This free Android assistant fixes my biggest Gemini frustration - and keeps my data private

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I recently wrote about the problems Gemini has with reliably making hands-free calls . Given that Assistant handled this task with ease and predictability, it's worrisome that Google is set on permanently tossing Assistant aside, without having solved this hands-free issue.

When I learned that Google Assistant would be discontinued next month, I decided to look for an alternative. That search led me to a free and open-source app called Dicio.

According to the Dicio GitHub page, "Dicio is a free and open-source voice assistant running on Android. It supports many different skills and input/output methods, and it provides both speech and graphical feedback to a question. It interprets user input and (when possible) generates user output entirely on-device, providing privacy by design."

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Dicio can do things like tell you the weather, search the internet, find song lyrics, open apps, perform calculations, navigate, call contacts, set timers, control media, tell you a joke, control wake-word listening, translate, read notifications, and turn on your flashlight.

There are two things I've found that Dicio can't do: send messages or compose emails via voice, and connect with Android Auto.

Those caveats aside, this handy voice assistant is a viable alternative to Google Assistant or Gemini , so much so that I've started using it as my default. Even better, everything is handled on-device, so you don't have to worry about a third-party listening in on what you're doing.

How does Dicio stack up to Google Assistant? Let's find out.

Dicio is available in the Google Play Store, so all you have to do is search for it, tap the entry, then tap Install. Once installed, open the app and walk through the setup wizard.

Installing Dicio from the Google Play Store is just a simple tap away.

The first thing you must do is grant Dicio microphone permission. Tap "Grant microphone permission" at the bottom of the window, and then tap "While using this app" when prompted.

You must grant mic permissions for Dicio to function.

Next, you'll need to download the necessary speech-to-text file, so tap "Download speech to text" at the bottom of the screen.