Aptoide Becomes First Third-Party Store on Google Play

The independent app marketplace Aptoide has become the first third-party Android app store available directly through the Google Play Store in the United States. This return to the platform after a 10-year absence is facilitated through Google's Third-party App Store on Play and Play Catalog Access programs, which allow rival marketplaces to operate as independent entities within Google's infrastructure.

The shift follows a 2024 court ruling and settlement in a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, which declared Google's Android app business an illegal monopoly. While Epic Games initiated the legal action, it has not yet launched its own storefront on Google Play. Aptoide Games currently offers popular titles including Fortnite, Roblox, and PUBG, simplifying the installation process for U.S. users who previously had to download APKs from external websites.

Despite Google's claims that the feature is fully rolled out, Aptoide CEO Paulo Trezentos stated that approximately 50% of users with U.S. accounts cannot yet access the store. The availability remains limited to the U.S. market, as Google continues to restrict third-party stores in other regions. Aptoide, which serves 25 million monthly active users, has simultaneously expanded its global reach by launching an iOS marketplace in the European Union and gaining approval for alternative storefront programs in Japan and Brazil.