Sidestep

Sidestep

Intercept URLs, remove tracking, and redirect to privacy-friendly frontends.

blankdotdev Internet Security

Screenshots

Screenshot of Sidestep Screenshot of Sidestep Screenshot of Sidestep

Description

Android app that intercepts social media URLs and redirects them to alternative frontends while removing tracking parameters. No apps or accounts needed to access the content shared with you.

Alternative Frontends

Bypass closed ecosystems and access a more open internet - with a less cluttered web experience. Sidestep supports several major platforms with configurable alternatives:

  • Twitter/X → Nitter
  • Reddit → Redlib
  • YouTube → Invidious, Piped
  • Google Maps → OpenStreetMap
  • IMDb → LibreMDB
  • Medium → Scribe
  • Wikipedia → Wikiless
  • Goodreads → BiblioReads
  • Genius → Dumb, Intellectual
  • Tumblr → Priviblur
  • UrbanDictionary → RuralDictionary
  • Imgur → Rimgo
  • GitHub → GotHub
  • StackOverflow → AnonymousOverflow

Flexible Configuration & Smart URL Cleaning

Automatically removes tracking parameters from all URLs:

  • UTM parameters (utm_source, utm_medium, etc.)
  • Platform-specific trackers (Twitter s/t, YouTube si, Instagram igsh)
  • E-commerce tracking (Amazon, affiliate links)
  • Analytics parameters

Granular control over how URLs are processed:

  • Unshorten URLs: Automatically resolves shortened links (bit.ly, t.co, etc.)
  • Remove Tracking: Strip analytics and tracking parameters
  • Immediate Navigation: Automatically open the processed URL in your browser
  • Clean Only Mode: Remove tracking without redirecting
  • Clean & Sidestep Mode: Remove tracking AND redirect to alternative frontend
  • Custom Redirects: Add your own domain mappings
  • Instance Picker: Fetch live, healthy instances sorted by uptime

Tracking-proof

  • Previews fetched via DuckDuckGo (optional)
  • No Data Collection: Zero analytics, zero tracking
  • Local Processing: All URL cleaning happens on-device

Versions

Version Date Size Requires Android Download
1.2.5 current
8eec7437cfda087a…
2026-03-29 2.4 MB API 24

Permissions

What the app asks the system for. Android only grants sensitive access after you confirm it.

  • Internet accessSend and receive data over the internet.
  • sidestep.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

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