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Sometimes an Android app you want to install is not available in the Google Play Store. This could be for several reasons: it might be geo-blocked, it might contain adult content, or it might have been removed by the developer.
But even if an app isn't available through the usual channels, you still have ways to get it installed on your device. You must get a copy of the APK file to download it.
Several websites specialize in offering APK files for download. Some are better than others, so read on if you want to discover the best sites to download APKs safely.
The Importance of Choosing a Safe APK Site
APK is the file format of Android. Short for Android Package Kit, it is the primary way Android applications are distributed and installed. When you download an app from Google Play, you download an APK file and run it in the background, but you don't have access to the APK itself.
Because APK files install apps on your system, they can pose a serious security threat. A malicious person could modify the APK before installing it and then use it as a digital Trojan horse to install and run malware.
Therefore, you need to make sure that the website you are using is trustworthy. You should thoroughly review all APKs and have a history of safety and reliability.
1.APKMirror
APKMirror is probably the best Android APK download site. The site is owned and operated by the same team that created the widely read Android news site Android Police, which should reassure you that you're in good hands.
From a security perspective, APKMirror has some strict guidelines:
- The staff will check all APKs uploaded to the site before publishing.
- The website compares the cryptographic signatures of the new versions of the applications with the previous versions (to ensure that the real developers signed them).
- New apps are compared to other apps from the same developer to verify their legitimacy.
The bottom line is that APKMirror won't publish the file if it can't verify the validity of an APK file. That is why you will not find any modified APKs, hacked apps or paid apps on the website.
For each app, you can get previous versions, view information from Google Play, and access a list of related apps. If an app you install from APKMirror receives an update from Google Play after you install it on your device, it will be automatically updated to the latest version.
2.APK
Probably APKMirror's biggest main competitor is APKPure. The two sides started almost simultaneously. Like APKMirror, this APK downloader adheres to strict security practices to ensure that every APK it saves is safe and virus-free.
So how is APKPure safe? The website verifies the legitimacy of all applications using SHA1 before publishing to ensure the certificate is secure. Cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps must match previously released versions, and brand new apps are compared to other software from the same developer.
Again, if APKPure has concerns about an app's safety or provenance, the company will not publish it on the site. There are no modified APKs in APKPure. In terms of website usability, APKPure pulls screenshots, app descriptions, and general metadata directly from Google.
There is also a list of previous versions of the app in case you want to revert to an earlier version (either due to features or bugs).
APKPure also hasan android appaccessible. You needDownload the appto install it, but once up and running it can act as a Google Play replacement.
3.APK-Downloader
We really like APKMirror and APKPure. In truth, you should never have a reason to go anywhere else. But let's play it safe and quickly present you with some other options.
First up is APK Downloader. All APKs are from the Google Play Store, so you can rest assured of their security and protection. As with the other sites on this list, there's also a lot of metadata, which means you can bypass Google Play entirely if you want to.
4.Aptoide
Aptoide is another giant in the world of APK downloads; It has more than 200 million users and has been responsible for six billion downloads. Like APKPure provides the sitean Android APK appWith it, you can access the store and download APK files directly from your Android device.
The company was also an early adopter of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The site's token, called AppCoins, allows developers to increase their revenue share, among other things.
Why isn't Aptoide closer to the top of this list? In short, because it allows users to manage their own stores and therefore allows modded APKs to access the platform. They're well marked, but if you're not careful you could accidentally download one.
5.Yalp-Shop
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The Yalp Store differs from the other apps on this site: there is no web version. Instead, you need to install F-Droid's app, which itself is one of theThe best alternatives to Google Play.
Once the Yalp Store app is installed on your Android device, you can use it to download APKs directly from the Google Play Store. This means you don't have to worry about middlemen planting malware in APKs before they get them.
If you have rooted your device, Yalp Store can even update apps in the background without your intervention. Best of all, you don't need a Google account to download APKs from Google Play. It will please a lot of people who areBeware of Play Store privacy issue.
6.APKMonk
APKMonk is another popular APK app download site. The site has a heavy focus on gaming apps, with trending games currently taking center stage on the site's homepage.
We believe APKMonk is safe to use. When you click on a listing, you can see all previous versions of the app, metadata from the Google Play Store, app images, and links to the original listing in the store. The site runs its own malware checks before allowing any app on its platform.
You can also use APKMonk to download regular apps. Again, they are divided into popular and trending categories.
7.APK yesterday
APKHere is the best APK site for foreign language APKs that are not available on the default Google Play store near you. Sure, there's plenty of English content for you to delve into, but you'll also find German APKs, Chinese APKs, Russian APKs, and more.
While the APKs on APKHere are safe, we cannot guarantee the safety of some apps ourselves. China and Russia are not known for their strict security and privacy practices, so you should be careful and do your own research before installing any of them on your device.
Take extra precautions before installing an APK
No matter where you download your APK file from, you should always make sure that there are no nasty surprises lurking in the code. Several services can scan APK files for malware. We recommend the MetaDefender and VirusTotal drag-and-drop tools.
And for extra protection, you can also install antivirus software on your phone.