GrapheneOS vs LineageOS vs CalyxOs vs DivestOs vs /e/OS vs iodé
GrapheneOS vs LineageOS vs CalyxOs vs DivestOs vs /e/OS vs iodé
So which on of these are better for my pixel 7a if we consider these:
i dont care about leaving the bootloader unlocked
i want customization to my os as long as this is possible
i hate google so i dont want any google things or google spyware (i dont use any google service)
i need push notifications for some apps (maybe microg or sandboxed google play services? idk)
i don't use esim or google pay so idc about these
i need A LOT of privacy and security to my data to the point that i want to block trackers for any app i use
i wanna use google camera as it is in stock rom but i dont want google spy shit. if i use a firewall would that be ok?
Note: i can sacrifice locking the bootloader and customization for my privacy/security/not having spyware on my phone
Thanks in advance!
Edit: i just saw that there is iodé (which sees app trackers and i found it interesting) plus CopperheadOS
Edit 2: THANK YOU ALL A LOT, your answers are the best, imma go with grapheneos and donate them also cause their job is the best
also i found this matrix for oses that helped me: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm !!!
Edit 3: Deleted CopperheadOS from the title - no need to compare cause it's garbage (see comments)
CopperheadOS is anti-libre software, extremely dangerous. We do not control it. It fails to include a libre software licence text file, like GPL. 🚩
I thought CopperheadOS was just the former name for GrapheneOS? At least that's how I understood the statement on their page.
For those that are looking to install GrapheneOS and want to ensure that their banking apps work as intended, here is a curated list of supported apps per country:
https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/
Note that anyone can contribute to the list, just open an issue un the repo.
do you mean that these apps work on graphene os with or without the sandboxed google play?
absolute hero thanks
GrapheneOS
I've personally tried Lineage, CalyxOS and Graphene. I'm currently on Graphene because it has the most app compatability and at least has higher security claims than Calyx which is more FOSS/privacy focused with microg vs graphenes sandboxed Google play.
What really got me to switch was once banking apps started failing to work due to microg compatibility. That may or may not have been resolved by now.
If Privacy and avoiding sending any data to Google is your priority I would do Calyx since you can get push notifications through microg without signing into Google and you can get apps anonymously through the aurora store.
However if you want a better user experience I would suggest GrapheneOS with Sanboxed Google Play. It's very solid and I haven't had any issues getting any apps to work thus far.
I use 4 different European banking apps without issues on CalyxOS.
do you have an alternative to Google wallet/other contactless apps not working on grapheneos for some dumb safetynet reason?
I haven't tried it myself, but you could get a Garmin watch and add your cards there. I believe you don't need the phone connected afterwards to make payments.
I do not at least here in the US where I'm located only Google pay and Apple pay are supported. I have heard some Europeans mention their banking apps natively support their own contactless payment when I'm pretty jealous of
I use Graphene. I like the Auditor app and the ability to verify that the ROM is unaltered because you can never trust an orphan kernel like all mobile devices. If I ever give up possession of my device, I can verify if it was altered. I also have a way to wipe the device on locked login with no indication that the ROM is being wiped as provided by Graphene.
This is my second iteration of CalyxOS, I used to rock a Pixel 4a and now I'm on a Fairphone 5, and I love it. It's rock solid and never had a compatibility issue, although I heard that some banking apps might misbehave with microg, but not in my experience.
Graphene has pretty much the same approach but instead of supporting microg, has decided to take the route of sandboxing Google Services, which is a better route for compatibility at the expense of letting some of your data leak through once in a while.
/e/OS is a wonderful project on paper, but in my experience it was the one with more issues and bugs: they try to support as many devices and services as possible, providing a full environment that's easy to setup for any user, but having to deal with so may things makes them a little hit or miss sometimes. Nonetheless I still believe they're a great project that brings privacy to the less techy people with a (mostly) working ecosystem.
LineageOS isn't focused on privacy but in extending the life cycle of devices after they've been discontinued, so if your concern is to be private I'd go with something else.Don't underestimate the bootloader locking feature: once your whole life is connected to one device, you don't want a guy with a USB cable be able to access it in case of loss/theft. DON'T ASK ME HOW I KNOW IT.
basically, i underestimate it cause in my country the thieves or anyone don't even know what is the bootloader lol
they are so uneducated cause our educational system is very old
And what about the person the thieves sells it to?
Yeah, but usually thieves sell the stolen phones to people that are slightly smarter and better organized
The state knows
May I please ask whether an unlocked bootloader is still bad for privacy and the risk of data loss/theft, if the phone is enrypted?
My understanding is that while being able to mess with the phone (e.g. including installing a new OS) in the presence of an unlocked bootloader, a properly encrypted phone at least protects the data on it.
Did I get that wrong?
There's this article in a German IT sec blog which compares the more well-known privacy focused ROMs. If you have any way to translate it, you should check it out. It is a really nice addition to the Eylenburg comparison.
i want customization to my os as long as this is possible
I was rocking Ressurection Remix and Xposed on my old Note 4 and customized the hell out of it. I'm on Graphene now and I don't miss it a bit. Maybe a little.
Graphene can be installed on your phone via a web browser on a PC on laptop. You should install it and try it out, it's very easy.
Graphene can be installed on your phone via a web browser
sorry but that's misleading. it only works with chrome (and honestly better keep it that way). do we really expect in the privacy community that people use chrome?
it only works with chrome
You're correct, thanks for pointing out.
If you find any relevant information, please use it to improve https://www.privacyguides.org/en/android/distributions/
It's very hard to say. Based on your use case I would say either grapheneOS or calyxOS. I personally have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for CalyxOS but technically speaking graphene likely meets your usecase better.
Ubuntu – few applications, unstable: over time, some problems with the volume were, cured only reboot; there is no normal application Telegram (web client that the battery eats).
CalyxOS is subjectively more convenient, F-Droid and RuStore download by machine, F-Droid installs an update machine, RuStore downloads and asks for /e/OS RuStore to download forcibly. Also on both MicroG systems, but on /e/OS, SBPay bent and didn't work, on CalyxOS - no problem. Similar to applications, for example, for renting scooters: on /e/OS some problems, on CalyxOS - no problems. There are fewer problems with CalyxOS.
With Sber, Rosselkhozbank and Unicredit, there are no problems there or there. Russian mail application does not work on any platform.
The only plus/e/OS is what is in GooglePlay, but not in RuStore, it is easier to put: AuroraStore on CalyxOS makes you go out and log in all the time to update the installed applications; on /e/OS, what is installed in your home store, including with Google PlayStore applications is updated without problems by automaton.
Both /e/os and Iode have built in tracker blockers that do a pretty good job at blocking most trackers. Used /e/os with my OnePlus 6t and liked it a lot. Probably the reason I have used these l.
Upgraded to a OnePlus 9 pro and trying out Iode OS. Havent decided if I like it more, or just getting used to it.
Is there a standalone tracker blocker that can be a similar to these that can be ran on any Android OS?
I've got iode, and to be honest, I think that just getting a custom dns will block more than enough trackers.
Unfortunately pixel phones are too expensive for a phone. I went with a Galaxy A34 which is good, but no graphene os for me
Paid $150 for a Pixel 5. Pixel 7 is $200.
I don't waste money on new phones, or new cars.
not just too expensive, but designed to be hard to repair too. just look up the ifixit disassembly guide, it's horrible
Pixel 8a was <400€ on black friday. I know not everyone can afford this, but even 5 years ago that wouldn't have been that much for a phone