Sometimes, an Android app yous want to install is not available in the Google Play Store. This can happen for a number of reasons: perhaps it's geo-blocked, it could contain adult content, or the developer might have removed it.

Merely fifty-fifty when an app is not available through the usual channels, you still have ways to install information technology on your device. You lot need to become a copy of the APK file and so you can sideload information technology.

Several sites specialize in offer APK files for download. Some are meliorate than others, and then go on reading if you want to find the all-time sites for downloading APKs safely.

The Importance of Choosing a Prophylactic APK Site

An APK file (brusque for Android Packet Kit) is the principal way Android apps are distributed and installed. When y'all download an app from Google Play, yous're downloading and running an APK file in the background, but you have no access to the APK itself.

Because the APK files install apps on your system, they tin pose a serious security threat. A person will malicious intentions could modify the APK before you install information technology, and so use information technology as a digital Trojan horse to install and run malware.

Thus, y'all need to ensure that the site you utilise is reliable. It should thoroughly vet all APKs and have a history of security and reliability.

1. APKMirror

APKMirror is probably the best Android APK download site.

The site is owned and operated by the aforementioned team that's responsible for the widely-read Android news site, Android Police, which should reassure you lot that you're in safe hands.

From a security standpoint, APKMirror has some robust policies in place:

  • Staff verify all APKs uploaded to the site prior to publishing.
  • The site matches cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps with previous versions (to ensure the true developers signed them).
  • Brand-new apps are matched against other apps from the same developer to verify their legitimacy.

The bottom line is that if APKMirror cannot verify an APK file's validity, it won't publish the file. Because of this, you won't detect any modded APKs, pirated apps, or paid apps on the site.

For each app, you can grab older versions, encounter information pulled from Google Play, and access a listing of related apps. If an app you lot install from APKMirror receives an update from Google Play after you take installed it on your device, information technology will upgrade to the latest version automatically.

ii. APKPure

The biggest mainstream competitor to APKMirror is arguably APKPure. The 2 sites launched around the same time. Similar APKMirror, the site abides past rigorous security practices to make sure all the APKs you download are prophylactic and virus-free.

And so how is APKPure rubber? The site verifies the legitimacy of all apps before publishing by using SHA1 to ensure the certificate is safe. Cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps must match previously published versions, and entirely new apps are matched against other software from the same developer.

Once again, if APKPure has doubts virtually the security or origins of an app, the company won't publish information technology on the site. In that location are no modded APKs on APKPure. In terms of site usability, APKPure pulls screenshots, app descriptions, and general metadata directly from Google.

There's too a listing of previous app releases in example you desire to roll back to an older version (either due to features or bugs.)

APKPure also has an Android app available. You need to sideload the app to install it, but once it's upwards and running, information technology tin can act equally a replacement for Google Play.

3. APK Downloader

Nosotros really like APKMirror and APKPure. In truth, you shouldn't ever really have a reason to go to a different site. Only let'south err on the side of caution and quickly introduce you to a few other options.

First up is APK Downloader. All the APKs are pulled from the Google Play Shop so that you tin be confident in their security and safety. As with the other sites on this list, there'southward also plenty of metadata, meaning you can avoid Google Play entirely if you wish.

4. Aptoide

Aptoide is some other giant of the APK downloading world; it has more 200 million users and has been responsible for six billion downloads. Like APKPure, the site offers an Android app that lets you lot access the store and download APK files directly from your Android device.

The company was likewise one of the first to embrace blockchain engineering science and cryptocurrencies. The site's token—called AppCoins—lets developers increment their revenue share, amidst other uses.

Why is Aptoide non closer to the top of this listing? In short, because it allows users to manage their ain stores and thus lets modded APKs onto the platform. They are well signaled, but if you're non paying attention, you might download ane by blow.

5. Yalp Store

Yalp Store is unlike the other apps on this site—at that place'south no web version. Instead, you need to install the app from F-Droid, which itself is one of the best alternatives to Google Play.

Once the Yalp Store app is installed on your Android device, you tin utilize it to download APKs direct from the Google Play Store. It means you don't need to worry about any middlemen injecting malware into the APKs earlier you get hold of them.

If you have rooted your device, Yalp Shop tin even update apps in the groundwork without any input from you lot. Best of all, yous don't demand to have a Google account to download the APKs from Google Play. It volition please many people who are wary of Google's privacy practices.

half-dozen. APKMonk

APKMonk is some other pop APK download site. The site has a heavy focus on gaming apps, with currently trending games taking center stage on the site's homepage.

Nosotros recollect APKMonk is safe to utilize. When you click into a listing, you volition encounter all the previous versions of the app, metadata pulled from the Google Play Store, images of the app, and links back to the original list on the store. The site runs its ain malware checks before allowing an app onto its platform.

You can likewise utilise APKMonk to download regular apps. Again, they are organized into popular and trending categories.

7. APKHere

APKHere is the best APK site for foreign-language APKs that are not available in the default Google Play Store in your locale. Sure, there is plenty of English content for y'all to dig into, however, you will also find German APKs, Chinese APKs, Russian APKs, and a whole lot more.

While the APKs on APKHere are safe, we cannot vouch for the rubber of some of the apps themselves. China and Russian federation are not known for their robust security and privacy practices, so you should practise caution and practise your own research before installing any of them on your device.

No matter where you download your APK file from, you should e'er take responsibleness to ensure no nasty surprises are lurking in the code. Several services can scan APK files for malware. We recommend the drag-and-drop MetaDefender and VirusTotal.

Need some ideas for what apps to download? Check out our list of the about popular Android apps on Google Play. You can find a link to information technology below.

The 20 Almost Popular Android Apps in the Google Play Store

What are the almost popular Android apps? Here are the most downloaded apps in the Google Play Store!

Read Adjacent

About The Author

Dan Price (1608 Articles Published)

Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been Partnerships Director since July 2020. Accomplish out to him for inquires about sponsored content, affiliate agreements, promotions, and any other forms of partnership. You lot can also find him roaming the show floor at CES in Las Vegas every year, say hello if you're going. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant.

More From Dan Price