UserLAnd
UserLAnd is a free, open-source developer tool for Android. Easiest way to run GNU/Linux Distros on Android - no root required. It has 4,308 GitHub stars and is released under the MIT license, and you can install it from F-Droid and Google Play.
About UserLAnd
UserLAnd is an open-source app which allows you to run several Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Kali. - No need to root your device. - Use a built-in terminal to access your favorite shells. - Easily connect to VNC sessions for a graphical experience. - Easy setup for several common Linux distributions, like Ubuntu and Debian. - Easy setup for several common Linux applications, like Octave and Firefox. - A way to experiment and learn Linux and other common software tools from the palm of your hand. UserLAnd was created and is being actively maintained by the folks behind the popular Android application, GNURoot Debian.
Privacy and F-Droid
F-Droid builds UserLAnd from its published source code and flags anti-features such as ads, tracking or reliance on non-free services.
No anti-features flagged on the latest F-Droid build.
Screenshots
Screenshots from the app's F-Droid listing.
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What is UserLAnd?
UserLAnd is a free, open-source developer tool for Android. Easiest way to run GNU/Linux Distros on Android - no root required. It has 4,308 GitHub stars and is released under the MIT license, and you can install it from F-Droid and Google Play.
Is UserLAnd free and open source?
Yes. UserLAnd's source code is public on GitHub under the MIT license, which is OSI-approved or FSF-free. F-Droid, which builds it from source, flags no anti-features such as ads or tracking on its latest build.
How do I install UserLAnd?
You can install UserLAnd from F-Droid (package tech.ula) and from Google Play; the links are on this page. Its GitHub repository also publishes releases (latest: v2.8.3).
Is UserLAnd still maintained?
The repository's most recent commit was on Oct 7, 2026. Its F-Droid listing was last updated on Nov 20, 2021. appsgit only lists apps whose repository had a commit in the last six months.