Google Play Market is the most favorite place for Android users, because this is where we most often find interesting games and useful applications. However, there are many reasons why you might need to download an APK (Android Package Kit) file without using Google Play. For example, the desired application may not be available for Russia, or the smartphone's specifications meet the game's requirements, but Play Market reports that it is not supported on the device. After all, the developer could have deleted the program you need.
The ability to install applications from any sources except Google Play is initially disabled on all devices. To enable this feature, open the "Settings → Security" section and check the "Unknown sources" box. Let us remind you that when actively surfing the Internet, it is better to prohibit installation from unknown sources, since there are a large number of sites that distribute viruses. They can harm not only your phone, but also steal money from your bank card.
APKPure
Founded in 2014 APKPure has become one of the leading sites in the smartphone software industry, with over 150 million visitors per month. APKPure has a web service and a dedicated Android client for downloading APK and XAPK (games with cache) files.
Before publishing on the site, all APK files are checked for viruses and undergo a developer signature check using SHA1. Cryptographic signatures for new versions must match previously published ones, and completely new applications are compared with other programs from the same developer. If APKPure has any doubts about the security of a file, it will not be published on the site. Therefore, they are completely safe to download.
The process of downloading any APK can be easily paused and resumed at any time. The editors of the site select the best games every day - you will never miss a single popular new product. APKPure has a very user-friendly interface with a large library of applications and games in all categories. It is possible to download old versions of applications. And also offers a selection of games that have not yet been officially published in the Play Store, but you can already pre-register for them.
APKMirror
APKMirror — the most popular site among Android users. You can find most applications in a variety of categories on it. All APKs are signed with developer certificates, which makes downloading absolutely safe. The validity of certificates is checked manually by moderators. Therefore, you will not find any modified or hacked programs here. APKMirror is regularly updated and provides the latest versions of files. For ease of search, there is sorting by popularity — you can easily find the most popular files for a month, 7 days or 24 hours.
One of the features of the site that is worth noting is the ability to download old versions of APK. This can be useful when the latest version of your favorite application does not work as before or there is a lot of advertising. If you want, you can even download WhatsApp, which was in 2014. Whether it will work correctly is another question.
APKMirror is managed by the authoritative news outlet AndroidPolice. APKMirror does not have its own mobile store, so all the necessary information is located only on the site. Despite this, the applications that you download from the site will be able to receive automatic updates from Google Play.
Softpedia
Softpedia — is a Romanian website that was founded in 2003. Users can sort apps by various criteria, such as the date of the last update, the number of downloads or the rating. Softpedia shows its own screenshots, not from Google Play Market. All APK files that you can download here are genuine (not repackaged, not modified) and have the digital signature of the developer.
This means that after installing APK from Softpedia you will receive updates via the Google Play Store, as well as the applications you usually install from there. In addition, before publishing on the site, all files are scanned by several antivirus programs, as proof of this, a link to the scan log is provided when you click the Download button.
Uptodown
Website Uptodown was created in 2002 and is headquartered in Spain. It is currently among the 180 most visited websites in the world according to Alexa. More than 90 million users from all over the world use Uptodown every month to access a huge catalog that includes more than 30,000 applications in APK format. All files are checked for viruses before being published on the site through the VirusTotal service, which contains a database of 50 antivirus programs.
Uptodown gives you full access to all Android apps, including their latest updates, without having to create a Google account. In addition to the website, Uptodown has an official Android client where you can access a number of useful tools, such as automatic updates and the ability to install previous versions.
Another useful feature of Uptodown is the ability to roll back to an older version of the program. If the update has done more harm than good, you can go back to the previous version until the developers fix everything. The service uses so-called neutral screenshots that show how the application really looks, instead of promotional screenshots from the developers.
Aptoide
Aptoide has won the hearts of millions of users thanks to its superbly designed interface. Since its launch in 2009, the service has been steadily gaining downloads (6 billion) and active users (over 200 million).
Aptoide not only has a website, but also an official Android client, which has the ability to automatically update applications installed through their service. One of its unique features is the ability to enable/disable adult content. The service supports Russian language and smart suggestions based on your previous download history.
Trusted apps are marked with a green icon, and there are also indicators of whether the app has been flagged as controversial or malicious. If an APK has not been verified, Aptoide marks it as “unknown” without deleting it, so be careful. The Aptoide store is translated into many languages (more than forty), and is even available in a list of countries where Google Play has a limited presence, such as China and Iran.
GetJar
GetJar — is an independent mobile app store based in Lithuania. The service was launched in 2004 as a beta testing platform, but in 2014, the Chinese company Sungy Mobile acquired GetJar and took it to the next level.
Now the service provides almost 1 million mobile applications for all major mobile platforms, including Android. On a good day, the number of downloads can exceed 3 million. Downloading is quite fast and safe. GetJar is very popular among users and is a great alternative to the standard Google Play store.
F-Droid
F-Droid — one of the oldest APK file repositories. It has an open source code, like any application on the platform. Therefore, it is more suitable for programmers than for ordinary users. Moreover, it does not have popular games, because they do not disclose their source code. There is another drawback — the site allows independent developers to publish their projects, but it does not particularly monitor their quality.
Applications are most often small projects and low-level utilities created to customize the Android OS as precisely as possible. F-Droid is a non-profit volunteer organization that anyone can join to help or donate money for development.