0 Where to Download Android Apps

Android Marketplaces

• Google Play
  
• Amazon Appstore
  
• AppBrain
  
• OnlyAndroid
  
• FDroid
  

Where to find Android apps is a question often asked by those bored of the official Google marketplace or the one operated by one's own mobile provider. There are a surprising number of places across the Web where one can purchase and download a variety of apps not available in the official stores. In fact, this is one the great benefits of using an Android device over that of an iOS device. Below is a brief list of five of the most popular marketplaces on the Internet.

Google Play

The first stop for any Android user should be Google Play. Previously, Google operated the Android Market and Google Music services separately. It has now brought those two services together. The rebranded service also provides access to digitally-distributed movies and books. The appstore might not include every Android app in existence, but it does provide access to the largest single collection.

Amazon

Amazon launched a marketplace for Android in March 2011 with a small collection of 3,600 apps. In a little more than a year, the Amazon Appstore has grown to include thousands of apps across an array of genres. They also operate a daily special in which users can download a paid app for free. While it does not quite rival Google Play, it is quickly becoming a popular stop for Android users.

AppBrain

AppBrain is one of the best independent Android marketplaces, and it can provide some interesting finds not found in Google's official store. The store comes in two varieties as a website and as an app. Users can search through the large database and narrow down the results by genre and Android version. AppBrain provides a nice alternative to Google Play.

OnlyAndroid

OnlyAndroid is an app store operated by MobiHand. MobiHand has been involved in selling and distributing mobile apps since 2004. Their website provides an easy to use interface for finding any kind of apps which you require.

FDroid

FDroid is unique in that it is a marketplace for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). They do not provide a wide variety of apps, but the apps are provided freely in the tradition of FOSS. If open source is your thing, then FDroid is definitely the place for you.

Word of Caution

As one commenter, Andrew Pecinovsky, has pointed out, it is always wise to proceed with caution when downloading apps from untrusted sources. I would even extend that to trusted sources.