F-Droid
F-Droid is an app market solely for FOSS apps that is Free and Open Source Softwares so security-wise it’s good because any user can look into the code and make improvements to it.
It has a large collection of FOSS apps and you can find an open-source alternative to any apps in any category you wish. It is largely used by privacy concerned users who don’t want to be trapped inside the google ecosystem and its telemetry. It also supports downloads through the Tor network for increased privacy.
But because it’s a FOSS only repository app developers don’t get anything in return so most of the apps are just hobby projects and quality is not at par with paid or freemium apps on other markets.
Pros
- No account needed
- The largest repository of Open Source apps
- Supports automatic updates
- Simple UI
- No paid or premium apps
Cons
- Limited collection due to FOSS only apps
- Decent apps quality
Samsung Galaxy Store
Samsung has its own app store called Samsung Galaxy store, which comes pre-installed on Samsung devices due to which it has a large user base.
To push its smartphones, Samsung does partnerships to bring exclusive apps, skins, and rewards to its app store ultimately to its devices.
A recent example would be the popular online game Fortnite by Epic Games. Fornite is nowhere available in the play store (although it can be sideloaded) but only in the Galaxy store with exclusive in-game skins and items.
Pros
- Clean and Modern UI (Material design)
- Support multiple local languages
- Exclusive apps
- Large user base
Cons
- Available only on Samsung devices
- Benefits and offers region-specific
- Need an account
APK Mirror
APK Mirror is a website based apk repository, it hosts loads of apps date, version, variant and architecture wise.
APK Mirror has been working as a website only repository for a while; recently, they released their app installer on the play store called APKMirror Installer, which is currently in early access that lets you install new app bundle types such as apkm, .xapk, and .apks app bundle files as well as regular apk files.
Security-wise, APK Mirror is top-notch, it matches the cryptographic signature with original apps to detect any temperament and potentially malicious apps.
Pros
- Big collection of apps
- Everything nicely sorted
- Old versions of apps also available
- Very much Secure
- No account needed
- Early alpha/beta version of apps also available
- Region free apps
Cons
- Navigating through the website can be confusing for new users
- It doesn’t have its own application like others
- The website has ads
- Need play store for further updates
Amazon App Store
Amazon has its own app store called Amazon Appstore; it was removed from the google play store a long ago for breaking google policies. It’s possible the biggest competitor to the google play store. At least it was back in the days.
Amazon also provides one paid app free every single day, yep you heard it right, paid app for free each day and it offers all the Amazon apps here even those which are not available on the play store.
Pros
- Paid app free every day
- Provide good offers
- Good security
- Personalized app suggestions based on usage
- Apps don’t need the Google Play services it uses their own API
Cons
- Account registration needed (Must have Amazon account)
- Fewer apps than Google Play Store
- Apps can not be used once the store is uninstalled because of its DRM system
Get Apps by Xiaomi
Get Apps is an offering by Xiaomi and comes preinstalled with MIUI Software on Xiaomi, Mi, and Poco smartphones due to this user base are large.
It offers various exclusive Mi apps, such as Mi pay and Mi credit, that are not on the Play store. Get apps is also a source of updating Mi apps preinstalled on phones out of the box like Keyboard. Some updates come here before officially going live on the play store.
Pros
- Has a good collection of apps
- Modern UI
- Exclusive Mi apps
- Automatic app updates
Cons
- A lot of bloatware inside
- Ads and unnecessary popups
- Install apps automatically in Xiaomi phones in some regions
Aurora Store
Aurora Store is an unofficial google play store client; it’s a free and open-source offering available in the F-droid market. It has a gorgeous UI and design, which is the key aspect of this store. It also has the highest amount of customizability available out of all the apps. There are light and dark (black) themes available as well.
Aurora store is made and maintained by AuroraOSS group, and they focus on 4 aspects: Design, Privacy, Open Source, and Customizability.
It’s generally used where google play services are missing or unavailable as it doesn’t require any google play service to work, and you still get access to the catalogue of google play store.
Pros
- Huge collection of google play store apps
- Free and Open Source (FOSS)
- Transparent framework
- It doesn’t collect any data
- Security of google
- No ads
- Spoof device or country to download geo-restricted apps
- Compatible with Android TV
Cons
- Requires Google account login
Aptoide
Aptoide is an independent Android app store, and it’s one of the oldest 3rd party app stores in the market. It’s largely popular on Android TVs. It has no geo-restrictions like the google play store, and the service works without needing an account. It has said to have multiple security checks, but it suffered a data breach in 2020, which raises questions about its security
Pros
- The oldest competitor in the market
- Aptoide is open-source hence anyone can look into the code
- Good collection of Android TV apps and games
- Auto-update
- No account needed
- Multiple security checks
Cons
- Contains shady, cracked and illegal apps
- Security not among the best
- Has ads
Huawei App Gallary
Huawei app Gallary was limited to Huawei and Honor devices only. But after the Huawei and US ban thing has happened where Huawei is not allowed to use Google services anymore due to which Huawei has made its application public.
The state of the gallery was pretty bad pre-US trade ban but since then Huawei has made a lot of improvements and the app feels more polished but it’ll take definitely take time to reach or compete with the likes of the Google play store although Huawei App Gallary can be the biggest threat to Google yet.
Pros
- Good userbase
- Trust of Security from an established brand
- Easy to publish apps for developers with incentives
- Millions of apps
Cons
- Still in the growing & improvement stage
- Google apps and many popular apps still not available
- Unnecessary fake and duplicate apps can still be found
APK Pure
APK Pure is one of the most popular third-party app store. Its collection of apps is one of the best after the play store. It offers all sorts of apps in a nicely designed interface with various categories even more than the google play store itself. It offers both free and paid apps.
APK Pure has a developer-friendly console to publish apps and publishing apps is comparatively easier than the google play store.
It’s lightweight, customizable and lets you install apks and xapks through the app itself. There’s no geo-restriction here so you can access any app from anywhere.
Pros
- Huge library, Most apps from the Google Play Store including apps that are not available on the play store
- Download region-restricted apps
- Built-in App installer and Automatic app install if you have root.
- Supports IOS apps as well
- Can download previous version APK
- Parallel downloads/Multi downloads
- Lightweight
Cons
- 2000 MB Size limit of apps
- Availability of Unknown and duplicate apps
- Unknown developers/backers
- Difficult to reach out to APK Pure team
Yalp Store
Yalp store is another open source alternative to google play store but here you do not need to login using your google account, It uses its own account to operate thus, you can install apks directly from google servers. Although if you want to access your paid apps then you have to login through your google account and download them. Note that you can’t purchase apps in Yalp store only access the ones you already have bought.
Yalp store was last updated in 2019 so this is kinda like an abandoned project especially when you’ve similar better alternatives like Aurora store.
Pros
- Google account not necessary
- Can access your paid apps
- Filter free and paid apps
- Install, update and uninstall system apps with Root
Cons
- Outdated UI
- App not frequently updated
- Can’t purchase or use new Paid apps
