The Ultimate List of Top Mobile App Stores

A few years ago there were a limited number of useful websites on the internet but now we have a numerous number of sites and each one of them serving its purpose. Well, we can also see websites and platforms serving the same thing but from different businesses which eventually gives consumers more choices. Just like the various app stores where you find different applications from different developers.

If we particularly talk about the app stores then the app creators and mobile app development companies no longer stick to the Google Play Store and the Apple Play Store. Well, to be honest, many consumers do not even have an idea about the other app stores available on the other. Yes, other options exist and since they do not have enough reach than the Big Two, the other people do not know much about them.

Mobile app stores are designed for specific niches and industries or for particular markets that deserve your attention if you want more app downloads and better visibility. However, there are a few ways like app store optimization but most importantly you need the users to interact with your application and with your brand.

Because of the lack of attention from the users and no money flow, there are many mobile app stores that have been shut down over the last few years. Having a knowledge of these mobile apps will help both the brands and consumers. So, we have updated the mobile app stores list so you know where to reach consumers in 2021 and consumers can know about the platforms from which they can download the applications.

Android Vs iOS

While exploring the list down below you will find out that the majority of the mobile app stores are focused on Android devices as there are few reasons behind it. 

-> Android is an open platform that allows everyone to play with it and come up with advancements.

-> Android’s market share stands at just over 54 percent.

-> Google Play Store has a few limitations which limit your android app development. On the other hand, the alternate android app stores do not have any which makes the alternatives more appealing to the users.

However, there is one online mobile app store designed specifically for jailbroken iOS devices which are known as Cydia. Let us talk about it in our main list below.

App Submission and Listings 

The listed mobile app stores work differently as each has a different process for submitting your apps and getting them listed in their marketplaces. Some of the app stores are restrictive and some are not, as some of them are focused on specific categories of apps.

So, before you submit your application to an online marketplace or online app store then read the submission guidelines carefully. We also suggest you work with experienced mobile app development companies which ensure your apps meet minimum standards and can compete successfully against others of their type.

Also Read: Guide to App Store Optimization

The Ultimate List of Top Mobile App Stores 

As we are going to talk in detail about these app stores, let us start with the two giants in the industry – Google Play Store and Apple Play Store and then move ahead with less accepted options for the mobile applications on the internet.

1. Google Play Store

The Google Play Store is a renowned mobile app store where the developers and android mobile app development companies can host their apps for the users to download and use them. Google store also hosts movies, songs, etc. but is known for the hosting of the apps. It came into existence in 2008 and exclusively targets the android market. As of today, there are 2.56 million apps available through the Google Play Store.

Google Play store makes finding apps easy for the consumers and that is why it is highly praised among businesses. Listing your application on Google Play Store is a great idea but you also need to make sure your app catches the eyes of the users otherwise your app can get buried in search results. However, there are other androids specific mobile app stores that you can also consider to host your application.

2. Apple App Store

What Google Play is for Android users, Apple App Store is for the iOS stores. As of the fourth quarter of 2020, the Apple App Store is the second-largest app store with almost 2.09 million available apps for iOS. Apple app store is not only home to iOS mobile devices but also for Apple TV, and Apple Watch, among the products. As an iOS mobile app development company hosting your app on the Apple store gives your app the best potential for discovery. But make sure you have around 3-4 million competitors in these mobile app stores and that is why you might want to consider listing your app elsewhere.

3. Samsung Galaxy App Store

Most of the options available in the list are from the device manufacturers as they have found out that they can integrate their customers more fully under their brands. Since Samsung builds remarkable android devices, they come with preloaded all stores where customers have the applications they want at their fingertips. However, the number of applications in Samsung’s play store is very less so chances of discoverability increase on this platform.

4. LG Smart World

Just like Samsung, LG has a similar app store which is commonly known as SmartWorld. It comes preinstalled on LG devices especially phones. As an android app developer, this platform is also good to host your applications on this app store as it welcomes all kinds of applications, especially those that are designed for LG TVs and other devices.

5. Huawei App Store

More than 3 billion of the world’s population uses Huawei’s products and services to make calls, send text messages, or surf the internet. However, this app store’s primary target is the Chinese Market. Huawei is also installed on many of the company’s devices and allows people to install the apps without accessing the Play Store. China has the largest population in the world and your app can do wonders in the market which has such a large population. So, it will be a great idea to have your app on Huawei’s app store.

6. Sony Apps

A few years earlier, Sony covered the whole android phone market with its Xperia series, still, there can be many Sony devices found all over the world which makes its play store an amazing place to host your application. Sony allows its users to search natively on their phones or tablets without turning to Google Play. The Sony play store is glided towards entertainment applications, so if you have an entertainment android app development then this app store is perfect for your app.

7. Amazon App Store

Well, we all know a company that wants to step its foot into every field. Your guess is absolutely right. We are talking about Amazon. It’s no surprise that eCommerce giant Amazon has branched into the app space. The Amazon app store is perfect for your android app development as it comes preinstalled in many devices including Fire Phone, Kindle fire in place of the Play Store. Well, when you do not have any other option on your phone you are surely going to use what you have.

On the other hand, consumers want the least resistance in their services and when they already have the Amazon app store on their device they will definitely search for the app on it first before even thinking of other platforms. When your android application appears on Amazon App Store, it will build brand recognition along with brand loyalty.

As well know the grasp of Amazon on the internet. It itself is a brand and consumers with any android powered device can download the Amazon Appstore. So, you can surely expect more downloads in the Amazon app store.

8. Aptoide

Aptoide is a famous android app store among the many android users. There are many reasons behind it and one of them is its way of app listings display. It’s highly engaging, which makes it easy to navigate and a perfect alternative.

At Aptoide you can find every type of android application like games, productivity apps, store apps, and much more. If you want to market your app at its inception then we suggest you host your app on Aptoide alongside Google Play Store as it’s a great choice for any brand with an app. 

9. F-Droid 

F-Droid is the only android mobile app store to offer free and open-source apps in the marketplace. Consumers who really want open-source software always find their way to F-Droid. However, many brands do not consider it as an ideal choice for many brands as it flags any commercialized aspects of the app in the store. Additionally, the primary repository lists only apps that make their source code available.

F-Droid also allows the users to create their own repositories which include apps from brands that enable features like user tracking with no pushback from the user base. You can also explore the various repositories takes time, but we are sure if you want your app available on various platforms then F-Droid is an amazing platform.

10. GetJar

GetJar is another amazing app marketplace as it is an open app store that accepts android, iOS, Windows, and other OSs to make it easy for mobile app development to hosting their application. GetJar has a unique approach that makes it easy for consumers especially those who own devices with different operating systems. For instance, Android phone users might have an iPad at their home.

GetJar has also made it vulnerable to people who upload apps infected with viruses. So we suggest you have an antivirus installed on your device and must investigate the application before you download the application in order to stay safe and keep your data secured.

11. AC Market

When you are developing an application with top IT outsourcing and software development companies you must be aware of this app store called AC Market. It is specifically designed for cracked, hacked, or modded applications which means that applications found here have been altered to remove so-called “undesirable” features. Because many times Google play store and Apple App Store remove some important features out of your app as they have a strict policy but now no need to worry as you have another app store known as AC Market. If you’re concerned that your app appears on ACMarket, you can investigate the situation and warn your user base about the problems that can arise.

12. SlideME

Until now, there are many mobile app stores especially for Android, and SlideMe is no exception in the list. It is another alternative to Google Play Store where you can host both free and premium apps. However, when it was launched many users complained about it for poor downloading and installation processes. But with constant efforts from SlideMe developers, these complaints became invisible as it was loved by every mobile app development. App developers can make their apps available to hundreds of thousands of users who prefer SlideME to Google Play Store.

13. Uptodown Market

Uptodown market is another android specific mobile app store but it also hosts applications for the Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu OSs. It is a direct rival to the Google Play store in many top applications as it also allows app descriptions and editorial reviews exactly like Google Play Store.

Another prime and unique feature of Uptodown is that human beings filter all the apps that are submitted for the listing in the marketplace, which can cut down on malware, viruses, and issues with fake descriptions. Another best thing about Uptodown is that it offers free apps which are perfect for consumers and android app developers. There are many countries, including China where the users can’t access Google Play without a workaround, so uploading your applications can cater beautifully to those markets.

14. Itch.io

Although Itch.io caters almost exclusively to games and gamers, it’s still worth mentioning. Many brands have discovered that gamification makes their apps more appealing and more likely to be used, and incorporating gameplay into an app can make it more popular. Another great thing about Itch.io is that it was built for both developers and consumers, so it covers both bases beautifully. The interface isn’t as intuitive as some of the other alternatives on the market, but it possesses a clarity of purpose that makes it ideal for its audience.

15. Cydia

We have already mentioned Cydia in this post and it is different from other mobile app stores on this list. It is dedicated to iOS devices that have been jailbroken. There are many jailbroken devices that can’t access the Apple App store, so for such consumers, Cydia is really helpful to use the applications in your Apple devices.

16. neXva

NeXva can be defined as a mobile app store that has many different mobile app verticals that others have developed. It was built especially for android app developers and iOS app developers who want to control how their content is distributed among consumers, which makes it an amazing marketplace for your mobile app marketing strategy.

17. Bemodi

Opera Mobile Store is officially known as Bemodi mobile store and it is browser-specific to opera and offers mobile app downloads via the web browser rather than a self-contained app. Well, there are many users from all around the world who use Opera browser which gives you the opportunity to market your application without the user loading another app onto their devices.

18. AppBrain

AppBrain is perfect to work as an app promotion tool and a browser-based mobile app store. Brands can use AppBrain to make their apps more visible in various mobile stores, including its own, as well as to drive more traffic to their app listings.

19. 1Mobile

1Mobile is another famous android supported online app store that has been around for several years and developed an almost cult-like following. However, it mostly focuses on applications based on games and entertainment but it never distinguishes when it comes to the types of apps it supports.

20. Appolicious

Appolicious offers a very strict policy and requirements about the specific apps that make it through its gatekeepers. Its main goal is to provide the highest quality free and paid apps on the marketplace, so getting your app listed here can improve visibility significantly which can help you earn good revenue and more downloads.

21. Appland

Appland is designed to launch for both Android and iOS apps and downloads, which makes it perfect to market any mobile app as it also offers functionality for android, windows, and iOS.

22. Kongregate

Kongregate is one of the many mobile app stores that focuses on games and entertainment, yet has a robust selection of apps in other categories. Many consumers find their way to app stores because they’re looking for games, but discover brand-associated and other useful apps along the way.

Chinese Market Mobile App Stores

China has the largest population in the world and that is why many mobile app stores have been created especially for the Chinese market. Another reason behind this is because China is one of the countries that can’t access Google Play to get mobile apps. Well, they can do it using VPN but consumers prefer using a Chinese app store instead. So here are some of the most popular mobile app stores for the Chinese market where you can host your android mobile app development or iOS mobile app development. 

-> Baidu

-> 360

-> Tencent Myapp

-> Vivo

-> Wandouiia

-> PP Assistant

-> AppChina

-> Oppo

-> MaPao

-> 2345

-> HiAPK

-> Coolmart

-> Anzi Market

-> Flyme

Tencent is a well-known brand and already has a huge fan base among the users. This app store already hosts high-quality mobile applications from all over the globe and is known by many names like Tencent, Myapp, and Tencent myapp. So if you are planning to market your application in the Chinese market then Tencent and the above-listed app stores are perfect for you.

Final Thoughts

Mobile app development is just the beginning as you need to keep track of many things in order to be successful. Publishing your mobile application to a number of app stores apart from Google Play Store and Apple App Store is the right way to move ahead. This will allow more and more people to use your application. Remember there’s a lot more competition, everyone wants their apps to be successful and by the above information, you can make your app available for anyone who wants it.

Also Read: Top App Store Optimization Tools