7 of the Best Android Apps Not on the Google Play Store

17 of the Best Android Apps Not on the Google Play Store

17 of the Best Android Apps Not on the Google Play Store

1. TubeMate

TubeMate is a very popular YouTube downloader app which is obviously not allowed on the Play Store due to Google restrictions. It also supports downloading video from other websites such as Facebook, Vimeo, and DailyMotion among others. While the interface is a little clunky and riddled with ads, it works very well for what it’s worth and allows you to download videos in a variety of formats and resolutions.

You are advised to download the apk from verified websites, as there are a lot of fake, infected TubeMate apks on the Internet. An alternative to TubeMate is Videoder which has an attractive interface but slower download speeds compared to TubeMate in my experience.

2. MiXPlorer

MiXPlorer is one of the best Android file managers out there with a very neat user interface and plenty of features that should appeal to both casual and power users alike. For one, it offers tab support and a dual panel mode on big screens which helps if you’re working with several folders at once. You can also access your cloud files with up to seventeen services to select from including all the popular ones such as Google Drive, Dropbox, MEGA, and Onedrive.

MiXPlorer also supports root access for advanced operations, advanced search functions and a very customisable user interface. Overall, it’s a very well-rounded file manager you can get for free that doesn’t have ads.

3. Lucky Patcher

Lucky Patcher is an app that allows you to modify other Android apps in various ways. You’ll need a rooted device to harness all of this app’s great power. You can run several actions with this app such as removing license verification for premium apps, modifying apk files, removing Google ads, and backing up and restoring apps. It’s better to make a full backup of your apps and data before using this app as it can possibly lead to loss of data.

4. F-droid

F-droid is the market for free and open-source Android software. Downloading the F-droid client makes it easy for you to search for and install open-source apps, and it also helps you keep track of updates on your device. It’s highly recommended for open-source enthusiasts.

5. Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time allows you to watch movies and TV Shows on your Android device either by streaming or downloading to watch offline. There are literally thousands of high-quality movies here, and you can either search for specific titles or browse the available collections. We have also debated the legality of this app, so you may want to use it with caution.

6. XPosed Framework Installer

Installing a custom ROM is one way to modify your Android device, but you don’t really need to do so if you just want to modify a few things here and there. The XPosed Framework allows you to modify your existing system without going through the hassle of installing a custom ROM. It is for root-level users only, and there is a wide range of mods and tweaks that can be applied to your device, but be careful. I’d recommend making a full backup before using the Xposed Framework or its components.

7. Adaway

Adaway is a free and open-source ad blocker for Android. It was previously available on Google Play but was later removed after violating a section of the Google developer agreement. You can install it from F-droid nonetheless. Adaway requires root access to work, and it’s only available for Android 2.1 devices and above.

All you need to do to try out each app is to download the apk from the links above. Don’t forget to allow installation from unknown sources, and do let us know of any other useful apps not available on the Play Store in the comments section below.

Amazon Underground

The official Amazon app is one of the most popular shopping apps on the Play Store, with tens of millions of downloads. But if you’re still using it instead of the Amazon Underground app, you’re missing out.5 Amazing Amazon Shopping Tips You Probably Haven't Discovered 5 Amazing Amazon Shopping Tips You Probably Haven't DiscoveredThese great Amazon features aren't used every day, but they should be.READ MORE

Download Amazon Underground direct from Amazon instead, and you’ll get the real deal. This app gives you all the usual shopping features along with access to the Amazon Appstore. More importantly, it includes Underground Apps, a selection of $20,000 worth of apps, games, and in-app purchases available for free.