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Plain App

plain-app

An Android app that exposes a local browser dashboard for files, SMS, media, notifications, and screen mirroring on the same network.

  • Operations
  • Productivity
  • Collaboration
  • Mobile
  • Web
  • Android
  • Browser
  • Self-hostable
  • Runs locally
Open websiteView on GitHub
plain-app screenshot
Popularity
6.7k Stars
GitHub stars
Recent activity
9/12/2026
Updated in the last 30 days
License
AGPL-3.0
Strong copyleft

Why it matters

We look beyond stars: what problem it solves, whether it creates real utility, and what makes its approach worth noticing.

Last 90 days

Problem

Addresses privacy leaks, ads, and paid feature limits when managing Android phones via browsers in a local network.

Practical value

Provides high-frequency features like file management, media browsing, SMS, screen mirroring, and notification sync via web interface.

Innovation / differentiation

Combines local TLS/XChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, PWA support, and built-in tools like RSS and Markdown with high integration for an open-source tool.

Leverage potential

Relies on local network and browsers without requiring desktop client installation, lowering the barrier for cross-device collaboration.

Why now

Aligns well with the growing demand for data privacy and user control, offering a purely local, open-source local network management tool.

Community activity

In the last 90 days there were 32 new issues and 9 pull requests; the bounded issue/PR samples include 27 issue authors and 3 PR contributors, with at least 24 releases.

Maintainer responsiveness

The 32-issue window sample had a 66% close rate, and the 9-pull-request sample had a 78% merge rate. Maintainer-response observations covered 100% of that issue sample, with a 69% response rate and median first response of 12.4 hours.

3 contributors in PR sampleAt least 24 releasesIssue response rate 69% · sample 32 (100% coverage)Median first response 12.4hPR merge rate 78% · 9 sampled in window

Key highlights

  • Manage Android files, photos, video, and audio from a browser on the local network
  • View contacts, SMS, call logs, and send SMS from the desktop
  • Mirror notifications and the phone screen in real time

Quick start

How it is installed, how hard it is, and where to start.

Where it runs

Runs locally

Difficulty

Easy — follow the steps

Self-hostableRuns locally
  1. 01Install PlainApp from Google Play, F-Droid, or GitHub Releases.
  2. 02Connect the Android device and computer to the same network, then start PlainApp web access on the phone.
  3. 03Open the local address shown by the app in a desktop browser to enter the management dashboard.
  4. 04Use the dashboard for files, messages, media, notifications, or screen mirroring as needed.

Best for

  • Teams that want data on their own servers
  • Developers who want to try it on their machine

More about it

PlainApp is a local Android phone-management application that serves a web dashboard on the same network. A desktop or laptop only needs a browser to connect; there is no required desktop companion app or cloud account.

The browser dashboard can manage files, photos, video and audio, inspect contacts, SMS and call logs, mirror notifications, and stream the phone screen. The Android app also includes Markdown notes, an RSS reader, media playback, TV casting, and peer-to-peer chat and file sharing.

The README states that data stays on the local network and that phone-to-browser traffic is protected with TLS plus XChaCha20-Poly1305. Android 9.0 or later is required.

Sources

Each field shows its status and source — expand to review.

14 · Expand

  • capability tags

    Verified

    productivity, collaboration

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • editor note

    Verified

    {"en":"Its main advantage is moving Android management into a local browser session instead of requiring another desktop client. It suits users who want desktop access to phone files, messages, and media without routing that workflow through a third-party cloud service.","zh":"它最有价值的地方是把手机管理入口放回局域网和浏览器，不需要再维护一套桌面客户端。适合希望从电脑处理 Android 文件、短信和媒体，同时又不想依赖第三方云端中转的用户。"}

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • how to use

    Verified

    {"steps":[{"en":"Install PlainApp from Google Play, F-Droid, or GitHub Releases.","zh":"从 Google Play、F-Droid 或 GitHub Releases 安装 PlainApp。"},{"en":"Connect the Android device and computer to the same network, then start PlainApp web access on the phone.","zh":"让 Android 手机与电脑连接到同一个局域网，并在手机上启动 PlainApp 的 Web 服务。"},{"en":"Open the local address shown by the app in a desktop browser to enter the management dashboard.","zh":"在电脑浏览器中打开应用显示的本地地址，进入管理界面。"},{"en":"Use the dashboard for files, messages, media, notifications, or screen mirroring as needed.","zh":"按需要管理文件、短信、媒体、通知或启用屏幕镜像。"}],"installAt":"local","difficulty":"easy"}

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • intro

    Verified

    {"en":"PlainApp is a local Android phone-management application that serves a web dashboard on the same network. A desktop or laptop only needs a browser to connect; there is no required desktop companion app or cloud account.\n\nThe browser dashboard can manage files, photos, video and audio, inspect contacts, SMS and call logs, mirror notifications, and stream the phone screen. The Android app also includes Markdown notes, an RSS reader, media playback, TV casting, and peer-to-peer chat and file sharing.\n\nThe README states that data stays on the local network and that phone-to-browser traffic is protected with TLS plus XChaCha20-Poly1305. Android 9.0 or later is required.","zh":"PlainApp 是一款面向 Android 的本地手机管理工具。安装后，手机会在当前局域网内提供一个 Web 管理界面，电脑端只需要浏览器即可访问，不要求额外安装桌面客户端，也不需要注册云端账号。\n\n通过浏览器可以管理手机文件、照片、视频和音频，查看联系人、短信与通话记录，接收通知镜像，并进行屏幕镜像。应用自身还包含 Markdown 笔记、RSS 阅读、媒体播放、投屏以及设备间点对点聊天和文件分享等功能。\n\n项目 README 明确说明数据处理以本地网络为主，手机与浏览器之间的连接使用 TLS 与 XChaCha20-Poly1305 保护。当前要求 Android 9.0 或更高版本。"}

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • Latest release

    Verified

    v3.3.25

    Source: GitHub API · latest_release=v3.3.25 · 9/13/2026

  • License

    Verified

    AGPL-3.0

    Source: GitHub API · license.spdx_id=AGPL-3.0 · 9/13/2026

  • needs api key

    Verified

    No

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • One-liner

    Verified

    {"en":"An Android app that exposes a local browser dashboard for files, SMS, media, notifications, and screen mirroring on the same network.","zh":"把 Android 手机变成局域网内可由浏览器管理的本地控制台，支持文件、短信、媒体、通知和屏幕镜像。"}

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • Platforms

    Verified

    android, browser

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • Category hint

    Inferred from materials

    security

    Source: Project README · hint=security · 8/14/2026

  • product forms

    Verified

    mobile, web

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • role tags

    Verified

    operations

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • supports local

    Verified

    Yes

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

  • supports self host

    Verified

    Yes

    Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026

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