US Android users can now download a third-party app store directly from Google’s Play Store, marking a significant shift in how rival storefronts reach consumers. Aptoide, a store specializing in mobile games, became the first alternative app store to appear in the Play Store in 2026.
The change is a direct result of Google’s legal battle with Epic Games. A judge ruled in 2024 that the Play Store would have to open up to third-party stores. Google appealed, delaying implementation, but after losing that appeal reached a deal with Epic for a broader global solution. When Judge James Donato — who expressed repeated skepticism about the joint proposal — saw the two companies drop it last month, the path finally cleared for rival stores to list on the Play Store.
Third-party app stores have long been available on Android through other means: pre-installed on devices, as with the Amazon Appstore on Fire tablets or Samsung’s Galaxy Store, or installed via sideloading. Listing them directly in the Play Store makes them considerably easier for users to find and access.
Aptoide is currently available through the Play Store only in the US, though it can be sideloaded on Android worldwide. The company also operates an iOS app store in the European Union, Japan, and Brazil, following Apple policy changes driven by legislation in those markets.
Aptoide may be just the first of several storefronts to follow. The Epic Games Store, Amazon, Samsung, other device manufacturers, and Microsoft — which has a long-in-development Xbox mobile store — could all potentially list their stores on the Play Store as well.
As part of its deal with Epic, Google had announced a Registered App Store program intended to roll out globally. Those plans appear to still be in progress outside the US, which could mean two different methods for accessing third-party Android app stores depending on a user’s location.
Source: The Verge