Alternate Android app markets - Get any app for free, find apps unavailable on Android Market

There are 5 main app repositories that I use to get android applications. If you can't find an app on the Android Market, or if you're looking for a way to get nearly any app for free, read on.

As a disclaimer, I must say that I'm not responsible for what you download. If you download something that messes up your device, it's not my fault. If you download an app illegally, I'm not responsible. That being said, here are the 5 main ways that I have found to be the easiest and simplest way to find applications.

Before reading on, make sure you've set up your phone to allow installation of apps from unknown sources. Go to Settings > Application Settings and make sure "Unknown Sources" is checked.

Hit the jump to read on




1.) Android Market. https://market.android.com/
Duh. This is the one included with your phone. This is of course where most apps are found.

2.) Amazon Appstore. http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

This is Amazon.com's own appstore. Amazon makes one paid app available for free every day. In addition, some apps available on the Android Market are cheaper on Amazon.

3.) SlideMe App Marketplace. http://slideme.org/

This is yet another Market alternative. Many apps that were pulled from the Android Market have resurfaced on SlideMe.

4.) Blackmart Alpha. http://www.mediafire.com/?hgdljhid6kvomke

After Applanet's extended downtime (which, at the time of this writing, is still in effect), many users switched to Blackmart. Blackmart has nearly every app available on any android appstore for free. The program works by downloading pirated APK files. Once again, use app repositories like Blackmart at your own risk.

5.) 4shared. http://www.4shared.com/

If you can't find it anywhere else, you can use this as a last resort. Search any application name + "apk" to find any matching app packages available on this free file-sharing website. For instance - if you wanted to find an app named "Appname", you would search "Appname apk" to see every matching software package. Again, use at your own risk. I'm not responsible for your downloads.

There you go. There are other app markets not mentioned here (such as Gameloft's website, Mobilism Market), but these are all that the average to intermediate user will need.