Does the idea of giving away your personal details to Google, just to download apps for your Android device rub you the wrong way? Thankfully, with third-party app stores, you don’t have to sign your life away. Whether you are concerned about your privacy, trying to get your hands on apps that are region locked, or just don’t want to feed into the Google monopoly, this list of Google Play Store alternatives has you covered.
APKMirror
Platforms: Web, App
As one of the oldest and best-known alternatives to the Google Play Store, APKMirror hosts the APK (Android package) files for most apps. You won’t find any apps that require payment on APKMirror; yet, if it is freely available on Google Play, you’ll find it on APKMirror.
One of the best things about APKMirror is that it also acts as an archive for older versions of apps. Therefore, if you have an older device that is no longer compatible with an app on Google Play, you can hop over to APKMirror, find an older version that’s compatible with the Android OS your device is running, and sideload it. Plus, all of the APK files hosted on APKMirror are vetted for viruses and malware by ensuring the cryptographic signatures of the APKs match the original ones.
F-Droid
Platforms: Web, App
If you’re looking for free, open-source software (FOSS) for your Android device, F-Droid is hard to beat. It’s a repository of Android apps that are 100 percent open source, so you won’t find any commercialized apps here. You will instead find highly functional apps that boast the security and transparency that open-source software is known for.
The big advantage here is privacy. F-Droid’s app repository is freely accessible to all, with no account necessary. Furthermore, none of the apps hosted on F-Droid require personal information, so your sensitive information won’t be passed around by large, faceless corporations.
Obtainium
Platforms: App
Obtainium is a bit different from the other app store alternatives, as it’s not actually a storefront. Instead, Obtanium is an app that allows users to install and update apps directly from their source. You can get Android apps without having to go through a middle man.
Obtainium requires a bit of elbow grease to get it up and running, but once you do, it’s easy to use. Users need to add the source URL of each app they want to install or update within the Obtainium app. Currently, Obtainium supports a variety of app sources, including GitHub, SourceForge, F-Droid, APKPure, and more. The major downside to Obtainium is that it lacks a searchable database of apps. Therefore, you’re going to have to know which apps you want on your device beforehand.
TapTap
Platform: Web, App
TapTap was made by gamers, for gamers, so it focuses solely on Android games. The advantage of TapTap is that it hosts a number of games that are simply unavailable on the Google Play Store. In addition, TapTap has integrated social functions fueled by the community. These include trailers, news, and reviews. You can also interact with other TapTap users.
In addition to exclusives, TapTap is also the place to find pre-registration for a variety of titles. This includes some highly anticipated games like Assassin’s Creed Jade, Need For Speed Mobile and more. Pre-registering sends notifications regarding the game’s development and expected release dates. In addition, it automatically installs the game on launch day. Furthermore, some titles offer extra perks, like cosmetic packs, to those who pre-registered.
Aurora Store
Platforms: App
Using the Google Play Store requires a number of things from you. It needs a Google account, and virtually every app requires Google Play Services, an extra piece of software. Most folks don’t think twice about this, but if privacy is a major concern, you probably don’t like the idea of Google Play Services.
On one hand, Google Play Services helps app developers optimize their product and allows Google to add new features without an OS update. Yet, using Google Play Services requires you to fork over sensitive personal information, like your location, usage statistics and more. Aurora allows you to download and update most of the apps found on Google Play without Google Play Services. It also has other handy features, like region and device spoofing. This allows access to apps that would normally be unavailable to you based on your location or the device you’re using.
QooApp
Platforms: Web, App
Since you’re reading an article dedicated to Google Play Store alternatives, there’s a good chance you know that Google locks apps by region. The Google Play Store is automatically curated depending on what country your Google account is associated with. This is a shame, as there’s a wealth of apps that you may not even know exist. This is where QooApp comes in.
Admittedly, QooApp isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but if you’re a fan of anime and Asian culture, there’s a lot to like. QooApp is very similar in look and feel to TapTap, including features and social integration. The downside is that quite a few of the apps lack English language support.
Other Sources
There are a number of third-party app stores that boast nearly identical app libraries to Google Play, such as APKPure, Aptoide, and Uptodown. Their advantage is that you do not need an account to download an app. They also host older versions of the app, which could be an advantage if you have an older device. They are generally considered safe, but have been known to have malware in the past. A good rule of thumb is to research these apps fully.
Google may be the standard bearer for Android app stores, but other companies maintain their own stores as well. Heavyweights like Samsung, Amazon and Huawei all have their own app marketplaces. The advantages are that they often host exclusive apps, and you can be sure the apps are trustworthy.
The biggest issue with vendor-specific app stores are the restrictions that they impose. But not all of the software on the Samsung Galaxy app store is restricted to Samsung devices. However, the Amazon App Store requires users to have an Amazon account to download and install apps.
Unlike Apple, Android devices are not subjected to a “walled garden” approach when it comes to software. While the Google Play Store may be ubiquitous with Android, it is far from the only game in town. So whether you’re looking for an app outside your region or simply want to protect your personal data, there are plenty of other ways to discover and install new apps for your Android device, including your Android TV!
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Ryan Lynch.
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