To retrieve Android apps, you use the Play Store. But the Google store is not the only one available. Explore other stores to download free or paid apps that you won’t find elsewhere.
No, the Google Play Store is not the only source of apps for Android! Even if the app store of the American giant obviously remains a necessary step to get your hands on the most essential applications, it is not the only one to offer them. And this is the strength of an open system like Android which allows anyone, and without too much effort, to install applications that are not provided by the official store. There are indeed several other possibilities for repatriating programs and games to an Android mobile or tablet. Even if these solutions are completely legal, Google obviously does not encourage its users to use them. The firm highlights the security risks of downloading apps outside of its own store, which requires developers and publishers to respect certain rules to appear there. However, these “potentially dangerous” apps only represent a tiny part of the catalogs offered. And, by carefully reading the fact sheets for each program, it’s easy to identify those that may pose a risk to your personal data.
It is also for this reason that you will not find on the Google Play Store any trace of third-party online application stores (tolerance has its limits). To access it, you will need to use APK files. They are nothing more than compressed folders containing the installation files of the applications that must be transferred to your device. The operations are simple and described in our practical sheet Installing an APK file on Android. Once your app stores are installed, all you have to do is open them, then search and install your apps in the same way as on the Google Play Store. You will then be able to discover new horizons. Indeed, the official Play Store does not present the full range of apps available for your smartphone. Many programs are denied access because they do not comply with Google’s rules despite their interest. Others are simply not presented to you because they are subject to geolocation constraints imposed by their editors. By abandoning the Play Store for independent shops, these barriers are lifted.
Finally, these unofficial stores also make it possible to take advantage of a wider choice of applications on devices that can no longer use the Google store, such as smartphones from Chinese Huawei for example. Even if these ship the house shop AppGallery, they still lack a lot of tools that are easy to find in other online stores. In the same way, there are also shops attached to certain brands such as Samsung, Oppo or Xiaomi where apps nestle that take advantage of the functions specific to each mobile. These blinds are already installed on the devices of the brands concerned.
To help you make up your mind, we’ve selected six apps from the online app store that will let you find programs outside of the official Google store. Some require the creation of an account, others allow completely free access.
Amazon AppStore: a safe bet
The e-commerce giant has been quick to launch its own application store for Android devices. Present for ten years, it requires an Amazon account to access its content. There are free but also paid applications. To buy them, you must first acquire Coins, Amazon’s virtual currency (from 2.91 euros for 300 Coins). The advantage is to be able to make in-app purchases (include purchases made from apps to unlock a function or progress in a game, for example) while taking advantage of good discounts. We appreciate the clear and fairly classic interface that does not upset the habits acquired with the Google Play Store. The catalog is also rather rich and divided into many categories (cooking, real estate, youth, magazines, weather, etc.). However, games occupy a predominant place.
Aptoide: one of the most complete
Aptoide is not a beginner in this area. Created in 2009, the store has more than a million applications in its catalog. It is not necessary to open an account to access it. However, it is requested to create a virtual wallet to make purchases with the AppCoins cryptocurrency (specialized for application and game developers). But rest assured, the number of free apps in the store remains impressive. And there’s something for everyone. There are also a good number of apps on the Google Play Store, which should delight mobile owners who do not have them. Navigating within Aptoide also remains comfortable with an all-French interface and an efficient search engine. We also appreciate the Shops area where there are many independent developers to whom we can subscribe and from whom we can download apps.
F-Droid: the universe of free
A variation of Aptoide, F-Droid focuses exclusively on free, open source or open source applications. A restriction which is not without impact on its catalog which is found, in fact, less extensive than among its competitors. Nevertheless, F-Droid does not lack strengths. Under its somewhat dated appearance, the interface, entirely in French, remains quite effective. The apps are divided into different categories and we take advantage of a reliable search engine to find nuggets even faster. Small subtlety: F-Droid allows you to share applications with another user located nearby by means of a peer-to-peer wireless connection (and therefore without going through the Internet). Convenient to introduce new apps to loved ones. Finally, F-Droid allows you to add other sources of apps in order to enrich the catalog of programs available.
APKMirror: the bible of APKs
The APK Mirror site remains one of the most popular for finding applications for Android. It is full of versions under development (including for Google applications), but also programs not present on the Play Store (disappeared or banned by Google) or applications restricted by geolocation. APKMirror also benefits from its application on Android. Its developer has stopped updating it but it continues to function perfectly by exploiting the database of the eponymous website which benefits from daily updates. APKMirror has an English interface but is still easy to use. No registration is necessary to access the hundreds of thousands of apps present. These are tested by the site teams AndroidPolice which reassures about the absence of malware. All the apps listed in the catalog are free (which does not prevent some from offering in-app purchases of course).
APKPure: priority for games
Its interface has nothing to envy that of the Google Play Store. APK Pure has a very pleasant navigation with menus in French. It is easy to navigate thanks to the categorization or the efficient and fast search engine. No registration is required to use the app. We appreciate the design but also the rich and varied content where we find apps also available on the Play Store but also versions not yet officially accessible of certain programs. Games occupy a large place in the store and are widely promoted. Simple and easy to handle, we simply regret that APK Pure displays long advertising videos.
UpToDown App Store: to go back in time
UpToDown is a site well known to Internet users since it is a software download platform. It therefore seemed logical that the latter is available on Android with a dedicated application. According to the publisher, the store has more than four million applications in its catalog. In addition to a neat interface, made up of menus in French, well-defined categories and a search engine, we appreciate the possibility of tracking the versions of applications. It is indeed possible to download an earlier version if the new version of an app has problems. The catalog includes well-known games and commercial applications but also a few apps that are less easy to find elsewhere.
