The beauty of Android, as already explained several times, is that it is a free and open source system, therefore editable by developers. For this reason, while to install applications on the iPhone you must necessarily use the Apple store, to download apps from Android you can also do without the official Google Play store.
Certainly using Google Play has advantages, first of all the fact that all the apps released on the store must meet a certain type of requirements and, therefore, are or should almost always be completely safe for the phone.
There are, however, other alternative stores for Android, which are collections of applications that also include those apps absent from the Google Play Store by choice or, above all for lack of requirements, sometimes for reasons of geolocation, sometimes because they do things that are not allowed or because it turned out not to be respectful of privacy.
Below we therefore see all the best ways to download Android apps and the alternatives to the Play Store to be used without a Google account .
1) First of all, let's talk about the Google Play store, which in any case remains the preferred way to download Android apps .
Without getting bored describing a procedure now consolidated and known by everyone, let's just say that from any Android smartphone you can open the Play Store, log in with a Google account (possibly to be created new directly from the phone) and then search and download the apps to install them automatically .
In some cases the permissions required by the application will be accepted, which in some cases could be invasive and, therefore, to be checked (for example if an app with a compass requires access to the address book is a bit strange).
The apps from the store can also be downloaded from the Google Play site by logging in (by pressing the button at the top right) with the same Google account used to register on the smartphone.
Pressing the Install button from the site automatically activates the command to download an app to the phone without having to make any manual transfers.
NOTE: What to do if Google Play isn't there?
In some Chinese Android smartphones, in Amazon tablets or in mobile phones with a Custom ROM installed, the Play Store may be missing.
In these cases, to install it there are two ways: one by installing the collection of Gapps from the recovery console, via the "flash" procedure, or through procedures that vary depending on the device.
In another article we saw how to install the PlayStore on Amazon Fire tablets.
READ ALSO: Guide to the Google Play Store, tricks and options to know
2) Download the APK files of the App
Following the procedure of the linked article, you will find out how easy it is to install the applications manually, without going through the Google Play Store and also how to keep the apps updated without taking risks and on a completely regular basis.
Knowing how to install APK is the necessary step to be able to install an alternative store to the Google Play Store.
3) Amazon Store
The Amazon store is the main competitor to that of Google Play, which contains many of the most popular apps and games, which many should consider.
The Amazon Underground app, in fact, allows you to download free paid apps on a regular and controlled basis, without piracy or anything else.
These are simply promotional offers, often very advantageous and which also concern popular games such as Monument Valley or others.
4) Fdroid
This store is also of extraordinary interest because it contains all the open source applications, free and 100% free.
The client manages downloads, installation and updates of the various applications which are all safe, controlled and regular.
READ ALSO: Top 20 free open source apps for Android
5) Getjar
GetJar is a lesser-known store that has existed even before Android was born, which provides collections of free apps for iPhone, Windows and Blackberry as well.
As on the Amazon Store, also on Getjar you can find numerous app offers that are paid on the Google store.
6) Blackmart.us allows you to download apps even if they are not compatible with your smartphone or tablet, without needing to use a Google account.
In this market store there are only free applications.
7) Aptoid
This is a particular store because it allows anyone to create their own collection of applications and is not managed by a single control entity.
There are three versions of Aptoide, one standard, one for low-end mobile phones and one for Android TVs.
Although Aptoide is now a great alternative to the Play Store, downloading Android apps from this store is not recommended because its lack of control and rules puts users at risk who could easily install very dangerous virus apps.
