Android is an open source operating system, but the most popular version of it – and the one that ends up in most of the mobiles on sale – is the version with Google and with Google’s applications. Google applications are among the most popular, but not the only ones: there are many alternative applications although many of them need Google’s services to work.
If your phone does not have Google Services because it is a new Huawei, because it has a special ROM or simply because that’s how you chose it.Here we show you alternatives to Google applications that work without its services and which, technically, you can use on any mobile phone even if it has AOSP or HMS.
Alternative to Google Play

If your phone doesn’t have Google Play, the closest you’ll find is Aurora Store. The kinship is not only in the design, but also in the applications within it. Aurora Store is an unofficial Google Play client so it shares a catalogue with the Google shop. You can download it from their website.
If you prefer applications of open source the same creators have Aurora OSS an alternative client to the repository F-Droid. If you need more alternatives, nothing prevents you from downloading Huawei App GalleryThe Huawei Mobile Services (automatically installed) can also be used on other brands of mobile phones.
Alternative to Google Keep

Note applications are certainly not lacking in Android, although not all are the same. Find a Note application similar to Keep in terms of ease of use and functions is not as easy as we would like, although Adler Notes it’s pretty close to him.
The design of Adler Notes is very similar to Google Keep, with support for colored notes, images, voice notes, labels and reminders. And, best of all, it works perfectly without Google Services.

Notepad
Alternative to Google Maps

One of the biggest problems with the to dispense with Google on an Android phone is to find an alternative for Google Maps. Many mapping applications use Google maps so they don’t work without Google services.
All is not lost, however. On the one hand you have Here Maps which serves you for routes and navigation and on the other Google Maps Go for everything else. Google Maps Go is basically the web version of Google Maps and works perfectly without Google services.

HERE WeGo – City Navigation
Alternative to Google Duo

Google Duo is an application very easy to make video calls. Although it’s not mandatory to sign in with your Google account, the application doesn’t work properly on a mobile without Google services.
Although many messaging applications include video calling (and some work without Google services), probably the alternative that shares the simplicity best is Jitsi Meet. The application is easy to use and makes it easy to Unlimited video calls and free.

Jitsi Meet
Alternative to Google Fit

Google Fit is a centralized place where you can monitor your activity and health data. Some mobile brands have their own application for this, although it is often exclusive to their own terminals.
If you’re looking for something similar to Google Fit but not Google Fit, the Huawei’s health has similar functions and does not require Google’s services, but those of Huawei. The application itself takes care of installing them without you having to do anything.

Huawei Health
Alternative to YouTube

Replacing the YouTube application with another player is easy, but replacing the YouTube content is not so easy. Luckily, you have both in NewPipe, a unofficial YouTube player that works without the need to sign in and without Google services.
On NewPipe you have almost as much as YouTube and more. It has support for downloads, background playback and floating window view. If you also want to do without the content hosted on YouTube, other alternatives are Vimeo o Dailymotion.

Vimeo
Alternative to Google Photos

Find an application that does everything Google Photos does it’s impossible, but if we stick to the gallery function for the cell phone photos, there’s no shortage of options. What’s more, even if your phone doesn’t have Google services and applications, it will surely have a gallery application.
If you’re looking for an alternative, the Gallery Go of Google is simple and works perfectly without Google services. If you prefer not to Google, a good alternative is Quikpic Classic A version from before the application went to the dark side.

Gallery Go by Google Photos
Alternative to Google

The Google application does much more than just search, but if we focus on search, the new Petal Search of Huawei is a good alternative. Works on any mobile phone even if it’s not Huawei if you install it from APK The application will, however, install its own services, those of Huawei.
Petal Search has a search bar similar to Google’s, it has your own Discover and allows you to search the web, also for images, videos and applications. Another option is to use Bing.
Alternative to Chrome

Surprisingly, Google Chrome works on mobiles that don’t have Google services Although some functions such as synchronization are not available. However, if you prefer to do without it, the closest thing to Chrome that isn’t Chrome en Kiwi Browser.
Kiwi Browser is virtually identical to Google Chrome, with built-in ad blocking, more customization options than Chrome, and with support for extensions something that the mobile version of Chrome doesn’t have.

Kiwi Browser – Fast & Quiet
Alternative to Messages

Whether your mobile has Google services or not, you’re sure to have a messaging application to receive SMS. In the hypothetical case that this is not the case, you will be interested to know that Google Messages works perfectly on a mobile without Google services.
That said, if you prefer an alternative, you can try SMS MessengerAvailable at F-Droid, Chomp SMS or any another option. In this case, it’s almost more common for alternatives to work without Google services than not to work at all.

Messages
Alternative to YouTube Music

Google Play Music and YouTube Music are easily replaceable by the numerous music players for Android. There is . music players for all tastes and in most cases will also work on mobile phones without Google services.
To listen to streaming music, Spotify also works seamlessly on a mobile phone without Google services, so you won’t have a hard time replacing YouTube Music / Google Play Music streaming.

Spotify: music and podcasts
Alternative to Google Drive

The clearest alternative to Google Drive is undoubtedly Microsoft OneDrive. The operation is very similar, the only difference being that you sign in with your Microsoft account and not with Google.
With OneDrive you can upload and manage files in the cloud, scan photos and even make a backup of your cell phone photos similar to Google Photos. If you also use the rest of the applications of the house, better than better, because they integrate perfectly.

Microsoft OneDrive
Alternative to Google Docs

In office automation you could say that Microsoft Office is the standard, so Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are in a way the alternative. The easiest way to replace Google’s office suite is with Microsoft’s.
Word, Excel y PowerPoint are available on Android as standalone applications, and you can also download Microsoft Office as a single application all-in-one including also the OneDrive notes.

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more
Alternative to Gboard

Your phone is sure to come with a keyboard application, even if it doesn’t have Google services. Your own AOSP keyboard is quite similar to Gboard so you’d have a pretty good alternative there already.
If you prefer other applications, Openboard it’s kind of like an open source version of Gboard. It doesn’t have everything that Gboard has, especially if we talk about customization, but it’s free, it doesn’t have ads and it’s pretty similar to Google’s keyboard.

OpenBoard
- Developer: dslul
- Download it in: Google Play
- Price: Free
- Category: Tools