Tools · Chapter 1
Custom Android ROMs
Five de-Googled Android distributions, compared by device support and difficulty.
| ROM | Best for | Google-free? | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrapheneOS | Maximum security + privacy. Pixel phones only.(my go to) | Yes | Intermediate |
| CalyxOS | Daily usability + privacy balance. Pixel + Fairphone. | Optional (microG) | Intermediate |
| LineageOS | Wide device support, longest track record. | Yes | Intermediate–Advanced |
| /e/OS | Beginner-friendly de-Googled experience. | Yes (microG) | Beginner |
| DivestOS | Privacy hardening on older/wider device range. | Yes | Intermediate |
Reproduced verbatim from The Privacy Diet, Chapter 1 — “What is a Custom ROM?”. The book explains the reasoning behind each verdict.