10 best Google Play alternatives for games and apps

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The Google Play Store is one of the most popular storefronts in the world for downloading Android games and applications on mobile phones, but there is a certain limit to which it comprises its library of downloadable programs. Those on the lookout for something different for a change should check the best Google Play Store alternatives out there, especially the ones that offer unique applications that the Play Store doesn’t otherwise encompass.

That is why we’ve put together this article on the best Google Play Store alternatives to help you explore a diverse range of other types of programs that can take your mobile app usage experience to the next level without breaking a sweat. Doing so will actually broaden your horizons, or perhaps, let you find an application that you’ve been looking for. With no further ado, let’s get started.

Beyond Google Play: Top 10 App stores you should know about

The following is our hand-picked list of the best Google Play Store alternatives that you can get into starting today. Each forthcoming entry will offer a different experience compared to each other, so it’s for the better that you explore them all to get a taste of everything they have to offer. That way, you will be able to determine the best Play Store alternative for yourself that aligns with your preferences.

1. Aurora Store

Kicking things off as one of the best Play Store alternatives is the Aurora Store for Android operating systems. Where Google Play falters in terms of privacy concerns, leading many to give up their account information to some extent, the Aurora Store shines and just simply takes the cake. Moreover, it sports a decent and carefully laid out user interface as well that grips in new users with its catchy elements and presents categories in an easy-to-discern manner.

What is possibly the biggest advantage to using Aurora instead of the regular Google Play Store is that users don’t have to log into their Google account to download any application or relevant program, thereby minimizing the risk for trackers to invade their privacy. Additionally, the store in question is fairly customizable, allowing you to change its theme and switch up the way it appears on the front end.

2. Amazon Appstore

Next up, we’ve got the brilliant Amazon Appstore pitching in, offering a robust alternative to the already established dominance of the Google Play Store. Amazon, as a tech company, is no stranger to the world, being so immensely popular for its wide-reaching ventures. Similar to the Amazon Prime Video app, the Amazon Appstore for mobile comprises a professionally-designed interface with enticing visual elements and a carefully constructed category system.

It’s been curated specifically for those who wish to reside in the Amazon ecosystem. Therefore, Amazon Fire tablets and Kindle tabs have the application pre-loaded for users’ convenience. After you download the program, you will need to sign in with your Amazon account or register for one if you don’t have one already. Once that is taken care of, feel free to explore the diverse offerings of the storefront since the experience is vastly different as compared to the Google Play Store.

A neat little quirk of the Amazon Appstore is its daily introduction of a premium application that has gone free to use. That’s right. Every day, a paid app becomes available to download without paying any price. This is a rather interesting approach to attracting a good audience base, and it seems that the trick might be working. To download the program, you will need to visit the following link on your mobile phone and follow the on-screen instructions accordingly.

3. Uptodown

The next entry on this list belongs to a highly regulated marketplace for Android phone users called Uptodown. Practically speaking, this particular platform has it all going for itself, coming across as featuring one of the most expansive app catalogs out there. Even if you visit the web-based version of the application, you’ll come to see that it sports a mobile interface, thanks to its curated optimizations.

Just like the Google Play Store, Uptodown has categorized games and apps into different categories. If you click on the sidebar icon that’s shaped like a hamburger, a panel will appear from the left of the screen, taking you through the various sections of the application. The interface is fairly intuitive and ensures a smooth installation process as well. Uptodown cannot be installed from the Play Store, but it does have an APK that you can use to get the program on your end.

4. APKMirror

Moving further up on the list, we’ve got ourselves yet another dedicated app store that encompasses whopping tons of apps and games. APKMirror is an open-source marketplace, and this means that you will find all kinds of different programs and software here. There are day-to-day entries on the platform, the existing applications are constantly updated for newer versions, and there are sometimes exceptions to downloading premium apps for free, although we don’t support that.

With the help of sites such as APKMirror and Uptodown, what you’ll be doing is sideloading Android apps onto your phone. This term refers to the installation of programs from third-party sources and not the singular Google Play Store. The greatest advantage that APKMirror brings to the table is that it lets you try out older versions of apps that have otherwise gone obsolete.

This can be desirable in several situations, such as when the devs release a faulty version of an app and you’d like to revert to the previous version. In addition, APKMirror is a trusted site but is supported heavily by ads (people like money). The FAQ section on the site talks about how the platform owners make sure that each application prior to its uploading is carefully vetted, so no virus can make its way forward.

5. F-Droid

Outside of the regular competitors, F-Droid is yet another name that manages to take the cake in terms of being one of the best Play Store alternatives out there as far as pure functionality is concerned. The platform at hand is more than just a storefront for downloading Android applications. Since it’s open-source as well, you may as well contribute as a developer, should you seek an interest in doing so.

F-Droid’s user interface, however, is not for everyone, but that’s only at the start. Those with a fair bit of experience to their name should find the store’s stark visual elements and overall UI practical, but folks who are just getting started with the program may take some time before they’re fully used to it. Consider F-Droid a highly powerful tool and the equivalent of a paid, premium application in that department.

6. APKPure

Just like APKMirror, APKPure is yet another trusted storefront for downloading Android apps and games on the go without having to rely on Google Play at all. It’s packed with different varieties of programs and even consists of a much beginner-friendly user interface as compared to some of the rest of the options on here. The fact that APKPure comprises one of the biggest app catalogs out there means that it probably has that software you’re looking for but can’t find anywhere else.

A reason that APKPure sports such an immense audience is that it lists different versions of popular social media apps, so if someone was trying to retrieve an older variant of Facebook, this would be the place they go to. Beware though, APKPure has a strict privacy policy against pirated apps, so you won’t be finding any premium app up for grabs for free on the platform.

7. Aptoide

Aptoide is simply one of the most preferable Google Play Store alternatives you can find at the moment. It’s incredibly easy to use, thanks to its plainly designed user interface that prioritizes simplicity above other parameters. That is the reason you’ll find navigating Aptoide like a walk in the park, considering how it matches the Play Store in various ways.

A word to the wise with Aptoide though: It’s best that you steer clear of applications that seem dubious and don’t have an enough number of user reviews to their name. That’s because given the open-source nature of the program, there’s an awful lot of apps that have been uploaded to the Aptoide database for downloading, and not all of them can be trusted. Other than that, you’re good to go with what is otherwise a high-quality Play Store alternative for your cause.

8. AppBrain

AppBrain can seemingly get the best out of your Android smartphone, allowing it to gain ready access to applications and programs that cannot be sourced from the Google Play Store. It uses a clean user interface and doesn’t hog up too many system resources either, thereby coming across as one of the most perfect alternatives to Google Play.

One particular functionality of the storefront that has managed to grab our attention rotates around making premium apps free. No, we are not talking about pirated applications, rather a mutual consent is formed by the store runners and the app developers that allows users to download relevant programs for a limited amount of time without paying anything.

9. SlideME

Boasting a simplistic UI with basic visual elements, SlideMe isn’t the flashiest Google Play Store alternative out in the market, but it’s certainly one of the most effective ones. It prioritizes ease of use above everything else and makes sure that beginners don’t have a hard time gripping the fundamentals of the app. Combine that with the overall security, and you’ve got yourself a software worth approaching.

A diverse highlight of the SlideMe storefront for your Android phone is that it lets you try out this deluge of arcade-style games that may interest your kids and come across as a massive time-killer. For downloads and installations of a simpler nature, though, the platform in question stands as a robust source all the same. With that said, if you’d like to enjoy heavy-duty games on your device, consider checking out this next option.

10. TapTap

TapTap is an authentic replacement for those looking to kick out the Google Play Store for something new. Despite the competition and the rest of the offerings listed here, the storefront in question stands out as an on-the-rise platform, that’s even signing exclusivity deals with some of the biggest industry power players. Not only that but there is a bustling catalog of playable games on TapTap that you can download without breaking a sweat.

For instance, back when Valorant Mobile was coming out, you could only get it on TapTap initially as part of a pre-registration process. Today, the store is one of the biggest hubs for Android games, and you’ll be surprised to find out that the program lists zero apps outside of games. The interface is admirable, with a focus on speed and security, and it’s just one of the best recommended options for users to get into.

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How to install third-party app stores on Android

Now that you’re well aware of the best Google Play alternatives in town that can be downloaded on an Android phone for a near-equal or even better Play Store experience, it’s imperative that you understand how these storefronts will find a way onto your system. In simple terms, you have to flip on a certain switch in your smartphone to install applications from outside sources, which in this case is Chrome.

You will be installing the APKs of these apps, shorthand for Application Package(s) through the Chrome browser. We’ve linked you to the APK download link for each enlisted application above, so navigating to that shouldn’t be an issue. As for the functionality that lets you complete the ask at hand, the feature is called “Install unknown apps” or something of the like on most phones.

To toggle on the functionality, simply make your way to your phone’s “Settings” app, and search for the feature. A relevant entry should pop right up. Once cleared, the system will ask you what apps would you like to have the unknown apps installed from. Select “Google Chrome” and that should do the trick. Please note that without this simple yet effective trick, you won’t be able to download APKs from the internet through Chrome.

Conclusion

Mobile applications have taken the world by storm over the course of the past couple of decades. Almost everything that we interact with on our phones has to do with apps and programs, with some instilling a heightened level of convenience into our lives more than others. To make sure things are kept organized and regular, major tech companies such as Google and Apple have designed and developed their own application storefronts.

This has made it possible to install both free and paid apps on the fly. However, as popular as the Play Store and App Store platforms are, they are not the only ones out there. A myriad of third-party software, such as the ones talked about in this guide, are available for smartphone users to get into as well. Do let us know in the comments ahead whether this guide helped you out. Thanks for reading!