Aptoide became the first third-party Android app store available to download inside Google Play on Android devices in the US on August 10, 2026 [1, 2]. This change follows a US District Court ruling requiring Google to permit rival app stores within Google Play, lower developer fees, and allow alternative payment systems [3, 2].
The ruling came after Epic Games' 2023 antitrust lawsuit victory against Google, which found Google's practices anticompetitive in the Android app marketplace [3, 1, 2]. Epic initially sued Google in 2020. A settlement allowing third-party stores was negotiated in early 2026 but later withdrawn when rejected by the court [3, 2].
Google launched its Play Catalog Access Program on June 22, 2026, enabling third-party stores to access Google Play's infrastructure and catalog. This paved the way for Aptoide's launch within Google Play [1]. Prior to this, Aptoide had to rely on sideloading or preinstallation on devices, which limited its reach in the US market [1, 2].
Aptoide offers a game-focused store and provides access to a catalog of 1.9 million apps and 295,000 games as permitted by the court's ruling [3, 2]. It currently has about 25 million monthly active users and offers over 40,000 Android apps, making it a significant alternative to Google’s Play Store [1].
Paulo Trezentos, Aptoide’s CEO, said, "More than ten years ago, Android users lost the ability to discover alternative app stores through Google Play. Today, that changes. Users gain more choice, developers gain additional distribution opportunities, and Android becomes a more open and competitive ecosystem" [2].
Developers have the option to exclude their apps from distribution on third-party stores like Aptoide, but industry sources say most are unlikely to opt out [3]. Google had initially tried to avoid hosting third-party stores directly within its Play Store before complying with the court mandate [3].
Aptoide's presence in Google Play marks a major shift in how Android users in the US can access apps. The Play Catalog Access Program continues to allow more third-party stores to launch using Google Play's catalog and infrastructure going forward [1].
