Sometimes an Android app that you’d like to install isn’t available on the Google Play Store. It could be geo-blocked, contain adult content, be removed by the developer, or it can occur for any number of reasons.
Even if an app isn’t available via the usual channels you still have options to install it on your phone. To sideload the APK file, you will need to obtain a copy.
Many sites offer APK files to download. There are many sites that offer APK files for download, and some are better than others. Keep reading to find out which ones are safest.
How important is it to choose a safe APK site?
The primary method Android apps are distributed is via the APK file. You can download and run an APK file while you wait for the app to finish downloading. However, you don’t have access to the actual APK.
APK files can install apps on your computer and pose a security risk. A malicious person could modify the APK file before installing it and then use it to install malware.
You need to make sure that the website you choose is trustworthy. It must thoroughly verify all APKs, and provide a track record of reliability and security.
1. APKMirror
This site is operated and owned by the same team who created Android Police, a widely-read news site about Android. It should be reassuring to know that you are in good hands.
APKMirror’s security policies are strong.
- Before publishing, staff verify that all APKs have been verified by the staff.
- To ensure that the authentic developers signed them, the site compares cryptographic signatures of new versions of apps to previous versions.
- To verify the legitimacy of brand-new apps, they are compared against apps by the same developer.
The bottom line is that APKMirror won’t publish an APK file if it can’t verify its validity. This means that you won’t see any modified APKs, or pirated or paid apps on this site.
You can download older versions of each app and view information pulled from Google Play. A list of related apps is also available. APKMirror will automatically update any app that you have downloaded from Google Play.
2. APKPure
APKPure is the biggest mainstream competitor to APKMirror. Both sites were launched at the same time. This APK downloader, like APKMirror, follows strict security procedures to ensure that all APKs saved are virus-free.
How is APKPure secure? To ensure that the certificate is secure, the site verifies all apps’ legitimacy before publishing them. New versions of apps require cryptographic signatures that match previous versions. All new apps are checked against any software by the same developer.
APKPure will not publish any app if it has questions about its security or origins. APKPure does not allow modified APKs. APKPure pulls screenshots and app descriptions directly from Google for site usability.
You can also find a list of older app releases in case of bugs or features.
APKPure also offers an Android application. To install the app, you will need to sideload it. However, once it is up and running, it can be used as a replacement for Google Play.
3. APK Downloader
We love APKPure and APKMirror. You shouldn’t have any reason to visit a different website. Let’s not be too cautious and let us quickly show you some other options.
APK Downloader is the first. You can feel confident that all APKs have been pulled from Google Play Store. You can also avoid Google Play completely, as there is a lot of metadata.
4. Aptoide
Aptoide, another major APK download site, has over 200 million users and six billion downloads. The site also offers an Android APK application which allows you to access the store and download APKs directly from your Android phone.
It was also the first company to adopt blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. AppCoins, the site’s token, allows developers to increase their revenue share among other uses.
Why is Aptoide not higher up on this list? It allows users to manage their own shops and lets them upload modified APKs. You might not be paying attention and downloading them by mistake.
5. Yalp Store
Yalp Store differs from other apps on the site. There is no web version. You will need to download the app from F-Droid instead, which is one of the best options for Google Play.
After the Yalp Store app has been installed on your Android phone, you can download APKs from the Google Play Store directly. This means that you don’t have to worry about malware being injected into APKs by middlemen before you can get them.
Yalp Store will update your apps automatically if you have rooted the device. You don’t even need a Google account in order to download APKs from Google Play. Many people will be happy to download the APKs from Google Play, even if they are concerned about Google’s privacy practices.
6. APKMonk
Another popular APK download site is APKMonk. This site is heavily focused on games, with the most popular apps taking center stage on its homepage.
APKMonk seems safe to us. You can click on a listing to see all previous versions, metadata from Google Play Store, images and links back the original listing. Before allowing any app onto the platform, the site conducts its own malware tests.
APKMonk can be used to download regular apps. They are also organized in popular and current categories.
7. APKHere
APKHere is the best APK website for foreign-language APKs. It’s not available in your default Google Play Store. There is plenty of English content, but you can also find German APKs and Chinese APKs as well as Russian APKs.
Although APKHere is safe, we can’t guarantee the safety of certain apps. China and Russia are not well-known for their privacy and security practices. You should be cautious and research the apps before you install them.
Be Extra Careful Before Installing an APK
You should ensure that your APK file is clean and free from any potential dangers. APK files can be scanned by several services. We recommend using the MetaDefender and VirusTotal drag-and-drop tools.
