Life with AOSP and no Google Play Services

Making an AOSP phone usable without google play store or google services

1) Direct from the web sites, get the .apk and install F-Droid, ProtonMail,WhatsApp and Zoom
2) From F-Droid install telegram, duckduckgo browser, Twidere, K-9 Mail (GMail 2FA instructions are here) VLC, OsmAnd, NewPipe, muPDF viewer and the Aurora Store
3) From the Aurora store, install Slack, Monzo[*], and SumUp (niche, but I've added because because I use their card reader) and mayby even BBC iPlayer but bear in mind you won't be able to do chrome cast (except via VLC).

Some applications won't work even if you can source them as they simply won't operate at all without Google Play Services. Often these are a result of requiring location data. Swarm is in that category. For those in the UK you might be tempted to download All4 and ITV hub too but  they won't work without Play Services either.

[*] - Monzo is also available from apkmirror which may be the main place that official beta versions are distributed through according to this thread.t

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