Most Popular Custom Android OS in 2026: Best Custom ROMs Compared

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Custom Android OSes, also called custom ROMs, are alternative Android-based operating systems that replace the stock firmware on a smartphone or tablet. They are popular among users who want longer device life, stronger privacy, fewer pre-installed apps, cleaner software, faster updates, or deeper customization.

Measuring the most popular custom Android OS is not straightforward because many projects avoid telemetry. Some projects publish active installation data, while others only provide download pages, supported-device lists, or rough user estimates. Because of that, the best approach is to compare public install statistics where available and clearly mark where exact installation counts are not published.

Data note: Public install numbers are not available for every custom Android OS. LineageOS and crDroid provide the strongest public installation data. GrapheneOS provides an approximate user estimate. /e/OS, CalyxOS, and Evolution X are popular projects, but reliable public active-install counts were not found.

Quick comparison table

Custom Android OS	Best for	Public data available	Status
LineageOS	Broad device support, clean Android experience, and extending the life of older devices.	3,259,400 active installs 231 supported models Based on a public LineageOS statistics mirror. A separate independent parser also reported 4,264,168 installs on 15 November 2025 when official, discontinued, and unofficial builds were included.	Active
GrapheneOS	Privacy, security hardening, sandboxed Google Play, and Pixel-focused secure Android.	Approx. 350k–400k users This is an estimate from the GrapheneOS project, not a precise telemetry-based count.	Active
crDroid	Customization, extra features, performance tuning, and a LineageOS-based foundation.	114,445 active installations 4,644,931 all-time installations 1,088 unique devices Based on the official crDroid statistics dashboard.	Active
/e/OS by Murena	De-Googled Android, privacy tools, Murena cloud services, and pre-installed phone options.	Public data is mainly available through its supported-device catalog, official builds, community builds, and Murena device ecosystem.	Active
CalyxOS	Privacy-focused Android with microG, verified boot approach, and de-Googled daily-use goals.	Android 16 test builds released CalyxOS released Android 16 community test builds in May 2026, but advised users not to use the test build on a primary device.	Testing return
Evolution X	Pixel-like Android experience with added customization and Android 16 builds for supported devices.	Public data is mainly available through its official active-device list and project repositories.	Active

LineageOS

LineageOS is the most established name in the Android custom ROM world. It is widely known as the successor to CyanogenMod and has become the base for many other custom Android projects. Its biggest strength is device coverage: users can often find LineageOS builds for phones and tablets that no longer receive official manufacturer updates.

The strongest public adoption data also points to LineageOS as one of the largest custom Android OS projects. A public LineageOS statistics mirror lists more than 3.25 million active installs and 231 supported models. An independent LineageOS statistics parser reported more than 4.26 million installs in November 2025 when official, discontinued, and unofficial builds were included.

LineageOS is best for users who want a clean, lightweight Android experience with broad device compatibility. It is not the most privacy-hardened custom ROM by default, but it is one of the best general-purpose choices for extending the useful life of Android devices.

GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS is one of the most respected Android-based operating systems for privacy and security. Instead of focusing on themes or heavy visual customization, it focuses on exploit mitigation, sandboxing, permission controls, verified security assumptions, and reducing attack surface.

One of its most useful features is sandboxed Google Play. This lets users install Google Play services as regular sandboxed apps instead of granting them deep system-level privileges. That gives users better app compatibility while keeping Google components more restricted than on regular Android.

GrapheneOS does not publish a precise telemetry-based active-install number. However, a GrapheneOS project response stated that it has around 350,000 to 400,000 users. Its main limitation is device support: GrapheneOS focuses heavily on supported Google Pixel devices because they meet the project’s hardware and firmware security requirements.

crDroid

crDroid is a popular LineageOS-based custom Android OS built for users who want more customization than LineageOS offers by default. It adds many options for status bar behavior, quick settings, lock screen controls, navigation, buttons, themes, and other interface details.

crDroid is also one of the few custom Android OS projects with a public statistics dashboard. Its official stats list 114,445 active installations, 4,644,931 all-time installations, and 1,088 unique devices. These numbers make crDroid one of the best-documented custom ROMs in terms of public installation data.

crDroid is best for users who want a daily-use ROM with a strong feature set and deep personalization. Since builds are device-dependent, users should always check the latest support status and community feedback for their exact phone model before installing.

/e/OS by Murena

/e/OS is a privacy-focused, de-Googled Android operating system developed by the e Foundation and Murena. It is based on LineageOS and replaces many Google-linked components with privacy-focused alternatives. The project also connects the operating system with Murena’s wider ecosystem, including cloud storage, email, calendar, contacts, notes, and devices sold with /e/OS pre-installed.

Public active-install data for /e/OS is not available in the same way it is for LineageOS or crDroid. However, /e/OS has a large supported-device catalog with Official and Community builds. According to its documentation, Official builds are tested for daily-driver use, while Community builds are provided on a best-effort basis.

/e/OS is best for users who want a more complete de-Googled Android ecosystem without manually replacing every Google service themselves. It is especially attractive for users who want privacy-focused software combined with cloud services and the option to buy a phone with the OS already installed.

CalyxOS

CalyxOS is a privacy-focused Android OS known for microG support, a de-Googled approach, and an emphasis on practical usability. It became popular with users who wanted a privacy-respecting phone experience without giving up too much app compatibility.

CalyxOS went through a major transition in 2025, including a pause in normal releases while the team worked on security audits, signing infrastructure, and development workflow. In May 2026, the project released Android 16 test builds for community testing, but it clearly stated that those builds were not recommended for a primary device at that stage.

Because of this, CalyxOS should be treated as a cautious option in 2026. It remains an important privacy-focused Android project, but users should check the latest official release status before using it on a daily-driver phone.

Evolution X

Evolution X is a custom Android ROM designed to replicate the Google Pixel experience while adding extra customization. It is based on the LineageOS project and is popular with users who want a polished Pixel-style interface, Android 16 builds, and more personalization options than stock Pixel software normally provides.

Evolution X does not publish a clear public active-install count. However, its official site lists active and inactive devices, and its project pages continue to show ongoing development. Its device list includes phones from brands such as Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Samsung, Motorola, Realme, Nothing, and others.

Evolution X is best for users who want a Pixel-like Android experience with extra customization. It is not the first choice for maximum privacy hardening, but it remains one of the better-known ROMs for users who want a stylish and feature-rich Android setup.

Which custom Android OS is best?

Choose LineageOS if you want the safest general recommendation, broad device support, and a clean Android experience.

Choose GrapheneOS if you own a supported Pixel device and your top priority is privacy and security.

Choose crDroid if you want a customizable, feature-rich ROM with strong public installation data.

Choose /e/OS if you want a de-Googled Android ecosystem with privacy-focused services and pre-installed device options.

Be cautious with CalyxOS until its official release and security-update situation is fully stable again.

Choose Evolution X if you want a Pixel-style Android experience with extra customization and active device builds.

Final verdict

Based on public installation data, LineageOS remains the most widely established custom Android OS, with millions of active installs and broad device support. crDroid stands out as one of the most transparent customization-focused ROMs because it publishes active, all-time, and device-count statistics. GrapheneOS is the leading privacy and security-focused Android OS with a significant estimated user base. /e/OS is a strong choice for users who want a complete de-Googled ecosystem, while Evolution X remains popular among users who prefer a Pixel-like Android experience. CalyxOS is still important, but users should check its latest release status before installing it on a primary device.

For most users, the practical shortlist is simple: LineageOS for compatibility, GrapheneOS for security, crDroid for customization, and /e/OS for a more complete de-Googled experience.