The era of mandatory sideloading for alternative Android marketplaces is officially over in the US.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As of this week, Portugal-based Aptoide has become the first third-party app store available for direct download through Google Play, marking a seismic shift in how Android users can access software and a direct consequence of the antitrust war waged by Fortnite creator Epic Games.<\/p>\n
Aptoide offers more than 400,000 Android applications and serves about 25 million monthly active users. The company said the move removes a major barrier that previously limited its growth in the US market, where users had to manually install the store outside Google Play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The shift follows a ruling in Epic Games\u2019 antitrust case against Google<\/a>. US District Judge James Donato ordered Google to make it easier for rival app stores to reach Android users, including allowing third-party stores to be distributed through Google Play.<\/p>\n Aptoide CEO and co-founder Paulo Trezentos<\/a> framed the moment as a long-overdue correction, stating, \u201cMore than ten years ago, Android users lost the ability to discover alternative app stores through Google Play. Today, that changes.\u201d<\/p>\n A major change after years of legal pressure<\/p>\n Epic Games sued Google in 2020, arguing that Google\u2019s control over Android app distribution<\/a> and payments harmed competition. A jury sided with Epic in 2023, leading to several required changes for Google\u2019s Play Store policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the biggest changes was requiring Google to allow competing app stores to be distributed through Google Play rather than only allowing users to install them through sideloading.<\/p>\n Previously, alternative Android stores required users to download APK files, change security settings and accept warnings before installation. Now, Aptoide installs like a normal app from Google Play, reducing the friction that kept many users away from competing marketplaces.\u00a0<\/p>\n Google has also created a dedicated section for third-party app stores, although Aptoide is currently the only option listed. Users can find it through Play Store searches, account menus or category pages.\u00a0<\/p>\n More competition could change Android\u2019s app economy<\/p>\n Aptoide\u2019s arrival could be the beginning of a larger shift. The company has access to Google Play\u2019s catalog through the Play Catalog Access Program, meaning it can offer many apps and games already available through Google\u2019s marketplace. Developers, however, can choose whether their apps appear in third-party stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n