If you purchased an Android device that does not have access to the Play Store or if you just prefer using a different platform than Google's, you are in a fortunate position. There are numerous alternative sources where you can find your preferred Android applications, and below are some of the top choices available.
1 Amazon Appstore
The first and most obvious alternative is the Amazon App Store. This is probably the biggest competitor to the Play Store as it is the default app store available on all Amazon Fire tablets.
The Amazon Store can't compete with the Play Store in scale, but it's still a useful alternative. If you exclude the collection of Google services, you won't have any problems finding popular apps.
Of course, this is a big caveat, as most users cite Google's software as the main reason they use Android instead of iOS. But this is an issue that plagues most Play Store alternatives. Here's our detailed comparison of the Play Store and the Amazon App Store so you can learn all about them.
Download:Amazon Appstore (Free)
2 F-Droid
dfF-Droid doesn't have as many apps as other options on this list, but it is the most well-known mobile app store that specializes in free and open source software. Additionally, you can be sure that the software does not contain any malware.
F-Droid will even warn you when an app may be tracking your behavior or location.
Early versions of this app were very simple. The latest version follows current Android design guidelines and provides categories and recommendations to help you find apps that perfectly meet your needs.
This is especially valuable because when you use F-Droid, you'll likely need to replace most of the apps you're accustomed to.
Download:F-Droid (Free)
3 Aptoide
Aptoide takes its name from the APT package manager, a Linux-based software distribution method. Like APTs, Aptoide does not give you access to central storage. Rather, it is an application used to access many different stores, which are considered "package repositories" in the Linux world.
Aptoide client is open source software. It turns out that the F-Droid client was originally a fork of Aptoide. For the average end-user, Aptoide is simply an alternative to the Play Store, providing access to a plethora of similar software (although some apps are still stuck on older versions).
The biggest difference is that you can discover new stores within the app and even add your own. A trap? You don't have access to paid applications.
Download:Aptoide (Free)
4 Uptodown
Although Aptoide started out as a disjointed open source project, it received millions of dollars in venture capital funding early on. If you're uncomfortable with this or prefer the quality control that comes with centralized management software, check out Uptodown.
Uptodown is managed by a small team in Spain and has a similar goal: to make Android software freely available to people around the world without restrictions. This alternative offers better performance in delivering the latest software and lists a history of application updates.
Download:Uptodown (Free)
5 APKMirror
APKMirror is a website that directly downloads APK files. APK, short for Android package, is a file format created for distributing Android software. In this case, a mirror is a server that redistributes software that is already available elsewhere.
Most of the apps on APKMirror are already available on the Play Store, they are simply re-uploaded to make them more accessible to others. This provides availability to people, whether they have a Google account or live in an area where the app may not be accessible.
After downloading the APK, simply click on the file in your file manager to install it. However, newer Android app formats are more difficult to install, such as APKM, XAPK, and APKS.
These formats can also be installed using the APKMirror installer application. Visit the APKMirror website in your browser to download the app and click "Download APKMirror Installer" from the link below to install the app in these formats.
Download:APKMirror Installer (Free)
6 Aurora Store
1. Despite the availability of other options, it is undeniable that the Play Store offers a wider range of apps. Nevertheless, Aurora Store stands out as an alternative that enables users to download apps from the Play Store without compromising their privacy by granting Google access to personal data.
It grants access to almost all apps in the store without requiring a Google account. This is achieved by creating a temporary, anonymous account on the user's behalf. While users have the option to sign in with their Google account to synchronize previously downloaded Android apps, doing so goes against the main objective of using Aurora Store.
Download: Aurora (Free)