Are you tired of the Google Play Store and looking for an alternative?
I have good news for you. There are actually a lot of alternative Android app stores out there that you can use anytime you want. We decided to take a look at what’s out there.
In case you are wondering why one may consider an alternative app store, there are many reasons and some are:
- Free apps and promotions: You might enjoy a free app of the day, a discounted premium app, or some other money-saving offer.
- App recommendations: You might want to uncover some recommended apps that don’t pop up in the Google Play top ten charts.
- Curated list: You might want a smaller selection of app choices that have been filtered for quality or for a specific age group or purpose.
- Localized portal: You might want an app store that specifically caters to your country.
For Android developers, alternative Android app stores also help to maximize your exposure and ultimately your income.
Below are some of the available alternatives.
Amazon Appstore for Android
One of the top alternative to Google Play is definitely the Amazon Appstore, and it’s the default location for Amazon’s Kindle line of tablets. It offers a much smaller selection of apps and games, but everything has passed Amazon’s quality control standards. It is polished and easy to use.
Users benefi in two ways, The free app of the day promotion which features some great premium apps and you can also use the Test Drive feature to try out apps in your browser before you buy.
GetJar (Google Play)
GetJar is a huge repository of free apps here for various platforms including Android. It’s fairly basic, but apps are divided into categories and sub-categories to make it easier to find what you want. You’ll also find likes or dislikes and comments on each app from users. It can also connect with Facebook. On the downside, you will encounter sponsored recommendations, but they are clearly marked.
With the GetJar Gold system and the GetJar Rewards app, you can discover apps tailored for your requirements and you can earn rewards that will give you premium apps and upgrades to your favorites for free.
GetJar offers premium apps to users for free to generate traffic and then monetize that traffic with advertising dollars.
Slide ME
This alternative Android app store has a global reach and a decent user base. It offers free and premium apps in various categories and they all pass through a quality control process.
One of the attractions for users is availability globally and support for various payment options including PayPal. It’s also easy to filter your searches and you’ll find good app descriptions.
F-Droid
This is a place for free and open source software (FOSS) Android apps. It’s pretty basic, but there is some categorization and the list is searchable.
You’ll find a big selection of free apps here and they all promise no tracking, no ads, and no dependencies. It’s worth checking out for free apps, especially if you support the open source movement.
AppsLib
AppsLib is the app market for Android devices that couldn’t get Google certification, mainly tablets.
It comes pre-installed on a number of devices from smaller manufacturers and it was created by Archos. There are almost 40,000 apps on offer and each one has been certified as compatible with specific devices. You can also pay for apps using PayPal.
Mobogenie
Mobogenie is an interesting alternative app store that offers a large collection of curated apps. It also boasts an intelligent recommendation engine that’s supposed to analyze your preferences and make sensible suggestions.
The interface is good, access is offered globally, and there’s no registration. Mobogenie also works as a file manager and it allows you to download other content beyond apps such as wallpapers, ringtones, books, and YouTube videos.
There’s a PC client too, so you can easily transfer files back and forth.
The toolkit offers all sorts of phone or tablet management options from your computer, most usefully the option to backup your device content including contacts, messages, apps, music, images, and videos. You can also batch install apps, copy/paste files, and more.
Risks and problems
The biggest risk is of using alternative app stores is malware. It is recommended to stick to Google Play and avoiding third-party app stores. The security policy on different Android app stores will vary. Some will perform similar safety checks to Google — others won’t. If you are going to take the risk then consider installing one of the top Android security apps first.
