alternative-front-ends/README.md

# alternative-front-ends
Overview of alternative open source front-ends for popular internet platforms (e.g. YouTube, Twitter, etc.)

## Call to Action
- Do you know any other projects that are not included in the overview yet? (front ends, alternatives to websites, apps, etc.)
- Just create an [issue](https://github.com/mendel5/alternative-front-ends/issues) and let me know. I'm always looking for new projects to add.

## Contents
- [YouTube](#youtube)
- [Twitter](#twitter)
- [Instagram](#instagram)
- [Reddit](#reddit)
- [Imgur](#imgur)
- [Spotify](#spotify)
- [Discord](#discord)
- [Medium](#medium)
- [Google Search](#google-search)
- [Facebook](#facebook)
- [Apple AirPlay](#apple-airplay)
- [Other](#other)
- [Redirection](#redirection)
- [Related](#related)
- [About this repository](#about-this-repository)

## Overview

### YouTube

- [Invidious](https://github.com/iv-org/invidious): Invidious is an alternative front-end to YouTube
  - Home page: https://invidious.io
  - Public Invidious Instances (Docs): https://docs.invidious.io/Invidious-Instances.md
  - Invidious instances (Github): https://github.com/iv-org/documentation/blob/master/Invidious-Instances.md
  - Invidious instances API: https://api.invidious.io
  - Installation guide for self-hosting: https://docs.invidious.io/Installation.md

- [Piped](https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped): An alternative privacy-friendly YouTube frontend which is efficient by design
  - Example instance: https://piped.kavin.rocks

- [FreeTube](https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube): Open source YouTube desktop player for privacy on Windows, Mac and Linux

- [CloudTube](https://git.sr.ht/~cadence/cloudtube): A front-end for Invidious
  - Example instance: [https://tube.cadence.moe](https://tube.cadence.moe/)

- [Invuedious](https://github.com/bocchilorenzo/invuedious): An alternative frontend for invidious built with vue.js
  - Official instance: [https://bocchilorenzo.github.io/invuedious/](https://bocchilorenzo.github.io/invuedious/)

- [Youtube-viewer](https://github.com/trizen/youtube-viewer): Lightweight YouTube client for Linux

- [Straw-viewer](https://github.com/trizen/straw-viewer): A lightweight YouTube client for Linux, using the API of Invidious

- [Invidious-viewer](https://github.com/git-bruh/invidious-viewer): Python application to watch YouTube videos through the Invidious API, in the terminal (requires MPV player and libmpv.so, provided by Linux distro)

- [NewPipe](https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe): A libre lightweight streaming front-end for Android

- [Youtube-dl](https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl): Command-line program to download videos from YouTube.com and other video sites

- [Youtube-dl-gui](https://github.com/jely2002/youtube-dl-gui): A cross-platform GUI for youtube-dl made in Electron and node.js

- [ytdl-gui](https://github.com/JaGoLi/ytdl-gui): A simple-to-use, cross-platform graphical interface for youtube-dl.

- [Alltube](https://github.com/Rudloff/alltube): Web GUI for youtube-dl

- [Vividl](https://github.com/Bluegrams/Vividl): Modern Windows GUI for youtube-dl

- [Tartube](https://github.com/axcore/tartube): A GUI front-end for youtube-dl, partly based on youtube-dl-gui and written in Python 3 / Gtk 3

- [ytmdl](https://github.com/deepjyoti30/ytmdl): A simple app to get songs from YouTube in mp3 format with artist name, album name etc from sources like iTunes, LastFM, Deezer, Gaana etc.

- [Plumber](https://github.com/keshavbhatt/plumber): Local and remote video trimmer, can trim parts of video without downloading whole video, utilizes youtube-dl, allows conversion to GIFs

- [ViewTube](https://github.com/ViewTube/viewtube-vue): An alternative front-end for YouTube, written in Vue.js, uses Plyr video player; supports SponsorBlock, multiple Invidious instances support, chapters

- [youtube-local](https://github.com/user234683/youtube-local): Browser-based client for watching Youtube anonymously and with greater page performance

- [yt-local](https://git.sr.ht/~heckyel/yt-local): Browser-based client for watching Youtube anonymously without forcing javascript (Fork of [youtube-local](https://github.com/user234683/youtube-local))

- [SkyTube](https://github.com/SkyTubeTeam/SkyTube): An open-source YouTube app for Android

- [yt-dlp](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp): A youtube-dl fork with additional features and fixes

- [Yotter](https://github.com/ytorg/Yotter): Youtube and Twitter with privacy
  - [Yotter instances](https://github.com/ytorg/Yotter#public-instances)
  - Official instance: [yotter.xyz](https://yotter.xyz)

- [uYouPlus](https://github.com/qnblackcat/uYouPlus): uYouPlus (uYou+) is an alternative YouTube app for Apple's iOS and iPadOS.

- [SmartTubeNext](https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTubeNext): SmartTubeNext is an advanced YouTube app for Android TVs and TV boxes, free and open source. It is not a live TV client and does not support "YouTube TV".

### Twitter

- [Nitter](https://github.com/zedeus/nitter): Alternative Twitter front-end
  - Official instance: [nitter.net](https://nitter.net)
  - Public instances: https://github.com/zedeus/nitter/wiki/Instances
  - Example: Troy Hunt on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/troyhunt) and [Nitter](https://nitter.net/troyhunt)

- [Shitter](https://github.com/nuclearfog/Shitter): Android, alternative front-end for Twitter, built with Java

- [Harpy](https://github.com/robertodoering/harpy): Android, alternative front-end for Twitter, built with Flutter/Dart

- [Twidere X](https://github.com/TwidereProject/TwidereX-Android): Android, alternative front-end for Twitter, built mostly with Kotlin, in early stage

- [Tweeterr](https://github.com/sherwyn11/Tweeterr): A tool to use Twitter from the command line on the fly

- [Tweet-app](https://github.com/rhysd/tweet-app): Desktop Twitter client only for tweeting. Timeline never shows up

- [Tweepy](https://github.com/tweepy/tweepy): Twitter for Python

- [Fritter](https://github.com/jonjomckay/fritter): A free, open-source Twitter client for Android and iOS

### Instagram

- [Bibliogram](https://sr.ht/~cadence/bibliogram): Bibliogram is an alternative front-end for Instagram
  - Official instance: [https://bibliogram.art](https://bibliogram.art)
  - Public instances: https://git.sr.ht/~cadence/bibliogram-docs/tree/master/docs/Instances.md
  - Example: Troy Hunt on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/troyhunt) and [Bibliogram](https://bibliogram.art/u/troyhunt)
  - Originally hosted on [Github](https://github.com/cloudrac3r/bibliogram)

- [Barinsta](https://github.com/austinhuang0131/barinsta): Open-source alternative Instagram client for Android
  - On July 26, 2021, Austin Huang (maintainer of Barinsta) received a cease & desist letter from Perkins Coie LLP, a law firm representing Facebook. As a result, Barinsta is no longer maintained or distributed. More information can be found at https://github.com/mendel5/alternative-front-ends/issues/28 and https://austinhuang.me/barinsta .

### Reddit

- [Teddit](https://codeberg.org/teddit/teddit): Alternative Reddit front-end focused on privacy
  - Official instance: [teddit.net](https://teddit.net)
  - Public instances: https://github.com/teddit-net/teddit#instances
  - [Github mirror repository](https://github.com/teddit-net/teddit)
  - Example: /r/Privacy on [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy) and [Teddit](https://teddit.net/r/privacy)

- [Libreddit](https://github.com/spikecodes/libreddit): Alternative front-end for Reddit. Themed around Reddit redesign
  - Official instance: [libredd.it](https://libredd.it)
  - Public instances: https://github.com/spikecodes/libreddit#instances

- [Xeddit](https://github.com/ErlingMK/Xeddit): A Xamarin.Forms app for Reddit
  - Official instance: [xeddit.com](https://www.xeddit.com)
  - Example: /r/Privacy on [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy) and [Xeddit](https://www.xeddit.com/r/privacy/)

- [RedditClient](https://github.com/grey-r/RedditSharp): Alternative front-end for Reddit, built with Angular

- [Updoot](https://github.com/adityam49/Updoot): Android, alternative front-end for Reddit

- [Eddrit](https://github.com/corenting/eddrit): Alternative front-end for Reddit, inspired by Nitter, built with Python & Starlette

- [Top of Reddit](https://github.com/mgerb/top-of-reddit): Top Reddit posts every day

- [Snew](https://github.com/snew/snew): Open-source client for Reddit forked from the Reddit source code

- [Stealth](https://gitlab.com/cosmosapps/stealth): Account-free, privacy-oriented, and feature-rich Reddit client
  - Available on [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.cosmos.unreddit)

- [Infinity](https://github.com/Docile-Alligator/Infinity-For-Reddit): Reddit client for Android
  - Available on [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/ml.docilealligator.infinityforreddit)

- [Dawn](https://github.com/Tunous/Dawn): Open-source Reddit app
  - Available on [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/me.thanel.dank)
  - Forked from [Dank](https://github.com/saket/Dank)

- [Slide](https://github.com/ccrama/Slide): Open source, ad free Reddit browser for Android
  - Available on [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/me.ccrama.redditslide)

- [junipf-reddit-frontend](https://github.com/junipf/reddit-frontend): A reddit front-end written in React
  - Official instance: [https://jpf-reddit.netlify.app](https://jpf-reddit.netlify.app)

### Imgur
- [Imgin](https://git.voidnet.tech/kev/imgin): Minimal Imgur front end
  - Official instance: https://imgin.voidnet.tech
  - Example album on Imgur.com: https://imgur.com/a/GD6p5Fi
  - Same album on Imgin: https://imgin.voidnet.tech/a/GD6p5Fi

- [rimgu](https://codeberg.org/3np/rimgu): rimgu is a self-hosted alternative frontend/ proxy for Imgur

### Spotify

- [psst](https://github.com/jpochyla/psst): Fast and multi-platform Spotify client with native GUI

- [Spotiqueue](https://github.com/toothbrush/Spotiqueue): Minimalistic queue-oriented macOS-native client for Spotify, with Guile Scheme scriptability

### Discord

- [gtkcord3](https://github.com/diamondburned/gtkcord3): A lightweight Discord client written in Golang which uses GTK3 for the user interface

### Medium

- [Scribe](https://sr.ht/~edwardloveall/scribe): Alternative front-end to Medium.com
  - Official website: https://scribe.rip

### Google Search

- [Whoogle Search](https://github.com/benbusby/whoogle-search): A self-hosted, ad-free, privacy-respecting metasearch engine for Google
  - Public instances: https://github.com/benbusby/whoogle-search#public-instances

- [Searx](https://github.com/searx/searx): Privacy-respecting meta-search engine
  - [Searx instances](https://searx.space)

### Facebook

- [Fb-messenger-cli](https://github.com/Alex-Rose/fb-messenger-cli): Use Facebook Messenger from command line

- [SlimSocial](https://github.com/rignaneseleo/SlimSocial-for-Facebook): Android, alternative front-end for Facebook, built with Java

- [Frost](https://github.com/AllanWang/Frost-for-Facebook): An extensive and functional third party app for Facebook (Android app)

### Apple AirPlay
- [RPiPlay](https://github.com/FD-/RPiPlay): An open-source AirPlay mirroring server for the Raspberry Pi. Supports iOS 9 and up.

- [air-pi-play](https://github.com/rahul-thakoor/air-pi-play): Turn a Raspberry Pi into an Airplay server using RPiPlay to enable screen mirroring on tvs, monitors and projectors.

### Other

- [MediathekViewWeb](https://github.com/mediathekview/mediathekviewweb): Video content of German public-service television broadcasters (e.g. ARD, ZDF)
  - Official instance: [mediathekviewweb.de](https://mediathekviewweb.de)

- [PrivateBin](https://github.com/PrivateBin/PrivateBin): Zero knowledge encrypted paste-bin. A minimalist, open source online pastebin where the server has zero knowledge of pasted data. Data is encrypted/decrypted in the browser using 256 bits AES

- [HN-search](https://github.com/algolia/hn-search): Algolia Hacker News search
  - Example: [Highest rated submissions of the past 24 hours](https://hn.algolia.com/?sort=byPopularity&page=0&dateRange=last24h&type=all)

- [HNTopLinks](https://github.com/eguller/hntoplinks): Top Links on Hacker News

- [Hackerweb](https://github.com/cheeaun/hackerweb): A simply readable Hacker News web app
  - About Hackerweb: https://hackerwebapp.com
  - Official instance: https://hackerweb.app

- [vaultwarden](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden): Password manager. Unofficial Bitwarden compatible server written in Rust, formerly known as bitwarden_rs

- [snapdrop](https://github.com/RobinLinus/snapdrop): Similar to Apple's Airdrop but in your browser. A Progressive Web App for local file sharing

- [hedgedoc](https://github.com/hedgedoc/hedgedoc): Collaborative markdown editor. A platform to write and share markdown

- [etherpad-lite](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite): Collaborative rich text editor. A modern really-real-time collaborative document editor

- [gitea](https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea): Lightweight git server. Git with a cup of tea, painless self-hosted git service

- [ArchiveBox](https://github.com/ArchiveBox/ArchiveBox): Open source self-hosted web archiving. Takes URLs/browser history/bookmarks/Pocket/Pinboard/etc., saves HTML, JS, PDFs, media, and more

- [Wikiless](https://codeberg.org/orenom/wikiless): A free open source alternative Wikipedia front-end focused on privacy

## Redirection

- [Farside](https://github.com/benbusby/farside): Farside provides links that automatically redirect to working instances of privacy-oriented alternative frontends, such as Nitter, Libreddit, etc. This allows for users to have more reliable access to the available public instances for a particular service, while also helping to distribute traffic more evenly across all instances and avoid performance bottlenecks and rate-limiting.

- [Privacy-redirect](https://github.com/SimonBrazell/privacy-redirect): A simple web extension that redirects Twitter, YouTube, Instagram & Google Maps requests to privacy friendly alternatives
  - [Firefox Add-On: Privacy Redirect](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/privacy-redirect/)
  - [Chrome Extension: Privacy Redirect](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-redirect/pmcmeagblkinmogikoikkdjiligflglb)

- [UntrackMe](https://framagit.org/tom79/nitterizeme): Android, UntrackMe transforms Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit and Medium and Wikipedia links to links of open source, privacy friendly front-ends. Converts Google Maps links to OpenStreetMap links. Removes tracking parameters from any url. Then delegates the action to other apps that are capable of handling them.

## Related

- [uBlock Origin](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock): An efficient blocker for Chromium and Firefox. Fast and lean
  - [Firefox Add-On: uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/)
  - [Chrome Extension: uBlock Origin](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm)

- [StreetComplete](https://github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete): Easy to use OpenStreetMap editor for Android

- [Matrix.org's Synapse](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse): End-to-end-encrypted messaging. Matrix reference homeserver. See also [matrix.org](https://matrix.org/).

- [Pluja's Awesome Privacy](https://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacy): A curated list of services and alternatives that respect your privacy because privacy matters.

- [Outline.com](https://outline.com): Outline is a free service for reading and annotating news articles.
  - Note: The source code of Outline.com is not available under a free/open-source license.

- [Youtube Vanced](https://github.com/YTVanced): Youtube replacement app for the Android platform: YouTube Vanced is the stock Android YouTube app, but better. It includes adblocking, true amoled dark mode and a lot more. Use the Vanced Manager to install YouTube Vanced with ease.
  - Official website with install instructions: https://vancedapp.com
  - Note: The source code of Youtube Vanced is not available under a free/open-source license.
  - For an explanation about the origin of Youtube Vanced see here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Vanced/comments/o3xm9m/if_youtube_vanced_isnt_open_source_and_doesnt/h2ec7wf/

## About this repository

This overview originally included three projects: Invidious, Bibliogram and Nitter. Therefore it was named `alternative front-ends`. As more projects have been added to the repository, the listed projects partially left the scope of *alternative front-ends*.

For example, `youtube-dl` is not a front-end, but can be generally described as an open source project that interacts with the internet platform Youtube.

Therefore the name `alternative front-ends` does not capture the full scope of the listed projects anymore. Maybe this repository will be renamed in the future to better reflect the larger scope. A possible name might be `open-source-alternatives` or something similar.