Aptoide Revives Android App Store Dreams in US with Google Play Return
Aptoide, an independent games marketplace, has returned to Google Play in the US after more than a decade. The move is made possible by Google's new Play Catalogue Access programme, which allows qualifying third-party app stores to integrate with Google Play infrastructure while remaining independent marketplaces.
Aptoide claims to offer over 400,000 Android applications and has approximately 25 million monthly active users worldwide, making it one of the largest app stores on Android. The US is its largest market, where users can now discover and install Aptoide directly through Google Play.
The company's return follows changes to the Android ecosystem, including regulatory scrutiny and the Epic Games vs Google litigation, as well as Google's introduction of Play Catalogue Access. According to Aptoide CEO Paulo Trezentos, 'This is much more than a product launch... Users gain more choice, developers gain additional distribution opportunities, and Android becomes a more open and competitive ecosystem.'