For millions of Android users, the Play Store is more than just an app marketplace — it is the gateway to the entire Android ecosystem. It offers convenience, security, and centralized updates.

However, when it comes to open source apps, the story is often different. Over the years, several powerful open source projects either disappeared from the Play Store or were forced to limit their features due to policy restrictions, legal pressure, or business changes.

Here are five open source apps I genuinely miss from the Play Store — and why their absence still matters.

NewPipe – YouTube Without Google

NewPipe is an open-source YouTube client that allows users to watch videos without logging into a Google account.

What made it special:

• No Google login required
• Background playback
• Built-in video downloads
• Completely open source and privacy-focused

NewPipe does not use the official YouTube API. Instead, it parses publicly available web data. Because of legal and policy concerns related to YouTube’s Terms of Service, it has never maintained stable availability on the Play Store.

It still exists — but outside Google’s ecosystem.

AdAway – System-Wide Ad Blocking

AdAway was a favorite among rooted Android users.

Its key strengths:

• System-wide ad blocking
• Hosts file modification
• Full transparency through open source code

Google Play policies prohibit apps from interfering with other apps’ monetization systems (such as ads). Because AdAway blocks ads at the system level, it does not comply with the Play Store guidelines.

The project continues on GitHub and F-Droid — but not on the Play Store.

Blokada – DNS-Based Privacy Protection

Blokada uses a DNS-based approach with VPN technology to block ads and trackers.

Important facts:

• No root required
• Blocks trackers and malicious domains
• Open source core

Blokada has experienced multiple policy conflicts with Google. At times, only a limited version has been allowed on the Play Store, while the full-featured version remains available through the official website.

This highlights a key tension: open source privacy tools often struggle to fit inside platform-controlled ecosystems.

CyanogenMod Installer – A Gateway to Android Freedom

Before modern Android customization became mainstream, CyanogenMod represented true device freedom.

Its companion app, CyanogenMod Installer, made it easier for everyday users to install custom ROMs.

Why it disappeared:

• Google tightened restrictions around system-level modification tools
• Root-related apps faced stricter scrutiny
• CyanogenMod, as a project, eventually shut down

The legacy lives on through LineageOS, but the installer itself no longer exists on the Play Store.

For many Android enthusiasts, this marked the end of an era.

Slide for Reddit – A Casualty of API Changes

Slide for Reddit was a beautifully designed open-source Reddit client.

What made it stand out:

• Ad-free browsing
• Highly customizable themes
• Smooth gesture navigation
• Open source transparency

In 2023, Reddit introduced major API pricing changes. Many third-party apps, including Slide, became financially unsustainable or technically restricted. As a result, its presence on the Play Store effectively ended.

This wasn’t just a Play Store issue — it showed how dependency on centralized APIs can threaten open source apps overnight.

Why Do Open Source Apps Struggle on the Play Store?

Several recurring factors explain this pattern:

• Strict Google Play policies
• Terms of Service conflicts
• Monetization challenges
• API dependency risks
• Developer burnout

The Play Store prioritizes user safety, compliance, and business sustainability — which is understandable. But these priorities do not always align with the philosophy of open source software, which values transparency, experimentation, and user control.

When an open source app vanishes from the Play Store, it is not just about losing an icon on your home screen.

It represents:

• Reduced user choice
• Fewer privacy-focused alternatives
• Less visibility for community-driven innovation

The good news is that open source does not disappear easily. Projects often continue on GitHub, F-Droid, or independent platforms.

Still, I can’t help but feel nostalgic. These apps once made Android feel truly open — not just in name, but in spirit.