Tools · Chapter 3
GrapheneOS vs CalyxOS
The two leading privacy ROMs across device support, Play Services handling and hardening.
| GrapheneOS | CalyxOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Device support | Pixel only | Pixel + Fairphone + some others |
| Google Play Services | Sandboxed (optional) | microG (built-in, optional) |
| App compatibility | Good (with sandboxed Play) | Very good (microG) |
| Security hardening | Maximum — industry leading | Strong — above stock Android |
| Update speed | Very fast | Fast |
| Ease of daily use | Excellent once set up | Slightly more turnkey |
| My recommendation | First choice for Pixel users | Good alternative for non-Pixel devices |
Reproduced verbatim from The Privacy Diet, Chapter 3 — “CalyxOS vs GrapheneOS”. The book explains the reasoning behind each verdict.