You get a new phone, and the first job is moving a few hundred contacts across without handing them to an advertising network. Fossify Contacts, published by Fossify, is built for that kind of errand. It is a free Android app at version 1.6.0, it needs Android 8.0 or newer, and the download is 8.2 MB. This page covers what the app does, how a normal session runs and how it fits next to the alternatives on our list.
GPL-3.0 code and a vCard-first design
Fossify Contacts is open source. Its code is published on GitHub under GPL-3.0-only, so anyone can check what the app does with an address book. It carries no ads and costs nothing.
The feature noted for this app is private contact management with vCard support. vCard is the common file format for moving contacts between phones and services. The package ID is org.fossify.contacts and the developer, Fossify, has a site at fossify.org. The first release came out on January 26, 2024, and the most recent update we have is dated February 1, 2026.
The APK is kept unmodified. Its SHA-256 checksum is 6a89be96b5ec39f5e2b11bd61dc7031f4b88261b324ab13af5743fbc62f0cddb, so you can compare it with the hash of your downloaded copy before installing.
A typical session: search, group, export
Most visits are short. You open the app and type into the search field to find a person. You can choose which fields show in the list, so a contact card can stay minimal or carry more detail.
Groups are the next common task. You can create groups, rename them and build a favorites list, then use a group to send one email or SMS to everyone in it. Sorting options and theme choices are also in the settings, including a dark theme and a material design layout.
Backup is the other regular job. You export contacts to a vCard file for safekeeping or import one from an old device. The app also lets you store contacts locally or sync them by other means, so check what your own setup supports before relying on sync.
The developer describes the app as light on resources and says it never shares contact data with third-party apps. Those are the developer's claims, not independent measurements.
How it compares with the listed alternatives
The alternatives attached to this page are WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Google Photos, X and Aegis Authenticator. Almost none of them replace a contacts manager. They cover messaging, social networking, photo storage and two-factor codes, and each keeps its own contact or account data for its own purpose.
Fossify Contacts does one narrow thing. It holds the address book, groups it, searches it and moves it in and out through vCard files. The messaging apps on the list may read contacts to find people, but they do not give you a standalone book with export and group tools.
The closest overlap with Aegis Authenticator is in values, not function. Both are open-source utilities that handle personal data. If you want a contacts app whose code you can audit, with no ads and no payment, Fossify Contacts fits on those points. For chat, photo backup or login codes, you would still need the other apps.
Fossify Contacts pros and cons
Pros
- Source code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0-only
- No ads and free to use
- Imports and exports contacts in vCard format for backups and phone moves
- Groups can be renamed and used for batch email or SMS, and favorites lists are supported
- Small 8.2 MB download that runs on Android 8.0 or newer
Cons
- Version 1.6.0 has no published changelog
- Sync options are described only in general terms, with no named services
- Battery and performance claims come from the developer and are not independently measured
- It manages contacts only, so it does not replace any of the listed messaging or photo apps
Is Fossify Contacts safe?
The APK here is kept unmodified, and we publish its SHA-256 checksum so you can verify your download. The app is released under GPL-3.0-only, its code is public on GitHub, and the publisher is Fossify. No ads are shown. A matching checksum only confirms that your file is the same as the one we store.
How to install Fossify Contacts
- Download the APK with the button on this page and wait for it to finish.
- Compare the file with the SHA-256 checksum shown here if you want to confirm it arrived intact.
- Open the file on your phone and allow installs from this source when Android asks.
- Finish the install, then open Fossify Contacts from your app drawer.
