10 Top Android Market Alternative App Stores

This hub features ten Android app store alternatives to the Android Market that run the whole process of serving the apps and recruiting the developers themselves. Some "app stores" are really just alternative browsers for the Android Market, but these six app stores are truly their own gig.

As their own gig, the app stores provide their own web interface or client app to browse and download the apps from their servers. If you purchase an app, you will pay them money directly and not use Google Checkout like with the Android Market.

All of these app stores encourage developers to choose them to publish their apps with and cater to all kinds from web app type site shortcut apps to full, retail apps.

This is not an exhaustive list of alternative app stores. I included only app stores that did business primarily in English and had fully functional web app interfaces or client based user experiences. There are many more app stores out there, especially if we look at ones designed to serve China and other Asian locals.

Lets get to discovering!

Here we go - The Eagle has landed!

Boasting an awesome advertising campaign:

"Get a great paid app for free every day",

Angry Birds RIO is the launch title exclusive. No one else will have this app for a period of time, which makes the new Amazon App Store an automatic magnate to any Angry Bird fan.

Amazon is a very large and profitable company with an amazing ability to move products. The arrival of the Amazon app store will bring real competition to the Android app marketplace

You can get involved by checking out the Amazon App Store and by downloading the Amazon App Store Official Android App by snapping the qrcode to your right.

Also, check out the newly launched Twitter Handle @AmazonAppStore and head over to their new Facebook Page.

Opera Mobile App Store is the new kid on the block.

mobilestore.opera.com

Recently released in early March 2011, the Opera Mobile App Store shows potential.

First, it has a stellar Opera "esque" black and red theme. The touch interface reminds me a lot of how the touch Facebook web app is designed.

Second, the new Opera Mobile App Store features both paid and free apps with competitive prices. All app stores do not sell the same app for the same price, which makes the alternative app store an exciting addition to the marketplace in order to foster more competition. For example, QuickOffice Connect mobile office suite was four dollars cheaper than on the Android Marketplace on March 21st, 2011 selling for only $5.99 instead of the usual $9.99.

Thirdly, the Opera Mobile App Store offers an account based sales experience where you can register multiple devices and keep track of your downloads. The whole app catalog and delivery system is administered by PocketGear.com

GetJar is a long standing, tried and true, cross platform app store.

m.getjar.com

GetJar is particularly popular with budding developers or for people with mobile web based apps because of its free launching service.

At times, GetJar may seem cluttered with shortcuts to mobile sites and less true "apps", but many would argue that as long as the web app is quality, this is ok because the future of the mobile web and even laptop computing is "in the cloud".

Like the Opera App Store and many other alternative app stores, GetJar is web based. There is a GetJar "app" on the GetJar market, but it is just a "site shortcut". In other words, the app is good if you want to have a GetJar icon to put on your home screen.

AndAppStore is pretty plain and small. You can access the store through the AndAppStore client, which you can download by snapping the QRCode to the right. You may also visit it in your browser as a non-mobile website.

andappstore.com

The interface is very straight forward with tree arrainged categories and subcategories. Browsing can be a bit annoying, however, because the menu always returns to the main tree categories instead of returning to the subcategory menu, which means there is a lot of extra clicking involved and rediscovering your browsing place.

Another downside to the AndAppStore is that many apps that you would expect to be in an Android market are not present, such as common web browsers.

There are some bright spots!

AndAppStore seems to be the type of place to discover underrated and under promoted jewels. There is a rating system that is clearly in its early authoritative stages, but the system is in place.

A few particular items that I really like about AndAppStore is that all of the apps on the market are free. Downloads are extremely simple. AndAppStore does not require accounts, logins, hula performances, or any other annoying hurdles. You just press "Download" and that is exactly what happens- Bam!

Easy access to this store right in your favorite mobile browser.

Pick one and go to:

m.handango.com

I would not recommend purchasing any apps through this market because in order to get "app security", you have to pay $4.99 for each paid app to make it so that you can re-download it in the future. Maybe I'm spoiled by the Android Market, but i think that is pretty ridiculous.

There are plenty of free apps, however, that are quick and easy to download without any funny "service charges".

Handango is powered by PocketGear.com, which has its own app store front you can check out if you get bored with the snazzier looking Handango store front.

Mobihand runs several app stores for various types of mobile operating systems. Their Android store is called the OnlyAndorid Superstore. To access it, you may download the OnlyAndroid client by snapping the QRCode to the right or you can visit the non-mobile site in your browser.

onlyandroid.mobihand.com

It has a slick multi menu tabbed interface with a dark color theme.

The first screen you come to when opening the app from your Android gives you three choices: Apps, Games, or Accessories. Both apps and games have special "deal of the day" specials.

There are a few things I like about this app. Its easy to navigate without lag. It looks good. It has a tab for sales and specials built in to the app, which is something the Android Market proper needs to implement.

Altogether, OnlyAndroid Superstore appears to be a good option for those seeking an alternative to the Android Marketplace.

The Insyde Market is fairly young and remains quite small. It is growing, however, and just recently started accepting paid applications from developers.

In order to use the Insyde Market client on your Android, you must create an account either at their website or through the app itself on the first open. You can get the client by snapping the QRCode to your right or you can visit the non-mobile site.

insydemarket.com

Appoke is has an inviting user interface and a social app experience emphasis.

You sign up for an account and with the account comes a "newsfeed" and "friends". 

Appoke has their own client, which you can download by snapping the qrcode on the right. 

You can also visit the desktop pc website to "try before you buy", so to speak. 

appoke.com

SlideME also has an official app - QRcode is on the right.

The interface is fairly straightforward with basic categories and a featured app scroll wheel at the top. The app descriptions are quite nice, including screenshots, compatibility menus, and video demonstration links.

The menu button brings up the options to look at additional categories for "Top Apps" and "Latest" Android apps published.

The settings feature has some neat extras where you can set how many apps you would like to see per page and set a limit on how many screenshots you would like to see per app as well.

Check out the website:

slideme.org

YAAM, or Yet Another Android Market, is not all that exciting or particularly unique.

The app (which you can download from the qrcode to the right) offers three categories: Apps, Games, and Updates. Apps and Games subdivide in to a handful of additional filter categories, which further subdivides to "Free" and "Paid" apps.

Paid apps are not as numerous as they are on the Android Marketplace. You might be able to find some deals, however. With all of these markets available, shopping around for the best price can be a useful exercise.

Check out YAAM from your browser right now:

yaam.mobi

Just a few cautions before you take off on your alternative app adventure.

Unlike the Android Market proper, these alternative markets do not have the big "Android Kill Switch" for malware infections. You are more vulnerable if you install from these sources simply because these markets do not have any pervasive big brother like security feature.

I highly recommend using an antivirus app to scan incoming downloads and newly installed apps, especially when using alternative markets.

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UPDATE: Please feel free to check out the additional app markets listed at my more recent articleTop 15 Android Market Alternative Appstores For Your LG Optimus V and the Motorola Triumph