Librem5 VS Sailfish OS

A comparison between the Librem5 and Sailfish OS, exploring the differences between these two mobile Linux approaches.

Platform Philosophy

Librem 5 / PureOS

• Fully open source: All software components are free/libre


• GNOME-based: Uses Phosh shell and GTK applications


• Mainline Linux kernel: No Android dependencies


• Hardware designed for Linux: Purpose-built device

Sailfish OS



• Partially open source: UI layer is proprietary


• Qt-based: Uses Silica UI and Qt/QML applications


• Android app compatibility: Uses libhybris for Android driver support


• Runs on Android hardware: Ported to existing phones

Technical Approach

Librem 5



• Uses upstream Linux drivers


• No Android compatibility layer required


• Full GNU/Linux userspace


• Direct hardware access

Sailfish OS



• Uses libhybris to bridge Android drivers


• Includes Android compatibility layer


• Mer core Linux distribution


• Works with Android device drivers

Application Ecosystem

Librem 5



• Standard Linux desktop applications (adapted for mobile)


• GTK/GNOME applications with libhandy


• Potential for Flatpak support


• Any Debian-packaged software

Sailfish OS



• Native Sailfish applications (Qt/QML)


• Android application support


• Jolla store for native apps


• Community ports and apps

Privacy and Freedom

Librem 5



• Hardware kill switches for radios and cameras


• No proprietary blobs in main system


• Completely auditable software stack


• Strong focus on user privacy

Sailfish OS



• Open source core, proprietary UI


• Runs on hardware with binary blobs


• Android compatibility requires proprietary components


• Privacy through obscurity (not on Google/Apple platform)

Community and Development

Both platforms have active communities contributing to their development, but with different focuses:


• Librem 5: Hardware and full-stack open source development


• Sailfish OS: App development and device porting

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