You can also use Gadgetbridge to use some headphones without their companion apps.

Gadgetbridge Headphones

Wait, you mean you need an app to listen to music in a Bluetooth earphone? It's not just connect it to your phone via Bluetooth? I don't usually use phones but I have some Chinese cheap phone I use sometimes that I just connect to my phone and that's it.

You can use Sennheisers without an account - and I think even without the app altogether. Not exactly sure tho.

They have a feature where they toggle sound presets depending on your location. That's the only thing that requires an account, as well as access to your location. It's opt-in however (and pretty useless imo).

Using Soundcore with their app and internet access denied. Set up once, deleted the app

I got some JVC earbuds and they work with just Bluetooth. Pretty good noise canceling as well.

I had a pair of wired earbuds from JVC for years and they were so good that I kept buying them when they broke and always have one in my backpack.

TWS ? Track While Scan ?

I'm searching for the same thing!

I don't know what TWS means or maybe it's a brand. I have ISOTunes Free Aware and there is no app.

Earfun Air pro 3 works and technically let you access most functions through the 2 tiny touchpads but the app isn't invasive at all, either. The app will chug along without even mentioning it if you disable its access to the internet entirely and it never asked for any permissions. I used them without the app for a while but eventually I wanted to turn ANC on and I thought the app was the only way but in retrospect I could've read the manual and found the touchpad tap-sequence to do the same thing.

JBL headphones say better with the app but not required.

recently I got me a pair of Soundpeats Air4 Pro; initially wanted to repurchase a pair of Air3 HS Pro that I had and was very satisfied with the sound but lost one earpiece and found out that replacing it is nigh impossible. so, Air4 was like $5 more and I wanted to try the ANC part of it. none of those models are in-ear headphones, I'm done with shoving things in my ear canals.

so the sound is OK to me (I have tinnitus and don't hear that well to begin with, so I'm not an expert on judging these things) but the ANC is not what I expected it to be. to me, what it does is just flood my ears with bass. the music i listen to and the occasional podcast sound OK to me but I don't perceive any noises to be "cancelled", i still hear all irritants (buses passing me by, dogs barking, people talking, etc.) but they're somewhat droned out by the bassy sound.

the way I understand ANC, it uses multiple mics to generate an inverse sound that cancels out the ones reaching the microphones. so this should work without music, i just turn ANC on and I "hear" silence. nothing close to that is happening.

anyhow, both of those have some app that you need to get from google play and I haven't done so for either of them. judgging by the screenshots the app doesn't do anything of value, so you're safe to run it without.

edit: I just checked and it appears I was the victim of wanting things to be true; the website lists the feature as "Hybrid ANC" (emphasis mine). I'm not even gonna bother with reading up what their definition of it is, so I guess it was a con job from the start.

I'm loving these new tws anc headphones with touch screens, no apps necessary.

QUICKPAPA ANC Earbuds with Screen Controlled- Advanced Noise-Canceling Bluetooth in-Ear Headphones Bluetooth Compatible with iPhone Android MAC and Laptop, ANC Earbuds White https://a.co/d/86vyJAI

Fairphone Fairbuds.

Why the fuck do headphones require an app to run? Who thinks this is acceptable?

N O T H I NG

I just bought 1500 dollars worth of over ears and ear buds all the top brands Bose quiet comfort ultras, Sony wf 1000xm5, Apple airpod pro gen 2, and JBL best one I forget the model, I also bought Jabra elite 10 gen 2 which has a wicked cool feature of plug into any device and it'll charge and stream to earbuds from TV or laptop whatever. I even tried Samsung galaxy bud pros. I tried these 500 dollars headphones by Sonos maybe or seinheisser? I forget the name but they sucked.

ANC Sony said was best, far from true like not even close. Best IMO I tried them all extensively even at a concert. With and without apps on a separate phone. ANC is best on BOSE, followed by Apple air pods gen 2 pro, then Jabra elite 10 gen 2, then Sony xm5, and JBL didn't even feel any noise canceling what so ever. I even bought open fit air over ears. None of the apps makes major difference. If you would like to Eq and tune settings you can setup and delete. Settings are synced to device and they stay. Order online save hundreds shop smart. Don't go with silicone ear tips if you are like me and loathe in ear feeling. Go with memory foam its an extra 20 wild difference on pressure, sweaty ear feeling, hours of use memory foam is top notch order online. Over ears you won't know your wearing them not headphones but open fit airs, sound leakage barely but also volume dependent, mic is sounds like a tin can on calls, avoid bone conduction seems cool leaks most sound. I tried over ears, on ears, in ears, bone conduction. Sony is best headphone style xm4 or xm5. Bose is best figment and ANC, sound balanced as well, I chose quiet comfort ultras after trying them all over days and hours of use. Any questions just ask!