Sometimes, an Android app you want to install is not available in the Google Play Store. This can happen for many reasons: perhaps it's geo-blocked, it could contain adult content, or the developer might have removed it.

But even when an app is not available through the usual channels, you still have ways to install it on your device. You need to get a copy of the APK file so you can sideload it.

Several sites specialize in offering APK files for download. Some are better than others, so keep reading if you want to discover the best sites for downloading APKs safely.

The Importance of Choosing a Safe APK Site

APK is the Android file format. Short for Android Package Kit, it's the primary way Android apps are distributed and installed. When you download an app from Google Play, you're downloading and running an APK file in the background, but you have no access to the APK itself.

Because the APK files install apps on your system, they can pose a serious security threat. A person with malicious intentions could modify the APK before you install it, then use it as a digital Trojan horse to install and run malware.

Thus, if you're downloading APKs from outside the Play Store, you need to ensure that the site you use is reliable. Google's Play Protect security system will scan any apps you sideload, but the sites you download them from should thoroughly vet all APKs and have a history of security and reliability, too.

1. APKMirror

APKMirror is probably the best Android APK download site. It's owned and operated by the same team that created the widely-read Android news site, Android Police, which should reassure you that you're in safe hands.

From a security standpoint, APKMirror has some robust policies in place:

• Staff verify all APKs uploaded to the site prior to publishing.
• The site matches cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps with previous versions (to ensure the true developers signed them).
• Brand-new apps are matched against other apps from the same developer to verify their legitimacy.

The bottom line is that if APKMirror cannot verify an APK file's validity, it won't publish the file. Because of this, you won't find any modded APKs, pirated apps, or paid apps on the site.

For each app, you can grab older versions, see information pulled from Google Play, and access a list of related apps. If an app you install from APKMirror receives an update from Google Play after you have installed it on your device, it will upgrade to the latest version automatically.

2. APKPure

The biggest mainstream competitor to APKMirror is arguably APKPure. The two sites launched around the same time. Like APKMirror, this APK downloader abides by rigorous security practices to make sure all the APKs you save are safe and virus-free.

So how is APKPure safe? The site verifies the legitimacy of all apps before publishing by using SHA1 to ensure the certificate is safe. Cryptographic signatures for new versions of apps must match previously published versions, and entirely new apps are matched against other software from the same developer.

Once again, if APKPure has doubts about the security or origins of an app, the company won't publish it on the site. There are no modded APKs on APKPure. In terms of site usability, APKPure pulls screenshots, app descriptions, and general metadata directly from Google.

There's also a list of previous app releases in case you want to roll back to an older version (either due to features or bugs.)

APKPure also has an Android app available. You need to sideload the app to install it, but once it's up and running, it can act as a replacement for Google Play.

3. F-Droid

F-Droid is a third-party APK download site that specializes in free and open-source (FOSS) apps for Android. This makes it a great choice for anyone concerned about privacy. F-Droid is totally transparent about what you're getting when you download. It lists what it calls "anti-features" for each app, which can include ads, tracking, and even potential security concerns.

Inevitably for a specialist in open-source, the apps tend to be functionally strong but often lack the polish of their commercial counterparts. There are also fewer apps here than you'll find on the other sites on our list, although they still number in the thousands. And you won't find some in the Play Store either, for various reasons—alternative YouTube clients like NewPipe are here.

You can download APKs direct from the site, but it also comes with its own client which simplifies the finding, installing, and updating processes for you. This helps to make F-Droid one of the best alternatives to the Play Store.

4. APK Downloader

We really like APKMirror and APKPure for most apps, and F-Droid for open-source alternatives. In truth, you shouldn't ever really have a reason to go to a different site. But let's err on the side of caution and quickly introduce you to a few other options.

First up is APK Downloader. All the APKs are pulled from the Google Play Store so that you can be confident in their security and safety. As with the other sites on this list, there's also plenty of metadata, meaning you can avoid Google Play entirely if you wish.

5. Aptoide

Aptoide is another giant of the APK downloading world; it has more than 200 million users and has been responsible for six billion downloads. Like APKPure, the site offers an Android app that lets you access the store and download APK files directly from your Android device.

The company was also one of the first to embrace blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The site's token—called AppCoins—lets developers increase their revenue share, among other uses.

Why is Aptoide not closer to the top of this list? In short, because it allows users to manage their own stores and thus lets modded APKs onto the platform. They are well-signaled, but if you're not paying attention, you might download one by accident.

6. APKMonk

APKMonk is another popular APK app download site. The site has a heavy focus on gaming apps, with currently trending games taking center stage on the site's homepage.

We think APKMonk is safe to use. When you click into a listing, you will see all the previous versions of the app, metadata pulled from the Google Play Store, images of the app, and links back to the original listing on the store. The site runs its own malware checks before allowing an app onto its platform.

You can also use APKMonk to download regular apps. Again, they are organized into popular and trending categories.

7. APKBe

Formerly known as APKHere, APKBe is the best APK site for foreign-language APKs that are not available in the default Google Play Store in your locale. Sure, there is plenty of English content for you to dig into, however, you will also find German APKs, Chinese APKs, Russian APKs, and a whole lot more.

While the APKs on APKBe should be safe, we cannot vouch for the safety of some of the apps themselves. China and Russia are not known for their robust security and privacy practices, so you should exercise caution and do your own research before installing any of them on your device.

Take Extra Precautions When You Use an APK Download Site

No matter where you download your APK file from, you should always take responsibility to ensure no nasty surprises are lurking in the code. And don't be tempted to download paid apps for free—not only is it wrong, but it's also by far the most common way that malware ends up on people's phones.

Several services can scan APK files for malware; we recommend the drag-and-drop MetaDefender and VirusTotal tools. And while you don't need anti-virus software on Android most of the time, if you download a lot of APKs, it might be worth installing protection on your phone as well.

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