Sometimes, an Android app you want to install is not available in the Google Play Store. This can happen for a number of reasons: perhaps it’s geo-blocked, it could contain adult content, or the developer might have removed it, courtesy of online pokies.
But even when an app is not available through the usual channels, you still have ways to install it on your device. You need to get a copy of the APK file so you can sideload it.
Several sites specialize in offering APK files for download. Some are better than others, so keep reading if you want to discover the best sites for downloading APKs safely. Here are three of them brought to you by https://www.bestcasinositesonline.com/best-payout-casinos/.
APKPure
The biggest mainstream competitor to APKMirror is arguably APKPure. The two sites launched around the same time. Like APKMirror, this APK downloader abides by rigorous security practices to make sure all the APKs you save are safe and virus-free.
So how is APKPure safe? The site verifies the legitimacy of all apps before publishing by using SHA1 to ensure the certificate is safe. Cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps must match previously published versions, and entirely new apps are matched against other software from the same developer.
Once again, if APKPure has doubts about the security or origins of an app, the company won’t publish it on the site. There are no modded APKs on APKPure. In terms of site usability, APKPure pulls screenshots, app descriptions, and general metadata directly from Google.
APK Downloader
We really like APKMirror and APKPure. In truth, you shouldn’t ever really have a reason to go to a different site. But let’s err on the side of caution and quickly introduce you to a few other options.
First up is APK Downloader. All the APKs are pulled from the Google Play Store so that you can be confident in their security and safety. As with the other sites on this list, there’s also plenty of metadata, meaning you can avoid Google Play entirely if you wish.
Aptoide
Aptoide is another giant of the APK downloading world; it has more than 200 million users and has been responsible for six billion downloads. Like APKPure, the site offers an Android APK app that lets you access the store and download APK files directly from your Android device.
The company was also one of the first to embrace blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The site’s token—called AppCoins—lets developers increase their revenue share, among other uses.
Why is Aptoide not closer to the top of this list? In short, it allows users to manage their own stores and thus lets modded APKs onto the platform. They are well signalled, but if you’re not paying attention, you might download one by accident.
