Google includes its services and suite of applications on all Android powered smartphones and uses this to generate revenue under the Android brand. Another source of income for Google from Android is through the Google Play Store which is the official distributor of apps on the platform. Google Play Store goes through a strict scrutiny process before it approves any applications to be listed on the app store, this means that many apps that are actually good and useful for the users do not make it due to the strict policies of the Play Store.
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Luckily, Android is an open-source operating system and allows users to install the apps from third-party sources outside the official Google Play Store. This has not prevented the developers from building apps and there are several worthy apps outside of the Google Play Store including Videoder (a youtube videos downloading app) and more which are available through third-party app stores or their official websites.
Apps Which Are Not On Play Store
Here are the top 5 Android apps that are not on the Google Play Store:
1. Videoder
Videoder is essentially a YouTube Downloader application, it allows you to download videos from YouTube and many other video streaming services including Facebook. The app comes with a very well-designed UI and has been maintained for several years now. The Videoder app comes with an inbuilt Ad Blocker enabled browser so that you can browse the different websites peacefully without intrusive advertisements and download the content of your choice. The app works very responsively and downloads the videos at a very high speed compared to most other options in the market right now.
The Videoder also allows users to download the videos in 4K resolution, a feature that is commonly unavailable on most YouTube downloader Android Apps. The app has been downloaded over 40 million times according to the website and supports over 50 websites allowing you to easily download video content across sites. The supported sites include YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, 9Gag, Soundcloud, Voot, and more.
2. Popcorn Time
Popcorn Time is a famous Windows app that has been ported to Android officially by the developers, this app enables users to stream content including movies and TV shows. This app allows users to watch a wide catalog of movies and shows without having to download first. This can be a massive savior for users who do not wish to take up multiple subscriptions to keep up and be able to watch their favorite shows. It is important to know that Downloading copyrighted content might be illegal and the use of services such as Popcorn Time is at the user’s risk.
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Popcorn Time works by integrating a BitTorrent client within the app and integrating it with a media player. Popcorn Time constantly searches the web for the best torrents from the most common sites and includes them in the catalog. There are no restrictions and you can watch any movie or TV show as many times as you wish as long as you have a stable internet connection. The app offers multiple streaming qualities aggregated from different torrent sources so that you can choose what is best for you based on your available bandwidth at that moment. The app also comes with subtitle and Chromecast support making it a perfect choice for someone who wants to binge-watch during the lockdown.
3. AdAway
AdAway is an open-source ad blocker for Android using the hosts file, it is completely free, and the code can be accessed openly for users to review, contribute, and improve. This means that you do not need to worry about the app being malicious or stealing your data. The AdAway ad blocker allows you to block specific ads by adding your own custom hosts and custom rules. This allows you to whitelist, blacklist, and add rules for redirects. The AdAway app is not available on Google Play Store for obvious reasons considering that the biggest chunk of revenue for Google is from Ads.
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The app needs root access to function properly and will seek permission for Reading and Write access to the System. The ads are generally not blocked on mobile data by default and doesn’t work on Chrome due to the Data Compression Proxy. However, for most users and most applications, AdAway can provide a completely Ad-free experience on all the common apps. The app also comes with support for 62 languages meaning that you can comfortably use the app in a language of your choice.
4. XTunes
XTunes is an extremely easy and friendly application allowing users to download MP3 files of their favorite soundtracks. XTunes works similarly to the Popcorn Time app we mentioned before. The app provides access to Bollywood, English, Pop, Remix, Regional Music Albums, and Songs. You can also navigate around the app to get US/UK Billboard Charts and Monthly Hit Songs.
The in-built search option allows you to search in the app for the different music that you might be looking for and you can use the MP3 Downloader to download the songs of your choice locally to your device easily. The app aggregates various sources to provide an easy way of downloading the MP3 files of songs without having to go through a lengthy process.
5. Amazon App Store
The Amazon App Store is similar to Google Play Store and essentially works as an alternative for devices that do not support the official Google Play Store and for developers who wish to publish their apps but were rejected by Google due to strict policies. Amazon App Store comes pre-loaded on Amazon Android-based devices such as Kindle Fire. You can also download the Amazon App Store manually from their official website, this app allows you to easily download your other favorite apps and save money on in-app purchases using Amazon Coins.
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The Amazon App Store comes with a very easy to use interface and allows you to discover top apps and games or get recommendations based on titles you like. You retain access to all your apps and can get the updates or manage subscriptions all in one place easily.
Update :
Fortnite
An online video game developed by Epic Games, Fortnite was released in 2018 but is not made available via Google Play Store. Aren’t you surprised ? Fortnite skipped its launch on the Google Play Store as the Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeny blamed the “economics of the store ecosystem” which he further explains as a 30/70 split.They would lose 30 percent of the money made through the in-app purchases in Google Play Store, compared to games downloaded directly from Epic Games. By preventing a part of their revenue from being eaten up, the developers have made Fortnite available to download from their official website with the help of APK. The company is in an attempt to take a more economically efficient path by doing so.
Lucky Patcher
Lucky Patcher is one of those helpful applications Google Play Store does not provide. It is a free Android modifier app that provides unlimited access to games, can block ads, remove unwanted system apps, backup apps before and after modifying, move apps to SD card, remove license verification from paid apps and games etc. Being an ad-remover, it will help you exactly at the time you might need it. So if you are playing a game and an advertisement pops up and gets you all irritated and fussy, go ahead and download this app to remove them for good.
Update (January 2021)
- MiXplorer
it is one of the most useful applications that are not available on Google Play Store. It is a file manager just like Google Files, only more efficient. It combines the files & documents of every file explorer present in your phone. it is a one-stop solution for document categorization.
It also arranges the file according to your customized settings. It can also connect to your cloud storage app & transfer files. It showcases every downloaded file under 1 single list. It also provides categorizations options to the user so that he can categorize files accordingly.
It is one of the best file tracking app. You can download this application from the official site.
Akhil Taneja
I am an Android Enthusiast and a Ninja at content creation. I love writing anything about technology and pro at reviewing smartphones. Big time expert in multiple facets of content generation