List of Android app stores

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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

Main article: Google Play

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. [1]-->

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

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.[2]
  • Amazon Appstore, which is installed instead of the Play Store on Amazon's Fire Phone and Kindle Fire. The Amazon Appstore can also be installed on other Android devices by downloading it from the Amazon website. This will also be the default way to install Android apps on Windows 11.
  • Huawei AppGallery, which is installed on Huawei and Honor mobile devices. After Google Mobile Services ban, AppGallery is sole app distribution on Huawei's phones.
  • Xiaomi Mi GetApps
  • OPPO App Market
  • VIVO App Store

Third-party app stores

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:

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.[10]

Proxy App Store

There are also proxy app stores that act as a client for Google Play store, such as Aurora Store.[13] Which is a fork of Yalp Store.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Google Play Store: number of apps". Statista. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  2. ^ Khan, Danish (2019-03-15). "Samsung steps up software localisation game; inks app store deal with IndusOS". Economic Times.
  3. ^ "Aurora Store is an open-source alternative Google Play Store".
  4. ^ "Aurora Store - Source code".
  5. ^ "Aurora Store - Releases".
  6. ^ "Alternative App Stores - Where can you find the top Apps you need?". 27 Feb 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  7. ^ JR Raphael (26 Jun 2019). "How to install an Android app you can't find in the Play Store". Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  8. ^ Ryan Whitwam (3 Apr 2020). "25 Best Android Tips to Make Your Phone More Useful". Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Aptoide is a great substitute for the Google play store".
  10. ^ a b Hill, Simon (September 24, 2016). "Tired of Google Play? Check out these alternative Android app stores". Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  11. ^ Gordon, Scott Adam (2017-03-31). "Alternative app store Uptodown launches its Android client". Android Authority. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  12. ^ Favre, Loie (June 26, 2015). "Best Google Play Store alternative app stores - AndroidPIT". AndroidPIT. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  13. ^ "Aurora Store, an open source Play Store alternative, gets a major facelift in version 4". xda-developers. 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
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