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Andronix Get it on Google Play

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Andronix vs UserLAnd vs AnLinux vs proot-distro

Every one of these runs Linux on Android without root, with proot. They differ in how much they set up for you. Here's an honest comparison, checked on October 1, 2026. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@andronix.app.

AndronixUserLAndAnLinuxproot-distro
Needs TermuxYes (F-Droid, GitHub or Google Play)No, it's a standalone appYesYes, it's a Termux package
How you install a distroOne andronix command; the app can copy it for youPick a distro in the appThe app gives you commands to paste into Termuxproot-distro install <name> in Termux
DistrosDebian 13, Ubuntu 26.04 and 24.04, Kali, Fedora 44, Arch, Manjaro ARM, Alpine 3.24, VoidSeveral, including Debian and UbuntuUbuntu, Debian, Kali, Parrot, BackBox, Fedora, CentOS, openSUSE, Arch, BlackArch, Alpine, VoidIts built-in list, or any Docker/OCI image
Desktop set up for youXFCE, LXQt, MATE; KDE Plasma on Debian, Ubuntu 26.04 and KaliA graphical session over VNCXFCE, MATE, LXQt, LXDE, KDENo, you set it up yourself
How you see the desktopFull screen with Termux:X11, or VNCVNC (or SSH for the command line)VNCYour choice (it can share Termux's X11 socket)
SoundSet up for you--Set up yourself
Normal user with sudoYes, created at first login--Up to you
Backupsandronix backup / restore--proot-distro backup / restore
CostFree distros; optional paid Modded OS and PremiumFree, open sourceFree, open source (Apache 2.0)Free, open source

"-" means the project's own docs don't say, so we don't either.

What they have in common

All four run the distro with proot, on Android's own kernel, as an ordinary app. So they share the same limits: no Docker, Snap or Flatpak, no GPU acceleration, no access to hardware like USB adapters, and on Android 12 and newer, Android's phantom process killer can stop the distro with "Process completed (signal 9)" until you turn it off (how to fix signal 9). None of them needs root.

When to pick which

Andronix

If you want a working desktop with the fewest steps: one command installs the distro, a desktop, Firefox and sound, creates your user, and andronix desktop opens it full screen in Termux:X11. The same commands work for all nine distros, and there are commands to update, back up and add developer tools. The free distros are free; Modded OS editions with a themed, ready-made desktop are optional and paid. Start here.

UserLAnd

If you don't want to install Termux at all. UserLAnd is a self-contained, open-source app that runs a distro and connects to it over SSH or VNC.

AnLinux

If you want a long list of distros, including Parrot, BackBox and openSUSE, and you're happy to paste setup scripts into Termux and use a VNC viewer.

proot-distro

If you're comfortable on the command line and want full control: it's the official Termux tool, it can create a container from any Docker/OCI image, and you set up the desktop, sound and users yourself.

And Android's own Linux Terminal?

Some newer phones (Pixel, and Exynos versions of some Samsung phones) have Google's Linux Terminal, a Debian virtual machine with its own kernel. It's not available on Snapdragon phones. How it compares with Termux and Andronix: Android's Linux Terminal vs Termux and Andronix.

Installing Kali? See How to install Kali Linux on Android without root.

Sources

Get Andronix on Google Play Install without the app