totally different lines inherited from an old smartphone team at Nokia before MS bought the company and canned the project. I use it as my daily driver and it is full featured. Very small company, EU based, privacy centric, not prone to enshittifying, great community, Linux phone.
I dont use Android or any Google products (I have lived basically Google-free since 2012) but those who use Android also like /e/OS, LineageOS, and GrapheneOS.
the #postmarketOS crew in Europe are doing an amazing job with their Linux phone although it is still pretty experimental and IMO not primetime ready altho if you want to pitch in they are great people and I highly recommend!
@cyberlyra
Thanks, very helpful.
Do you know if it will be affected if Google proceeds with their walled garden? I assume Android Apps would not require Google's approval when run on Sailfish.
I had a look at supported devices but they don't appear to support Google Pixel 9a (or any Pixel phones). In fact it's a pretty small list really, so I'd have to buy a phone specifically for it I think. I should have looked into this question before buying!
Useful recommendation though, thanks.
@jbz
I got a Sony Xperia off eBay for $100-200 and put SFOS on it.
You don't use a Google store to load apps, you can just install APK's, or sailfish native apps, or install from Github or whatever you'd like from the Command line.
What's in Google's store has nothing to do with what I run on my phone.
@cyberlyra
Ok, is there a way to load apps that are on Google Play and you can't get APKs for, and how about picky apps such as banking?
@jbz
my banking apps work but ymmv. I know you can have a google accoubt on there, i have just never used it. Someone else likely has tho! It's a great question for forum.sailfishos.org
@jbz It would not surprise me one bit if everyone pushing back on them as suggested on that site lost their Google access entirely, from Gmail to appdev.
Did it anyway because it's the right thing to do, but have alternate plans in place.
@jbz It’s a great time to develop more Linux‑based mobile apps to replace Android, which is becoming increasingly closed. Linux phones are improving every day, but they still lack sufficient developer support. I’ve seen several Android apps recently ported to Linux, and I hope more people will start buying these phones—especially in Europe, where digital sovereignty remains insufficient.
You can follow Linux‑mobile accounts such as @furilabs, and @postmarketOS to stay updated!
@jbz whoomp, there it is
