24 Android App Store Alternatives for those who hate Google Play

July 7, 2013 By Martin D 1 Comment

When you hear of android apps, what comes to mind? Well, if all you can think about is the ‘Play Store’ icon on your smartphone home screen, you are way too restricting. Borrowing from statistics, the official android marketplace is the leading ever hub where android users get the applications they need. But there are many Android app store alternatives where you can get a wide range of similar applications for your android phone, tablet PC or phablet. Indeed, you might even be able to come across unique apps that you wouldn’t otherwise find on the Google Play Store. Not all android developers are willing to pay an annual fee to Google Play store to list their apps, so they might as well opt to upload them in alternative stores. To install apps from third party app stores on your you need to configure your android device appropriately by enabling ‘Unknown Sources’ under Settings > Applications just like the screenshot below.

In the following post, we roam around the World Wide Web and bring you a list of the top 25 android app store alternatives:

1. Amazon.com: Appstore for Android

Amazon app store is a favorite app store for scores of android users. Amazon introduces offers to the paid apps, which makes the process of acquiring a paid app just better! Amazon also gives one paid app for free in a day. Moreover, Amazon offers paid apps at discount rates. Many useful and unique applications are categorized under different topics and you can use the test drive feature which helps you try out apps using the browser before you actually buy.

2. Slide ME

Slide ME, with a global reach of decent android users, is another place you can get a collection of great apps from talented developers on the platform. Slide ME offers free and premium apps in various categories. To ensure that you only get high quality apps, each application submission has to go through a quality control process before it’s listed on the platform. Slide ME supports a number of payment options, including PayPal, and it’s also easy to filter your searches in such a way as to find good app results from the descriptions. The next time you need an app to do anything, visit the Slide ME android app store and see what they’ve got for you there.

3. Apps Zoom

Appszoom has been recognized as the best android app review website by about.com.  Apps Zoom lists most of the famous apps available in the Google play as well as unique useful android apps. They have hundreds, if not thousands, of cool apps listed for sale. They also help you whenever you need to hire an android developer. You can filter app search to “Top apps” to list all the famous apps available in this website.

4. Cnet

CNet download is a famously known software download website. CNet offers several android apps with comprehensive CNET user reviews. They also display their apps with full descriptions, which is highly useful to all users as they can get an insight before they actually download their applications of choice. All apps in this website are checked for malware, so you need not panic when downloading application from this store.

5. F-Droid

F-Droid is another great android applications platform that has a separate application to list all their android apps. This application can be downloaded from their website. One cool advantage of the apps listed in this website is that they are free, and feature no tracking or ads.

6. Aptoide

Aptoide is a famous android apps store where you can upload and invite users to download and experience your app. Lot of new developers upload their applications on this platform.

7. AppsLib

 Appslib claims that more than 38,000 of their apps have been installed in android tablets as on Q1, 2013. They have apps both for mobile and tablets PCs. This app provides an easy, convenient way for android app developers to list their applications.

8. Yandex

Yandex features more than 50,000 apps as of Q1, 2013. All apps listed on their platform are checked using for malwares using the Kaspersky Anti-Virus, hence you are unlikely to host a malware on your android smartphone.

9. 91 mobile

91 Mobiles lists scores of useful applications. Their featured app lists are widely downloaded by thousands of android users. As it is, most of the apps listed on this platform will be useful for students.

10. Mobango

Mabango lists more than 100k apps in different categories developed by 40k developers. More than 8 million users download millions of apps from this platform every year. Well, if you are looking for a giant house featuring some of your favorite applications, you should probably check out this platform.

11. Pandaapp

Pandaapp feature android app downloads, easily and conveniently. More importantly, all their app listings are free so if you are looking to populate your android tablet PC or smartphone with interesting stuff without having to deep your hands in your pocket, this is one good place to get started looking. However, you should make a point of carefully reading the reviews before you actually download anything. You want to make sure that you are downloading the right applications for your android smartphone, not a masqueraded malware.

12. Baidu App Store

Baidu ranks 5th on the Forbes World’s Most Innovative Companies List. Baidu is a Chinese search giant that also features an app store for android users. These apps are listed from their own making and also from collections on other websites as well. You can find lot of unique and useful apps for android here.

13. Tencent App Gem

Just like Baidu, Tencent is also a search engine. Tencent allows users to download apps directly from their website and also from their custom made app. They have apps both for android mobile phones and tablets. If you own an android tablet, don’t miss out on this one.

14. Opera Mobile App Store

Opera mobile store has many useful and unique applications that you might want to have on your android gadget. The Opera app store claims that all their applications are safe and tested. Well, they offer a wide number of android applications falling within different categories. If you are looking for a good discount the next time you are purchasing an android application, be sure to consider this store.

15. MIUI.com

MIUI refers to the Xiaomi OS. They have their own website where users can download from a greate variety of android apps. Many of their apps are unique and useful. They also offer numerous tips and tricks on android’s common issues.

16. GetJar

GetJar offer you to choose from a huge variety of android apps. They also offer a lot of unique hacking apps that are developed by budding coders. This apps store has more than 5 million android app developers registered.

17. AppChina

The AppChina database is another good place where you might want to dig out for those apps you can’t easily find anywhere else. Well, they get their funding (as much as 6 million dollars) from happy sponsors, who keep their community of developers motivated and productive.

18. Handango

Handango is yet another famous sore where you can get both free and discount apps. The suitability of this apps store can be only likened to the Google Play store. Visit them and check out what they have on their apps menu.

19. D.cn Games Center

D.cn Games Center features collections of games apps, some of which may also be found in the Google play store. Most of their apps are free but advertisement supported. If you are a gaming freak, this is the one place you ought to check out.

20. Insyde Market

Insyde Market feature an amazing collection of fascinating apps.

21. Gfan

Initially Gfan was a forum website used to share user’s experience on apps, queries and hacks related to android applications. However, after the platform become more popular, they upgraded it to an android apps store.

22. YAAM Marke

YAAM is a simple website facility that features scores of useful android apps.  Their apps are listed as both free and paid.

23. Taobao App Market

Taobao recently entered into the android app market and already the’ve got a good number of users visiting and downloading apps listed on their website. They use their own unique payment method named Alipay.

24. Google Chrome

You might have been surprised to see Google chrome appear in this list. Yes, you can android apps using Google chrome. Simply go to the Google webstore and download the extension APK Downloader. Using this extension, you may download android apps to your PC and then install them in your mobile device.

WARNING

Please make sure to know fully what application you are installing in your mobile, which means what are the permission that the application will control. Follow the below instruction before downloading a third part application in order to avoid virus and malware into your mobile.
As told before, android has been designed open to install third party applications. Lot of unique, different, useful android applications are available. Please do share your third party applications experience with us. Also do comment if you know any other good Google play alternative markets.

Conclusion

Google’s plain old play store is sure a great place to download your favorite apps, but it SURE isn’t the only place. The next time you need that cool 3D game to keep you busy thinking during the drive home on public transport, or that office application that will record your pending tasks and remind you about them, be sure to explore the other stores as well. You might be surprised to realize how much you have been limiting your android apps arsenal!