The first and most obvious alternative is the Amazon Appstore. This is probably the biggest contender to the Play Store, as it's the default app store that ships on all Amazon Fire tablets.
Amazon's store may not match the Play Store in size, but it's still a viable alternative. You'll have no trouble finding popular apps if you exclude Google's collection of services.
Of course, that's a big caveat because most users consider Google's software the primary reason to use Android over iOS. But that's an issue that plagues most Play Store alternatives. Here's our in-depth comparison of the Play Store and the Amazon Appstore so you can learn all about it.
Download:Amazon Appstore (Free)
On the other hand, if you prefer Android to iOS because Android is technically open source, then F-Droid is the app store that can replace the Play Store on your device.
F-Droid doesn't have nearly as many apps as the other options on this list, but it's the most prominent mobile app store that features exclusively free and open-source software. On top of that, you can be confident that the software doesn't contain any malware.
F-Droid even goes so far as to warn when apps may track your behavior or location.
Previous versions of this app were abysmally basic. The latest version fits in with current Android design guidelines and provides categories and recommendations to help you discover apps that do what you need.
This is especially valuable because if you're using F-Droid, you'll likely have to replace most of the apps you're used to.
Download:F-Droid (Free)
Aptoide gets its name from the APT package manager, a Linux-based software distribution method. Like APT, Aptoide doesn't provide you with access to one centralized store. Instead, it's an app for accessing many different stores, which in the Linux world would be considered "package repositories."
The Aptoide client is open-source software. It turns out the F-Droid client began as a fork of Aptoide. For the average end user, Aptoide will simply appear as an alternative to the Play Store with access to a large amount of similar software (though some apps are stuck on older versions).
The big difference is that you can discover new stores within the app and even add your own. A catch? You don't have access to paid apps.
Download:Aptoide (Free)
Although Aptoide began as a scrappy open-source project, it received millions in venture capital funding long ago. If that makes you uncomfortable, or you prefer the quality controls that come from having software managed in a centralized place, check out Uptodown instead.
Uptodown, managed by a small team in Spain, shares a similar purpose of making Android software freely available to people around the world without restrictions. This alternative does a better job of providing up-to-date software, and it lists a history of app updates.
On the downside, paid apps aren't available, just like Aptoide.
Download:Uptodown (Free)
APKMirror is a website for downloading APK files directly. APK, short for Android package, is a file format created for distributing Android software. A mirror, in this context, is a server that redistributes software already available somewhere else.
Most apps on APKMirror are already available on the Play Store, except they're re-uploaded to be made more readily accessible to others. This opens availability to people regardless of whether they have a Google account or live in an area where an app may not be accessible.
When you download an APK, you can install the file just by tapping it in a file manager. But there are newer Android app formats that are trickier to install, such as APKM, XAPK, and APKS.
The APKMirror Installer app makes these formats installable, too. Head to the APKMirror site in a browser to download apps, then hit download APKMirror Installer using the link below to install apps using those formats.
Download:APKMirror Installer (Free)
Visit:APKMirror (Free)
While it's nice to have alternatives, there's no getting around the fact that the Play Store simply has more apps. However, Aurora Store is an alternative that actually lets you download an app from the Play Store without giving Google access to scores of private information.
It provides access to nearly every app in the catalog without needing a Google account. It does so by generating a temporary, anonymous account on your behalf. You can also sign in with your Google account if you want to sync your previously downloaded Android apps, but that defeats the purpose.
Download: Aurora (Free)
Itch.io is a well-established source for indie titles across various platforms, including Android. Itch.io doesn't have an official Android app, but you can browse the site in a browser and download APKs directly.
It's not a bad way to get your hands on a wide range of free, creative titles. However, most are homegrown projects without the budget or polish of games from AAA studios.
There is a third-party client for Itch.io available on F-Droid. It goes by the name of Mitch.
Visit:Itch.io (Free)
TapTap is an app store for games and a social network that lets you connect with other gamers. This unique mix makes TapTap quite the compelling way to download games, discover titles you've never heard of, and stay on top of new releases as soon as they launch.
TapTap Lite is available on the Google Play Store, which simply links to the Play Store to download games. However, the premium version of TapTap is its own alternative app store, providing direct downloads of APKs and updates. You can download it from TapTap's website.
Download:TapTap Lite (Free)
Visit:TapTap.io (Free)
If you can't access the Play Store, one of these alternative app stores can help you download all the apps you need. However, if you want to stop using the Play Store due to privacy concerns, there are other steps you can take to de-Google your Android device entirely.
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