There are many reasons why some Android apps or games you crave isn’t available on the Google Play Store. One of the most common is the region factor, where certain apps are only available for use in certain regions or countries. In this article on Naijaknowhow, you’ll find a list of the best APK download sites for Android applications.
The good news is, there are quite a few sites out there that provide Android apps or games that aren’t on the Play Store, including those that have been affected by the region blocking.
Here are some of the best Google Play Store alternative websites for downloading APKs that you can visit.
Table of Contents
Top APK Download Sites (Summary Table)
Name |
Websites |
| APKMirror | www.apkmirror.com |
| APKPure | www.apkpure.com |
| APK-DL | www.apk-dl.com |
| Aptoide | www.en.aptoide.com |
| Yalp Store | App |
| APKMonk | www.apkmonk.com |
| APKHere | www.apkhere.com |
| Softonic | www.softonic.com |
List of the Best Free and Safe Websites to Download APK (Android Apps)
1. APKMirror — www.apkmirror.com
APKMirror is seemingly one of the best APK download sites out there at the moment. This website is controlled by Android Police, one of the top websites to get android news. APKMirror even has a strict security policy of not allowing modded or pirated versions of APK files.
For each Android application that you want to download, there is also the availability of previous versions which can also be downloaded, APKMirror app details are grabbed directly from the Google Play Store and you can also download related applications.
2. APKPure — www.apkpure.com
One of the most popular competitors for APKMirror is APKPure. Just like APKMirror, APKPure also has strict security policies that ensure the APK files you download are safe and virus-free. APKPure uses SHA1 to ensure that each app’s certification is secure.
Then, there is also “cryptography” which allows you to check to find out whether the older versions of an APK file also came from the same developer, or was infiltrated by a fake developer. For others, APKPure captured screenshots, app descriptions and more directly from Google Play Store.
3. APK-DL — www.apk-dl.com
APK-DL may not be as big as the two APK download sites above, but when it comes to APK file security and app variations, this website is surely one of the best to count on. All applications and games collected by this site are all obtained directly from Google Play, so security is guaranteed and there is no mod version or a paid version that can be downloaded for free. APK-DL is so comprehensive that you can completely switch from Google Play Store to use this site as your primary place to get Android apps and games.
4. Aptoide — www.en.aptoide.com
If you’re looking for another really amazing APK download site, then this is it. Aptoide is the next largest APK file download site in the world, with more than 200 million users and 6 billion downloads when it first launched, this would surely pass to be on our best sites for APK download. Just like APKPure, this platform offers its own app that allows you to access it and download APK files right from your smartphone.
The organisation that makes Aptoide is also known for its blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Aptoide has tokens called AppCoins which can increase their income in addition to other uses.
5. Yalp Store
The next platform on this list is a bit unconventional. Yalp Store is not a web-based site but an application that, you could be wondering… why is an app on this list? Well, when you install this on your smartphone, it can be used to download APK files directly from the Google Play Store. Cool, right? With apps directly being downloaded from Play Store, I can boldly vouch for the security of the downloaded APK file, this can be guaranteed to be free of malware and viruses.
The interesting thing is, you can download as many apps/games as you want without having to sign in with a Google account. Plus, rooted smartphones can get more benefits through the application. Yalp Store, which is also one of the best alternatives, can be downloaded and installed via F-Droid.
6. APKMonk — www.apkmonk.com
APKMonk is an APK download site that is not bigger than the aforementioned, but not less popular. This site focuses on games, with the landing page instantly showing which games are trending and currently being played more. APKMonk is classified as safe because it runs its own malware check before allowing uploads of applications into its platform.
Apart from that, APKMonk also has another version of the app on offer, metadata fetched directly from the Google Play Store and links back to the app on the Play Store. This is recommended if you’re a gamer.
7. APKHere — www.apkhere.com
APKHere is one of the best APK download sites that is suitable for downloading APK files that are not available on the Play Store because they have foreign languages. Of course, APKHere has plenty of English-language apps, but through this, you can find others in German, Chinese, Russian and many more.
In terms of security concerns, APKHere is still in the guaranteed place for some of its applications. Why is that, because countries like Russia and China aren’t known for strong security and privacy practices, so it’s a good idea to remain cautious and download wisely.
8. Softonic — www.softonic.com
Softonic is also one of the most popular websites where APK files are downloaded. This website hosts lots of Android applications such as games and utility apps. This platform collects some of the best apps on Android and can surely stand as a reliable, safe and secured Play Store alternative.
With Softonic, you can download APK apps with a click of a button. Apart from downloading applications, you can also find useful guides on how to use these apps found on Softonic.
Conclusion (APK Download Sites):
There you go! That was the review of the best APK download sites or perhaps an alternative to the Google Play Store and that is guaranteed to be safe. For additional protection, according to downloading the APK file you want, you can use an Antivirus app on Android to check whether there are viruses or malware contained in the APK file that you download. If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for tech video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
