Best Google Play Store & App Store Alternatives for Android & iOS (2024)

Google Play App Store Alternatives is hands down the one-stop destination online to try out the latest and greatest Android apps. But there are times when Play Store cannot let you in, to download the apps you want. There are several reasons to that. Maybe, the app is not localized for your region, the app does not meet the requirements to be available in your country. Or maybe the App Developer is doing a staged rollout where not all users can get access to the apps at the same time.

Alternative APP Store	LAUNCHING YEAR	PRICE	No. of AVAILABLE APPS	NO OF DOWNLOADS
APKPure	2014	free	NA	180 million
9Apps	2012	free	Approx.18 million	250 million
Amazon Appstore	2011	app prices vary.	Approx.0.48 million	0.48 million
Aptoide	2009	FREE butthe app costs vary.	Approx.0.7 million	6 billion
Aurora Store	2021	Free	NA	5 million
Samsung Galaxy Stores	2009	Free, price cost vary	Approx.3 MILLION	4 milion
GetApps	2017	free	NA	NA
APKMirror	2014	Free	NA	2 million
Huawei App Gallery	2011	Free	Approx.45,000	384 billion
GetJar	2004	Free	Approx.0.85m	70,000

1. Amazon App Store

It comes next to the Google Play store in terms of popularity and is the primary app store on kindles and the Fire Phone. There is no web interface for it and you need to download the apk for using it. The apps are categorized into different sections to enhance discoverability. And to add the icing on the cake, Amazon is offering one paid app for free each day which is a pretty good deal.

• Thousands of Amazon apps for download
• Find apps by categories
• A secure platform for finding apps
• Quick interface for downloading and installing
• Apps available for Fire OS, Windows, Android,and more

Download it from here.

2. ApkMirror

ApkMirror is popular among folks who are willing to try the latest releases of their favorite apps, which at times arrive on Google Play after they have been uploaded here. This App Store, however, has no official app and users need to visit the website to download the apps. The site claims that all their offerings are malware free. You won’t find any paid apps on this store though.

Visit Website

3. GetJar

If you ever owned a J2ME or Symbian based device, GetJar is nothing new to you. It is hands down the oldest app store that has ever existed. There’s an official app for GetJar but you can also use it through the web interface. The site is well organized and categorized. But the apps may not always be up to date.

Download the app from here.

4. AppBrain

If you are looking for premium apps for free, App Brain is your destination. Developers of the paid apps make their apps free for a limited time on this site, and in turn, AppBrain publicizes it for them. AppBrain offers both an app and a website to allow users to access its catalog.

Download the app from here.

5. Aptoide

Aptoide is popular among Google Play Store users because the chances of finding a paid app for free is more compared to AppBrain. It offers a clean interface both on the website and app. Although the authenticity of paid apps is questionable at times as most of them are full of ads.

Download the app from here.

6. APKPure

APKPure is an open-source service that allows users to download APK files (Android applications that can install once the file is downloaded). It allows users to download region-specific apps that are not available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Famous apps like TikTok, PUBG Mobile, and others are available on the APKPure app store. Even the app’s version history is also available.

7. 9Apps

9Apps is one of the most famous and most used Google Play Stores android alternatives. The 9Apps library is almost as big as Google Play Store. As a huge benefit, 9Apps provides various paid games and apps for free.

The categorized sections and trending app listings make it easy for the users to discover the most demanded apps and games and download them. The 9Apps app provides a safe, free, and super-fast experience. The app also features a mini-game section that allows the players to enjoy various games without downloading them.

8. Aptoide

Aptoide is known for having apps generally not found on Google Play Store. The app is not centralized like Google App Store, and therefore users can manage their store.

The Aptoide app store offers a free download of apps that aren’t available on the Google Play Store. You can even download NSFW games and apps using Aptoide. Even updates of some apps have come to Aptoide before.

• Works perfectly with any smartphone that has the Android operating system
• Comprises such as communication, photography, video games, finance, etc.
• Safe and sealed with 360° protection.
• Avail localized offers and add to your wishlist.

Developers can use the paid acquisition campaigns using which their app or game will be displayed as ads to the users, and you have to pay only for the number of installs.

9. Aurora Store

AuroraOSS is open-source software filled with thousands of leading mobile apps and games that can download for free. The unique aesthetic design of the app store is the key aspect that provides a clean experience with its fresh-looking UI.

The key features of the Aurora store include Anonymous login, Google Login, Light/Dark mode, Device Spoofing, Filter F-droid apps, Blacklist apps, etc. All these features contribute to providing an amazing user experience.

10. Samsung Galaxy Store

Samsung Galaxy Store is an app store bundled with galaxy and gear devices. An app store is primarily a go-to place for special perks and deals for Galaxy and Gear device users.

The app store has tons of themes and fonts that one can use to customize their device experience. Users can browse and download apps without registration and login. The app offers almost all local languages, and therefore it is really easy to use and navigate.

It offers exclusive game offers to the users, and gamers can discover premium offers and unique benefits.

11. GetApps

As Samsung Galaxy Store is a dedicated app store for Galaxy and Gear devices, similarly, GetApps is an app store by Xiaomi for all Xiaomi devices like Redmi, Poco, Mi, Etc. The users can easily browse, manage, and install millions of apps available on GetApps.

Various exclusive apps are also available, like Mi Credit, Mi Pay, Etc. The app store offers all the famous apps like TikTok, Facebook, Whatsapp, and so on. No registration is required to use the GetApps app store.

• Access to the ranking of most downloaded applications and games.
• Create collections of apps according to your interests
• Includes a home page with trending apps, a search engine
• Only works on Xiaomi devices.
• Great interface to use

All the apps available on GetApps are free, and the service promises never to charge users. All the apps go through a mature quality inspection team, and therefore all the apps listed on the store are safe to download. Content is available in abundance, which helps users select the right apps.

12. Huawei App Gallery

Huawei App Gallery used to be a dedicated app store for Huawei and Honor devices, but after the US Sanctioned and subsequent Google ban, the Huawei App Gallery can now be downloaded and used on all Android Devices.

App Gallery has more than 1.3 million apps, including various popular apps and publishers. The app gallery has more than 400 million users. Along with parental control, the app stores offer rock-solid protection.

• Works perfectly with any smartphone that has the Android operating system
• Comprises such as communication, photography, video games, finance, etc.
• Safe and sealed with 360° protection.
• Avail localized offers and add to your wishlist.

Various charts and curated lists help the user find the perfect app or game they were looking for. There are various local exclusives for App Gallery users like Gift centers, Exciting Promotions, Local events with prizes, and so on.

13. Uptodown

Uptodown app is an app store that is specially designed for Android apps. Using the
Uptodown app, you can download apps directly in APK format, safely and quickly.

You can even roll back to the previous versions of the app. The app offers automatic updates, and therefore all your apps will always have the updated version. There is no need to register or sign up; you can browse and download all the apps without bothering.

Uptodown offers a vast catalog of thousands of Android apps. All the apps have rich editorial content with in-house screenshots that help you know the app’s features.

14. Mobile9  – App Store Alternatives

Mobile9 is an all-in-one application that has everything needed for an Android phone or Tablet. It offers similar Google Play Store apps and also offers unique apps that are not available on Google Play Store. There are wallpapers, ringtones, movies, songs, and many more. As a benefit, everything on Mobile9 is for free.

It also has a category that allows you to download youtube videos for free. It offers books too like ebooks, manga, audiobooks, Etc. Also, it provides mobile themes and live wallpapers.

15. Mobango  – App Store Alternatives

Mobango is an Android app store with millions of users and more than 1000 downloads per day. It is a close runner-up for the Google Play Store. There are relatively fewer apps on this store; it is a plus point for developers as this makes it easy to have your app ranked. Moreover, uploading the app is free, and you don’t even have to share any percentage.

Thanks to various categories and sub-categories, the users can easily browse through and find the right app. One can even share an app through message or e-mail; this makes it easy to share an app from one device to another.

16. Bemobi Mobile Store – App Store Alternatives

Bemobi Mobile Store is one of the leading mobile app stores and digital distribution platforms for developers and users. It has thousands of apps and games that you can choose from.

The categories and sub-categories are so helpful that one can easily find the perfect app from themselves. The app store is flooded with games and therefore is the ideal place for gamers to find games that are not available on Google Play Store.

17. BlackMart

BlackMart is a Google Play Store Alternative that offers more than 300,000 mobile games and apps. All the applications are free to download on BlackMart. The users do not need their Google Id or anything to download the apps and games.

The BlackMart app provides frequent updates to offer the best experience to the users. BlackMart offers intriguing features like automatic installation of files, app and game update notifications, allowing the app or game to move from internal memory to memory card, a smart search feature, various categories, Etc.

Exploring alternatives to the Google Play Store can offer several advantages:

1. Freedom from Government Restrictions: In case an app gets removed from the Google Play Store due to government orders, alternative platforms provide the opportunity to continue using or downloading that app without interruption.
2. Enhanced Organization: These alternative stores often offer improved lists and categories, making it easier to discover new apps tailored to your interests and needs.
3. Access to Unique Apps: Unlike mainstream app stores, alternative platforms sometimes host apps that are not available elsewhere, allowing users to explore a wider range of software options.
4. Rollback to Previous Versions: If an app’s latest update proves problematic or unsatisfactory, alternative stores typically allow users to revert to previous versions, offering greater control over the app experience.
5. Opportunity for Free Downloads: Many alternative stores offer paid apps for free, providing users with the chance to access premium content without having to spend money.

Here are some FAQs about Play Store alternatives:

Are there other app stores available for Android?

Yes, there are several alternatives to the Google Play Store for Android users. Some popular ones include F-Droid, Aptoide, Steam, Aurora Store, and APKPure.

How can I download apps on Android without using the Play Store?

You have plenty of options! Refer to the list above for various alternatives to the Google Play Store. These alternative app stores provide a wide range of apps for download.

Which is the best Android app store?

Apart from the Google Play Store, the alternatives mentioned above are considered among the best options for Android users. Each has its unique features and offerings, so you might want to explore a few to find the one that best suits your needs