Free App Stores For Android

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The functionality of mobile devices running the Android operating system, the most used mobile operating system globally, can be extended using 'apps' – specialized software designed to offer users the means to use their devices for certain additional purposes. Such apps are compiled in the Android-native APK file format which allows easy redistribution of apps to end-users.

Most apps are distributed through Google's Play Store but many alternative software repositories, or app stores, exist. Alternative app stores use the 'Unknown Sources' option of Android devices to install APK files directly via the Android Package Manager.

Google Play Store[edit]

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The Google Play Store (originally the Android Market), operated and developed by Google, serves as the official app store for the Android, allowing users to download apps developed with the Android software development kit (SDK) and published through Google. The store offers both free and paid apps. Apps exploiting hardware capabilities of a device can be targeted to users of devices with specific hardware components, such as a motion sensor (for motion-dependent games) or a front-facing camera (for online video calling). The Google Play store had over 50 billion app downloads in 2013 and has reached over 2.96 million apps published in 2020.

Although bundled with most Android devices, the Play Store is only available on devices that are certified within the 'Android Compatibility Program'. As a result, manufacturers of so-called 'custom ROMs', i .e. modified versions of Android, are not allowed to bundle Google apps, including the Play Store, with their software. Compatibility can be restored by installing the Google apps from another source, such as OpenGApps, or using alternative app stores.

Manufacturer app stores[edit]

In addition to some manufacturers not creating certified compatible versions of Android, some manufacturers have decided to bundle their own app stores, either in addition to the Play Store or as a replacement.

Such app stores include:

  • Samsung Galaxy Store, which is installed on Samsung mobile devices alongside the Play Store. In India, the Samsung Galaxy store is being powered by Indus App Bazaar and is offering a localized experience in 12 Indian languages to all its users.[1]
  • Amazon Appstore, which is installed instead of the Play Store on Amazon'sFire Phone and Kindle Fire. The Amazon Appstore can also be installed on other Android devices by downloading it from the Amazon website.
  • Xiaomi Mi GetApps
  • OPPO App Market
  • VIVO App Store

Third-party app stores[edit]

App stores that do not rely on pre-installation by the manufacturer are an alternate option for finding Android applications. Apps offered through third-party app stores or websites, created by parties not affiliated with the device or operating system (OS), are also third-party apps.

Such stores include:

  • HappyMod[2]
  • Uptodown.[3][4][5]

This form of app store is often used by web developers to distribute apps that are not allowed in the Google Play Store; this may be due to an app allowing users wider access to the app-system, or offering apps for 'niche users' who choose to use only free and open-source software (F-Droid) or prefer to play indie games (Itch.io). Moreover, there are alternative stores that serve to distribute 'hacked' versions of paid apps, for no cost.[3]

Reasons to use alternative app stores[edit]

Some users prefer using alternative app stores to avoid using Google services as part of their philosophy.[6] Alternative app stores may also be easier to navigate for users, allowing them to find specific apps quicker, due to different search algorithms or the user interface design implemented for displaying available apps.[7] However, users preferring to utilize either, third-party app stores or the Google Play store, cannot be certain that the apps they are installing have been checked for malware or computer viruses.[3]

In addition, alternative app stores may be used for downloading android applications due to limited availability of full–Google Play functionality. For example, users in China are not able to purchase apps from the Google Play Store, in turn, limiting their options for app purchasing to alternative app stores, such as, AppChina and Wandoujia.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^Khan, Danish (2019-03-15). 'Samsung steps up software localisation game; inks app store deal with IndusOS'. Economic Times.Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  2. ^Agarwal, Nitin (2020-03-14). 'How to download HappyMod App on your Android device'. PC-Tablet. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  3. ^ abcHill, Simon (September 24, 2016). 'Tired of Google Play? Check out these alternative Android app stores'. Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  4. ^Gordon, Scott Adam (2017-03-31). 'Alternative app store Uptodown launches its Android client'. Android Authority. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  5. ^Favre, Loie (June 26, 2015). 'Best Google Play Store alternative app stores - AndroidPIT'. AndroidPIT. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  6. ^Schiwy, Nick (2016-04-13). 'How to survive Android without Google'. AndroidGuys. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  7. ^Chiles, David (2013). Apps: Everything You Need To Know.
  8. ^Miller, Paul D.; Matviyenko, Svitlana (2014). The Imaginary App. MIT Press. p. 184. ISBN9780262027489.

See also[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Android_app_stores&oldid=985361562'

Every developer has one of the most difficult questions posed after completing an excellent Android app: which App Store will generate the most money? Most will opt for the $25 route of Google Play as it has one of the most guaranteed audiences. However, there are also other options that may come up.

Best App Store Alternative for Android

The biggest issue with choosing this standard option is that the competition is fierce. Below is listed some of the best alternative Android App Stores around so that you will get access to more localized and specialized customer audiences.

Besides rarely charging for listing an app there are several more advantages for choosing an alternative to Google Play:

  • More options for promotion
  • In our list of app stores for Android, you can find many platforms that can give a boost for the app by featuring it as an app of the day or provide app owner with some money-saving offers for advertising.
  • Relevant recommendations
    Other Android app stores offer a list of recommended apps that are not displayed on Google Play top ten charts.
  • Curated list
    Some of the Play store alternatives have a very narrow focus and a small selection of apps that have been filtered by topic, purpose, quality, age, etc.
  • Local portals
    Some of the different app stores cater to countries and offer localized apps that are not presented somewhere else.

Looking for Android app developers?

SlideME

As a long-term player in the app store business, it has been running even longer than Google Play, SlideME is the most regularly found app store on Android devices after the main competitor.

Biggest Advantage: Payment can be made via PayPal, and the app store only charges 20% for each purchase of your app.

Website: slideme.org

Amazon Appstore

While not as old as Google Play or SlideME, the Amazon Appstore is one of their most successful competitors. With the introduction of Kindle Fire, the Fire Phone and a range of Android devices running Fire OS, there is a growing market for apps sold through Amazon.

There are some issues with running apps through the Fire OS but the majority of developers only need a short time to get their app ready for Amazon. In fact, many Android apps already run perfectly fine on Fire OS.

Biggest Advantages: It is possible to publish HTML5 and web apps on the Amazon Appstore. It is a growing marketplace with hundreds of thousands of apps and a large customer base. The Amazon Appstore is also remarkably easy to navigate for all developers.

Website: amazon.com/mobile-apps

1Mobile Market

For a different approach to generating a successful app is focusing only on the popularity of the app. 1Mobile Market is only for free apps so it is a great place to upload an app to test it out on the market.

Read also: Cost to develop an app

The marketplace itself costs nothing to upload your app but this doesn’t mean it is full of terrible apps. Each app has to pass through a selection process to check for malware and to keep a high quality of 1Mobile Market apps.

Biggest Advantage: A useful recommendation system based on preferences means that apps can become successful very quickly. With over 100 million installs and hundreds and thousands of apps listed, it is a great place to upload your app.

Website: mobile.1mobile.com

Samsung Galaxy Apps

From the company that manufacturers the most Android phones it is no surprise that Samsung has developed their own app store. Compared to other app stores, Samsung Galaxy Apps has a relatively small number of apps but this can be positive for apps to stand out.

Biggest Advantage: Every Samsung Galaxy device has the app store installed so there is an immediate and large customer base.

Website: www.samsung.com

Mobile9

This app store can be compared to a social network. Mobile9 has millions of active users and each one has the ability to comment on and share their installed apps. Publishing an app is free and with such a wide user base it can mean great results for a well-developed app.

Biggest Advantage: There is a huge download rate with one of the smallest number of developers; getting noticed with Mobile9 can be relatively easy.

Website: mobile9.com

Opera Mobile Store

With a direct link with Yandex, Opera Mobile Store has access to almost the entire Russian app customer market by all their apps being present in the Yandex App Store. The store has over 100 million visits every single month, and there are over a million downloads each day.

Biggest Advantage: To get access to this huge audience is completely free. Opera Mobile Store, however, does take 30% of any sales, but it is worth it for the sales this app store generates.

Website: apps.opera.com

Mobango

A base of millions of customers and thousands of downloads per day; Mobango is a forerunner for a Google Play alternative. It has a relatively small app total in its store so it isn’t too difficult to become one of its top downloaded apps.

Free App Stores For Android 2020

Biggest Advantage: Uploading your app is completely free and no percentage is taken.

Website: mobango.com

F-droid

For a more open approach to apps, one of the best alternatives is F-droid. The entire site and app store is run by volunteers and relies on donations. It only allows free apps and has a policy of not pushing apps that include paid add-ons or adverts.

Biggest Advantage: With a strong customer base and absolutely no costs there is nothing to lose by uploading your app to this store and testing out its popularity.

Website: f-droid.org

GetJar

This app store actively encourages their developers to use their freemium model with included adverts and in-app currency. GetJar Gold is one of the largest virtual currencies in use and is available to millions of users.

Biggest Advantages: 30 million users and a great recommendation service that allows for quick discovery of new apps.

Website: getjar.com

Free App Stores For Android

Takeaway

Download All Android Apps Free

Choosing the best alternative Android market may seem to be a tough task. Every store has its pros and cons. You can find free app store for Android or the one that charges a fee, some of them a very specific, others vice versa very popular and highly competitive.

Best Android App Stores For Free

Neither of these best free app markets can 100 percent replace a Google Play, they can become an additional channel to drive more downloads.

List Of All Free Apps

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List Of Free App Stores For Android

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