If you are an Android user, you might find the Facebook app to be quite the burden. You want the convenience of using a version of Facebook that’s optimized for mobile, but you’re tired of having your battery drained and your data sucked dry.
If this is your experience, then you should be happy to know there are alternatives out there. We’ve collected a list of our favorites so you can start posting and stop stressing about what it’s going to cost you.
All of these apps are free upfront, though some offer in-app purchases to eliminate ads, and Swipe has a Pro version.
Facebook Lite
Facebook Lite is Facebook’s own alternative app. It hasn’t been around too long, so it’s still got a few things to work out, but it is extremely fast and it works on 2G networks. Download Facebook Lite from Google Play.
Cost: Free
Friendly
Friendly offers up a nice balance between not eating up your phone’s resources and giving you full functionality. It combines the original Facebook app with the Messenger app, so don’t need to switch back and forth from one to the other. It also has an option to completely block images, if you want to double down on data savings. Download Friendly from Google Play.
Cost: Free / $1.99
Toffeed
Toffeed focuses on design first, with a very trimmed down interface that hides most of the navigation. If you want a streamlined option with almost nothing but your feed on screen, then this is a nice fit. Download Toffeed from Google Play.
Cost: Free
Swipe
Swipe puts a heavier burden on your battery than the other apps mentioned here, but it might be the closest thing to Facebook’s actual app. It lets you swipe through posts and notifications rather than scrolling, and it has some nifty custom design choices. Download Swipe from Google Play.
Cost: Free / $2.99
Puffin
Puffin is another one of the older alternatives out there, with a simple, smooth wrapper for the mobile site. It wins big on data saving, and even has a counter at the top that shows you how much you’ve saved. Download Puffin from Google Play.
Cost: Free
Tinfoil
This is the original Facebook alternative app, a wrapper that simplifies and streamlines Facebook’s mobile site. Updates are a little infrequent, but overall it provides a good experience. Download Tinfoil from Google Play.
Cost: Free
Metal
Metal is very similar to Tinfoil in design and functionality. What makes it stand out most is it’s notifications options, including a wide range of frequencies, and a shade bar of notifications you can review without needing to open the full app. Download Metal from Google Play.
Cost: Free / $1.69