Although Google may want its Play Store to be the only app store in town, it has some solid competition. Still, Google has the upper hand, as the Google Play Store is pre-installed on almost every Android device you buy.
You will find the Play Store installed on most Android smartphones, including flagships and the ever-increasing number of awesome budget phones.
If you want a reprieve from the Play Store, we’re here to help.
Our list introduces some of our favorite Google Play Store alternatives, ranging from open source markets like F-Droid to library management tools like Aurora.
1
F-Droid
Community-driven open source software app store
F-Droid is your go-to for free and open-source Android apps.
We believe it’s the best place to start for individuals seeking freedom from the Play Store, as it offers a free, non-commercial app library.
F-Droid also lets you make donations to app developers.
The primary downside of using F-Droid as an app store is that it requires some learning and adjustment. The design isn’t tailored for the everyday user.
After you get used to F-Droid, finding your favorite apps becomes much easier.
2
APKMirror
A safe place to find APKs
APKMirror boasts a vast and trusted app library, which is also why it’s among our top picks. Each listing on APKMirror is vetted by the owner.
While APKs are slowly being phased out in favor of split APKs, you don’t need to worry if you use APKMirror, as it already supports the file structure.
3
Samsung Galaxy Store
A great app store alternative for Galaxy users
The Samsung Galaxy Store offers a standard app store experience for users who prefer not to sideload apps. Unfortunately, the platform is only available to people who own Samsung Galaxy phones or tablets.
While the Galaxy Store has fewer apps than the Play Store, it offers exclusive apps that are considered essential for Galaxy devices, like Good Lock.
Galaxy Store users also get access to monthly promotions and app editorials.
Overall, the experience straddles the line between the utility of the Play Store and the more curated feeling that iPhone users have come to expect from the App Store.
4
TapTap
A combined game store and social app
A genuine alternative to the Google Play Store’s extensive selection of games, TapTap is a dedicated app store for games.
Exclusives aren’t unheard of on TapTap, so you’ll notice some titles unseen on the Play Store are already available for pre-registration on TapTap.
When combined with a social structure, TapTap also makes it more enjoyable to engage in, compared to the Play Store, where you mostly write feedback or reviews for published apps.
TapTap offers many titles you can also get on the Play Store, and you can find others sorted by personal tastes and preferences.
The key difference is that the discoverability of new games is much easier on TapTap due to its focus on gaming.
If you plan to install TapTap on your Android device, opt for the full version (APK file) instead of the lite version available on the Google Play Store.
5
Itch.io
Popular platform for indie developers and enthusiasts
Itch.io is the best avenue for indie games. Itch.io also offers developers complete control over how their games are distributed and sold.
Developers no longer have to worry about adhering to the Play Store’s 15% tax on the first $1 million and 30% cut for money made after.
Itch.io uses an open revenue-sharing mode, allowing developers to pay what they want instead of a fixed or forced rate.
It essentially provides a fairer and flexible model so developers don’t have to worry about distribution fees as much, which is precisely the support indie developers need.
There is no native Android app/APK for Itch.io, but you can browse the website through your mobile browser or pin the web page to your home screen.
6
AppBrain
Discover new apps to download
AppBrain makes it easy to curate apps, and you can use it alongside other app store sources.
You can turn to AppBrain to discover new apps and share recommendations and suggestions based on your favorite ones.
What’s nice about using AppBrain is that the recommended app feature is optional (not forced); you have to navigate to “Recommended Apps” and select “Update recommendations” to view the list.
You can browse AppBrain, and it’ll reveal the app’s score, the number of downloads, and the number of favorites in a single column.
AppBrain isn’t a store, per se. Instead, AppBrain highlights the data you need to make informed decisions.
Essentially, you can use the platform to learn about which apps and games to install, filling a significant gap in the Play Store’s discovery capabilities.
7
Aurora Store
A privacy-focused alternative with a clean UI
At a glance, the gorgeous UI design already makes Aurora Store an attractive option as a Play Store alternative.
Between the customizable display options and Aurora Store’s policy of not tracking your downloads and the apps you use (unfortunately, the Play Store is quite guilty of this).
Since Aurora Store doesn’t rely on the Play Store to operate, it doesn’t require a Google account to use to access its open source catalog of apps.
Additionally, being open sourced means you’ll gain access to new apps that you wouldn’t otherwise find on the Play Store.
8
Uptodown
Unrestricted access to a larger app catalog
Uptodown is a safe, open marketplace alternative that doesn’t require any sign-ups or fees to use.
You can browse Uptodown’s website to find APKs or download the app store. Each APK listing is verified for safety, offering an app rating, comments, and download count.
Tapping the hamburger menu presents options to customize your experience. You will have options such as downloading and installing APKs, managing updates, rolling back apps, and a section to track your app wishlist.
Freemium apps, including in-app purchases, are primarily supported, but developers are working on introducing paid apps to the store.
The whole idea behind Uptodown is to add and distribute apps in the most non-restrictive way possible, while ensuring that your downloading activity is entirely safe and secure.
Uptodown provides all the freedom in one single place.
9
QooApp
A gateway to Asian games and apps
QooApp is one of our favorite apps for discovering authentic Asian games and apps.
As you may already know, Google is notorious for region-locking apps. So, if an app is unavailable in your country, you’re out of luck. Region-locking software kills global app discovery.
The downside of using QooApp is that the app store won’t provide much outside if you’re not the target audience (anime and Asian culture).
On the other hand, if you’re fluent in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, you will find apps on QooApp that aren’t available in the Play Store.
10
Obtainium — Honorable Mention
Tracks apps and updates from original sources
We included Obtainium (by ImranR98) as an honorable mention. Obtainium plays a more supportive role in retrieving APKs.
It will pull up apps hosted on other open source platforms, such as GitHub and F-Droid.
You can think of Obtainium as a helpful plugin. It allows you to download apps directly from their original sources and all the updates that come with them.
It’s an excellent way to bypass the need for an app store to acquire apps, especially if you’re a user who doesn’t appreciate an app store’s bloatware.
The downside of Obtainium is that it requires you to add apps or search for sources manually. So, if you’re hoping to use Obtainium for app discovery, you’ll have a hard time.
You can also set up Obtainium to notify you when an app developer releases an update or set it up to check in at intervals (so it doesn’t immediately use up all your data).
All in all, Obtainium may be a tricky app to set up initially. Still, if you’re only installing a few apps, it becomes an excellent plugin to assist with management.
The perfect Google Play Store alternative isn’t hard to find
Independent app stores offer a wealth of options. Some store alternatives include a better, more user-friendly UI with actual, fleshed-out categories, while others emphasize more developer-friendly practices.
Open source options also provide more unrestricted access to apps.
Additionally, don’t forget that one of the primary reasons we chose Android is the freedom of choice with apps and games — sideloading apps is one of Android’s many benefits.
