Google Play Store houses more than 2.5 million apps and caters a gigantic user base being the official app store for Google. But the world of app stores is not Google Play centric. It has other user friendly app stores ready to install apps on your device or to get your app published. We present to you 10 alternative app stores other than Google Play Store and links from where you can access them.
Alternative app stores are propitious for both the developer and the user.
- For a developer the existence of an alternative app store offers a lucrative platform to launch their app. This is no hidden fact that apps get lost in a cut throat competition in the abyss of the ocean of other apps. Also the failure in garnering profitable recognition in the wake of bigger companies paying money to top the search list is excruciating. With alternative app stores supported by a huge user community, you get a safe chance to try your app among the netizens.
- For a user the option of alternative app stores is a favorable scenario since many of these app stores offer paid versions of apps existing on Google Play store for free. Also the user gets to choose from a plethora of exciting apps to install and use.
To install apps from alternative app stores you need to first follow these steps:
- Go to your Settings menu
- Open ‘Security’ option
- Check the ‘Install Unknown Apps’ option
This will permit you to install apps or their apk’s from alternative resources.
As a word of caution we want to inform you that installation of apps from sources other than Google Play store do not undergo Google’s in house security protocols and thus do not have Google’s acknowledgement. Also we would like to warn the developers from the ill effects of publishing apps on several app stores. The presence of your app on multiple platforms comes at a greater risk of piracy and theft of the source code.
With that done, now check our list(unranked) of 10 alternative app stores to Google Play Store:
- Amazon App Store
- Galaxy Apps(Samsung)
- GetJar
- F-Droid
- Aptoide
- SlideME
- APKMirror
- APKUpdater
- GetAPK
- UptoDown
Amazon App Store
Launched in 2011, Amazon app store has more than 480,000 free and paid apps to choose from. Along with these the app offers a few paid apps for free. Amazon app store is one of the most popular alternative app stores to Google Play Store.
Noteworthy features:
- Under ‘Free App of the day’, Amazon app store offers a paid app for free to its users.
- Apart from the apps users can get a vast number of books, songs and movies often at lower rates than contemporary Play store.
- Developers get 70% of the list price of the app or in-app purchase.
Critical points: - The app store contains a few popular apps available on Google Play store and Apple app store. Apps such as WhatsApp, Boomerang, Messenger Lite and IGTV are unavailable.
You need to have an Amazon account to use the app store.
Download the Amazon App store here.
Samsung Galaxy Store(Galaxy Apps)
Launched in 2009, Samsung Galaxy store is an inbuilt app store in Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Samsung Gear and feature phones(Samsung REX and Duos). Galaxy store is a great alternative app for samsung users.
Noteworthy features:
- App store offers apps for Android, Tizen, Windows Mobile and Bada platforms.
- Plethora of apps, themes, stickers and fonts and features like camera filters and edge panels available for galaxy devices.
- Personalised content display on the basis of searches done.
Critical points:
- Galaxy exclusive and centric content.
- App need to be regularly updated to enjoy the app store’s contents.
You need to have a Galaxy account to use the app store.
Download Samsung Galaxy store here.
GetJar
Launched in 2004, GetJar is an independent and open app store hosting more than 3 million downloads per day. The app currently offers more than 97,000 apps for free to use. Initially began as a platform for beta testing for developers, GetJar has emerged as a popular alternative app store among netizens.
Noteworthy Features:
- Vivid categories of apps offered with easy to navigate user interface.
- Apps offered are compatible with platforms such as Java Me, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile apart from android.
- Existence of developer portal for developers to add their apps for free.
Critical point:
- Known instances of hosting apps with viruses in the past.
The app is free for usage and does not require an account to download apps.
Visit GetJar‘s website here.
F-Droid
Launched in 2010, F-Droid is a community run app store which acts more like a software repository. So instead of apps, the users are offered FOSS(Free and Open Source Software) of around 3000 apps to download. The availability of source codes makes F-Droid a popular choice in the developer community to test and build their own apps using the offered source codes.
Noteworthy features:
- As per apps description, activities like advertising, user-tracking or dependence on non-free software are flagged.
- Along with the source codes of apps hosted, F-Droids website offers the source code of the software employed to run F-Droid.
- No fee is charged to download or submit source codes.
Critical points:
- Small app pool as compared to other alternative app stores and Google Play.
No account is required to download source codes.
Visit F-Droid’s website to get an apk file to install F-Droid on your device.
Aptoide
Launched in 2009, Aptoide is the most diverse and robust alternative app store platform. The app has multiple versions for different gadgets such as Aptoide for smartphones and tablets, Aptoide TV for smart tv’s, Aptoide Kids for children’s devices and Aptoide VR. The platform enjoys a popular user base with more than 250 million users and being downloaded more than 7 billion times. Aptoide offers many paid apps on Google Play store for free.
Noteworthy features:
- More than 1 million apps available to install.
- The app is available in more than 40 languages.
- Along with downloading apps, each user manages their own store and can access other stores as well.
- Usage of latest malware detection system.
- Easy to browse app interface with individual app ratings.
Critical points:
- Apps without green symbols with ‘trusted app’ certification have to be downloaded at personal risk.
- The availability of paid apps for free on Aptoide raises suspicions on the authenticity of the app and requires one to exercise maximum caution while downloading.
No account is required to download apps from Aptoide.
You can get apk to install Aptoide from their website here.
SlideME
Launched in 2008, SlideMae is a trusted alternative app store with diverse global outreach. With an array of more than 30,000 apps to choose from, SlideME offers both free and paid apps. The discounted rates of paid apps make SlideME a popular choice among users.
Noteworthy features:
- Strict security protocols and measures to ensure safe app experience.
- App ensures quality over quantity with a rejection rate of more than 60% of the apps submitted for publishing.
- Money can be transferred to the SlideME wallet using popular platforms like Paypal and Amazon payments.
- Developer friendly platform that allows developers to publish apps irrespective of geographical distance at attractive royalty rates.
Critical points:
- Limited app options as compared to contemporary alternative app stores.
- Huge popularity of the platform among the developers base results in delayed app verification.
The users can get the apk for SlideME through their website from here.
APKMirror
APKMirror is a website based alternative app store which provides tons of apps for free. The dedicated community running APKMirror ensures that popular apps are available to all irrespective of the location based restrictions. The website is easy to browse with apps listed categorically for easy installation.
Critical feature:
- The heavy curated policy of the website makes it difficult for a developer to get their apps published.
- Users generally face the ‘install’ option for the desired apk grayed out making it inaccessible.
Enjoy APKMirror’s alternative app store by visiting their website here.
APKUpdater
Do you want the newest version of your favourite app before anyone else? APKUpdater is your go-to place. The app offers updates before they hit Google Play store or any other alternative app store. In case your app is malfunctioning due to any issue, you can visit APKUpdater to get the newest version of your app.
Noteworthy features:
- APKUpdater is an upgrader that keeps all your pre-installed apps updated.
- Enjoy the newest feature before anyone else.
Critical points:
- Lack of in-house Google security check makes this app an unsafe application to you.
- Malicious incision of malware from the newer versions is a probable scenario.
- Updates the existing apps on the device and does not have an option to search apps.
Get the APKUpdater app from here.
GetAPK
GetAPK market is an android application which offers premium and paid apps from Google Play store for free. Along with the paid and premium versions, you can also get already free apps from the GetAPK market app. GetAPK market app runs on android version 4.1 and above.
Noteworthy features:
- Paid and premium apps available for free.
- Unique applications available apart from those existing on different alternative app stores.
Critical points:
- The free nature of the app providing paid apps for free raises concern on the authenticity and nature of the apps offered.
- The user interface is not that responsive as compared to other alternative stores.
You can get your GetAPK market app from here.
UptoDown
UptoDown is a completely free alternative app store which offers free apps both from its website and its application. Apart from providing apps for AndroidOS, UptoDown also offers apps on iOS and Windows devices. The platform houses more than 2.5 million apps and lists them categorically to choose from. The team back at UptoDown adds their own app description and multimedia content to provide a tested and personalized environment.
Noteworthy features:
- Easy to browse interactive user interface.
- Available in 15 languages.
- Robust malware tests including running apps through more than 50 different antiviruses to ensure safe app experience.
Critical feature:
- Small number of android apps due to multi-test policy.
- Older version as compared to contemporary alternative app stores.
Visit the UptoDown’s website to enjoy alternative app experience or to get UptpDown’s app apk here.
So this is our latest list of unranked 10 alternative app stores other than Google Play store. As a word of precaution, we would like to remind you again that although these alternative app stores perform multiple malware tests to provide safe apps for usage, the risk of downloading apps from unknown sources stays. So exercise extreme caution while downloading apps.
