If you want to download apps for your phone, unless you’re a power user, you probably start by going to the Google Play Store. However, there will be times when an app won’t be available on the same, either because of regional restrictions or because the app doesn’t adhere to Google’s terms and conditions. When that happens, Android’s open-source design saves the day. You can download apps from third-party app stores just like you would from the Google Play Store by installing them.
Why You Should Look for Google Play Store Alternatives?
Google Play Store is likely what you’ll use if you have an Android device, but there may be times when you can’t find certain apps there. When that happens, you should look into some of the best Google Play Store alternatives.
In addition, the footprint of Google Play Services and Framework is continually expanding, so if you have a phone with limited internal storage, you probably won’t have much free space for long. Unlike the Google Play Store, the apps on this list use fewer system resources, are completely safe to use, and respect your privacy.
10 Best Google Play Store Alternatives (2022)
Please take note that the list of websites and apps provided below is not ranked; instead, you are advised to read about each one’s features and use the ones that best suit your needs.
1. APKMirror
You can download a tonne of free Android APKs from APKMirror, as the name implies; no paid apps are offered here. However, there isn’t an Android app specifically for APKMirror. Users must therefore go to the website to download APKs.
It is safe to download the apps from this Google Play substitute because they are free of malware. The apps are listed chronologically on the homepage, and you can also access weekly, daily, and monthly popularity charts. For those who want to get right to the point, there is a search bar as well.
On a desktop, APKMirror’s user interface is excellent, but using a smartphone to access it can be uncomfortable. The download button for the APK files can be a little tricky to find. Apart from that, you ought to test out this Android app shop.
2. Aurora Store
An open-source Android app shop with all the features you might want is called Aurora Store. Starting with the UI of the app, the dark theme was used in conjunction with a range of accent options. The use of the software is rather simple. The collection of programmes in the library astounds me because it doesn’t resemble the bloatware software that you find in other app shops.
You’ll discover a For you part, a Top Charts section, and Categories on the app’s landing page. The shop will assist in updating your installed apps as well. Overall, it ranks among the top Google Play Store substitutes available online.
F-Droid, Gitlab, and the official Aurora website all offer downloads for the Aurora Store.
3. Aptoide
With a carefully thought-out user interface, Aptoid’s design adheres to Google standards and provides a virtually identical experience to that of the Play Store.
There are more than 700,000 Android apps available in the open-source Aptoide app store. 3 billion downloads of its collection have been made. Since its debut in 2009, more than 150 million people have utilised it globally.
The Aptoid app comes in a variety of versions:
- Aptoide app for smartphones and tablets
- An edition for smart TVs and Set-top Boxes
- Aptoide VR and Aptoide Kids for children s devices.
It enables direct APK download and installation on your device. It is an excellent Google Play Store substitute for Android users because it is simple and safe.
Also read: 8 Useful Google Play Store Tricks And Features For Every Android User
4. Amazon Appstore
One of the finest Play Store alternatives for Android is the Amazon Appstore, often known as the Amazon Underground, which allows users to download purchased apps for free. Nearly 334,000 different types of incredible apps, both free and paid, are available in the app store. In actuality, it serves as the default market place for Android devices with the Amazon Android Fire brand.
The free app of the day feature on the Amazon Appstore is amazing. Every day, a paid app is made available for free. Many well-known apps can be downloaded for free by those who diligently return each day.
The store features a big selection of music, books, and movies that are frequently more affordable than those in the Play Store. Because such a well-known brand supports it, the Amazon AppStore often offers a respectable experience to individuals searching for free app stores for Android.
5. F-Droid
One such app shop is F-droid, which only sells Android apps that use free and open-source software (FOSS). You can get a huge selection of programmes for free, and the apps are all clearly grouped in the shop.
Being entirely maintained by volunteers and dependent on donations, the website and app store are unique. So please think about giving a small gift if you find an app you like to help keep this Google Play alternative going.
Android developers use F-Droid because it gives them quick access to all the app codes. They can include some of the codes into their own apps.
The apps are not always as stable as those offered in Google Play and lack reviews or ratings. It is a go-to website if you are a developer.
6. Uptodown
One of the greatest alternatives to the Google Play Store is Uptodown, which was founded in 2002 by Luis Hernández and Jos Dominguez. Connecting developers was intended to enable secure distribution of Android, Windows, and Mac programmes.
The website hosts all the well-known applications you would need, like Firefox, Signal, and WhatsApp. In addition, you can look for your preferred programmes or arrange them by category.
The software is accessible in 15 languages and has over 130 million users. You may update your apps by downloading the free Uptodown app in addition to the desktop website.
Also read: How To Use Google Feed For News And Replace Facebook? How To Customize It?
7. SlideMe
SlideMe is a dependable and straightforward app store competitor that has been around for a while. SlideMe Market is preloaded on a large number of Android Open Source Project (AOSP) OEM devices. It offers both free and paid apps in a range of areas, and each one goes through a quality assurance procedure.
SlideMe offers developers a handy marketplace based on locations and payment options.
8. APKPure
There’s a good probability that any programmes or games you’re looking for but can’t find on the Google Play Store will be on APKPure. You can certainly locate and download an app that is prohibited in your nation by going to APKPure.
In addition, the app has many more categories than the Google Play Store, a usable UI, and the most popular apps. To keep your programmes current, you may also use the APKPure Android app.
Also read: 6 Legal Ways To Download Paid Android Apps For Free
9. Galaxy Store
If you own a Samsung device, you’re undoubtedly already aware of Galaxy Store, which is the company’s alternate Android app store. There is no denying that the app store ranks extremely highly in terms of appearance and feel.
The Galaxy Store offers a wide variety of other well-known Android apps in addition to those created by Samsung that users may choose to download on their device. The app store, however, exclusively supports gadgets built by Samsung, such as smartphones and smartwatches. For aficionados of Samsung, it therefore makes a fantastic supplementary app shop.
10. Yalp Store
Yalp, the last app store on this list, is an open-source programme that functions as one of the finest Google Play Store alternatives by enabling you to download apps from the Google Play Store as APK files.
As Google Play Store apps expanded in size, the app was developed to be independent of the expanding Google Services Framework. This led to the creation of a lightweight app that people can use to download files securely from the Google Play Store.
By accessing the Google Play Store, you may log in with your Google account and download programmes as you normally would. Simply make sure that your Google account’s two-factor authentication is disabled, failing which you won’t be able to log in.
The Yalp Store may be downloaded through F-Droid or the project’s official Github releases page.
Our Recommendation
It may be difficult to find a suitable Play Store substitute for your requirements; in that case, we advise using APKMirror, Aurora Store, APKPure, and F-Droid, which are all widely used by Android users, including us. Additionally, some of them are open-source and totally free.
These are the top free app stores for Android in 2022, in our opinion. The question of what I can use in place of Google Play is now answered.
How to Download Apps without Google Play Store
However, Android by default prevents the installation of apps from third-party apps. The Allow app installation from unverified sources setting must therefore be enabled. Go to Settings > About Device to do so. seven times on the Build number > Return to Developer Options and select Enable Unknown Sources.
Do you know of any further Google Play Store substitutes that should be listed here? Additionally, if you’re seeking for Tumblr alternatives, be sure to read this connected article! Comment below with your thoughts and let us know.
FAQs
One of the finest alternatives to the Google Play Store is Aptoide, which is totally free, legal, and both. It was created to break Google’s stranglehold on the Android app store market, like any other independent Android shop.
Yes, downloading apps from APKPure is secure. The majority of the programmes that are uploaded on the website have their MD5 hash verified against the Google Play Store’s official app listings, ensuring that the APKs are original.