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The Best Alternatives to the Android Market | Unlike the iPhone, Android users are free to download apps from sources other than Google’s official Android Market.
Google’s Android Market isn’t the only place you can get Android apps.
Alternatives to the Android Market Each app store is completely legit — the ones that offer free apps pay the developer for the privilege. You may even have an alternative app store on your device already if you’re an Opera user.
With Google not yet offering paid-for apps in the
Android Market apps in all territories and some manufacturers not including access to the Market at all, alternative stores can be an attractive way for developers to reach a wider potential audience. With the news this week that Amazon is now busy preparing to sell Android apps itself later this year, we thought we’d round up all the current alternative
Android app stores that are already available.
GetJar bills itself as “The world’s second largest app store with over 1 billion downloads to date, second only to the Apple App Store”. The store support Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, iPhone and Symbian platforms. GetJar was the first place you could download the Android version of Angry Birds, before even the official Market.
AppBrain
Rather than selling apps directly itself, AppBrain is an alternative way of browsing the official Android Market.
SlideME
SlideME lets you browse its catalogue of apps online or via an installable app called SAM that runs the whole experience on your Android device. This market focuses on promoting the work of small, independent developers. Free apps can be downloaded directly from the website, while those with a price attached are only available via SlideME’s app.
An old hand at the app store game, MobiHand has been selling apps for a number of platforms for several years.
Via its OnlyAndroid store it offers a wide range apps and differentiates itself with discounted apps. The store sells phone accessories such as chargers and cases in addition to apps.
MobiHand OnlyAndroid also offers an app to access its store from your phone.
Appsfire
Like AppBrain, Appsfire doesn’t offer apps itself, instead acting as an alternative to the official Market.
While available on the Web, Appsfire really comes into its own on your Android handset, offering smart app recommendations based on the apps you already have installed.
It highlights currently discounted apps, currently popular apps on the Market and offers curated lists of top apps chosen by experts. Newly launched Aproov is a Web-based app store initially focusing exclusively on free Android apps. Customer ratings and reviews are supported and developers are able to upload videos of their apps in action, something that is promised for the future in the official Android Market.
Amazon Appstore
Amazon’s app store is probably the most well-known alternative to the Android Market.
If you are in the USA, the Amazon App Store is a great alternative to the Android Market. Not only is it chock-full of paid apps and free apps, it gives away a new paid app every day.
Allowing Non-Market Apps
By default, Android blocks you from installing apps from anywhere that isn’t the
Android Market.
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