If you are looking for alternatives to the Google Play Store, you should know that they exist, although the dominance of the Internet giant’s own platform makes it the first, the largest and the main reference when it comes to get android software.

You already know that Google Play Store is the official digital software distribution platform for Android devices. Operated and maintained as eshop It was born by Google itself in 2008 along with the first Android mobile and soon welcomed thousands of developers, ensuring the arrival of third-party applications, which today number in the millions.

Although it’s not as closed off as Apple’s other major mobile platform, the App Store, and its economic performance has never matched Apple’s multibillion-dollar profitability, it’s clear that the store is crucial to Google’s business, both to generate revenue from the commissions it collects from developers or from own sales, for checking (as much as possible) the Android platform and the many manufacturers that use it.

Alternatives to the Google Play Store

After reading all of the above, you will think that there are no alternatives to the official Google store, and it is certainly the one that offers the largest number of applications. But they exist, they exist. And the possibilities will certainly increase (as will happen in the Apple ecosystem) when the new European Digital Markets Act is fully developed (and effectively enforced), which aims to stimulate competition and allow developers alternative markets to distribute their apps.

It’s hard to leave the Google umbrella (and even more so Apple) when they sell you an Android smartphone full of pre-installed apps from their store, but you should know that there are various alternatives to the Google Play Store when you buy a device without access to the Play Store, if you are using alternative ROMs where it is easier to “escape” from the giants that control their own ecosystems or simply better protect data privacy. We remind you of them.

Amazon Appstore

The most obvious alternative and main rival to Google due to the huge potential of the e-commerce giant and the fact that it is the default store of applications used by Amazon Fire electronic tablets (one of the best sellers in the basic Android line) and for other devices from Amazon’s own line.

Like other alternatives, it doesn’t have the size and amount of software of the official store, but it’s still there a viable alternative and if you exclude the collection of Google services, you will have no problem finding the most popular applications. This is key because many users consider Google software to be the main reason to use Android over iOS. Even so, there are ways to install the Play Store on Amazon tablets and have access to both digital stores. Access to the Amazon AppStore.

F-Droid

If you prefer Android over iOS, since Android is technically open source, F-Droid is the obvious app store. It doesn’t have as many apps as other options on this list, but it’s undoubtedly the most relevant when searching free open source software. Provides categories and recommendations to help you discover the apps you’re looking for; You don’t have to worry about security and it even alerts you when apps can track your behavior or location. F-Droid.

Aptoide

Aptoide gets its name from the APT package manager, a Linux-based software distribution method. Like APT, this solution does not provide access to a centralized repository, but to many different stores (you can add your own store) that would be considered “package repositories” in the free system world. The Aptoide client is an open source software, and more precisely, F-Droid started as a fork of it. It only has free apps. Aptoide.

Up down

Although Aptoide started as an open source project, it has raised millions in venture capital. If this bothers you or you prefer the quality controls that come from centralized software management, we suggest you try this cross-platform but Android-specific store managed by a small Spanish team that does a great job of selection including material. It has only free software. Up down.

APKMirror

A website which, as its name suggests, is a mirror server that offers APK files, executable files for the Android operating system. Most of the included apps are available on Google Play, but they are loaded there to make them easier to download and install without the need for a Google account or internet connection. The site also has a converter for uploading other file types such as APKM, XAPK and APKS. Like any other executable (.exe type in Windows), you need to be careful with security, especially if you download them from untrusted sites. APKMirror.

Aurora store

We include this solution as another alternative to the Google Play Store, although it actually allows you to download an application from the official store without Google having access to your private information. It provides access to almost all applications in the catalog without the need for a Google account. It does this by creating a temporary anonymous account in your name. Aurora store. It has no history: you can download apps, update the ones you already have, or search in the same way as in the Play Store. Aurora store.

Itch.io

Specializing in standalone software for various platforms, including Android. It doesn’t have an official Android client, but you can browse its website from a browser. Yes, there is a third-party client called Mitch that can be downloaded on F-Droid. There are plenty of free games out there, but most of them don’t have the quality of the big studios with good budgets. Itch.io.

Tap Tap Tap

TapTap is a gaming app store and social network that lets you connect with other gamers. This unique combination makes it a pretty attractive way to download games, discover titles you’ve never heard of, and keep up with new releases. TapTap Lite is available on the Google Play Store and simply links to it for download. However, the premium version of TapTap is its own alternative app store that offers direct APK downloads and updates. TapTap.io.