The first alternative Android app store is now available in Google Play in the U.S.

Credit: Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek Published Aug 10, 2026, 10:33 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account If you live in the U.S., no longer have to jump through hoops to install a third-party Android app store on your phone. Weeks after Google loosened its policies, the first alternative shop is available through the Play Store. The mostly game-oriented Aptoide store is now available. The catalog on launch largely includes games you'll recognize, such as Roblox, although you'll also find many non-gaming apps that include Instagram. Netflix, and even Google programs. The main allure, as with many rival shops, is to find apps that aren't available in the Play Store. This can include apps that don't abide by Google's policies, such as some system modification tools, as well as earlier app versions that still run on older devices. Third-party stores have been around since Android's early days, such as F-Droid. Until now, though, you've typically had to either sideload them or find them pre-installed on devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Store or Amazon's now-defunct Appstore. That limited practical choices, particularly if you're inexperienced with sideloading or don't know which stores to trust. Like any third-party store reaching the portal, Aptoide is part of Google's Play Catalog Access Program. In exchange for receiving access to Play Store listings, Aptoide has to honor basic privacy, security, and trust policies as well as let Google charge service fees. Developers on the Play Store can opt out of sharing access to third-party marketplaces, so you can't assume that a favorite will make the cut. Why is Google allowing third-party app stores on Android? It's the end of a long legal fight Credit: Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek The first third-party app store's debut on Android marks the end of a six-year battle over Google's control of the platform. Fortnite developer Epic Games sued Google (and Apple) in 2020 for allegedly monopolizing app distribution, which supposedly hurt competition. Creators often had to go through the Play Store to reach a meaningfully large audience, and that meant accepting Google's fees and policies. Epic prevailed in 2023, with Google losing both an initial appeal and a Supreme Court decision in 2025. Google went on to settle the case in November that year, when it allowed third-party stores, eliminated Play Store exclusives, and enabled third-party billing for some apps. In return, Google got permission to set "reasonable, neutral" safety and security requirements. This doesn't guarantee lower prices or greater software flexibility. It could help alternative store operators reach many more customers. That theoretically increases pressure on Google to both adjust pricing and allow a wider variety of apps.