Google adds Aptoide as first third-party Android store in US Play Store
Google has made the Aptoide gaming store available for download directly from the US Play Store, marking the first rival Android marketplace listed inside Google’s own storefront.
US Android users can now find and install the Aptoide gaming marketplace directly through Google’s Play Store, the first third-party app store to be listed inside the official Android storefront. While Android has always allowed alternative stores, they were previously limited to pre-installed apps on specific devices or sideloaded installations. The change stems from a 2024 judicial order that required the Play Store to accommodate rival stores, a mandate that remained after Google’s appeal was rejected.
In response, Google and Epic reached a global settlement, though a judge expressed doubts and the proposal was eventually abandoned, clearing the path for this rollout. Aptoide’s US debut may be the first of many, with expectations that the Epic Store, Amazon, Samsung and even Microsoft’s Xbox mobile store could follow. Outside the United States, Aptoide can still be sideloaded, and Google’s broader Registered App Store program remains under development for other regions.
Why it matters
It gives Android users easier access to alternative app marketplaces, potentially reshaping app distribution and competition.
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