Third-party Android app stores: what the current setup looks like for US developers

Changes stemming from the Epic v. Google ruling have introduced the Play Catalog Access Program in the United States, allowing approved third-party Android app stores to be discovered and installed through Google Play and to offer apps from Google Play’s catalog, while downloads, billing, and Google’s fees remain within Google Play. The program, whose catalog-access provisions began July 22, 2026 and are expected to run through roughly November 2027, aims to reduce the former reliance on APK sideloading and independently built catalogs; enrolled stores must meet Google requirements and pay enrollment fees, but retain their own content policies. Developers’ Play listings are shared with enrolled stores by default through Play Console Catalog Settings, though they can choose per-store approval or opt out entirely, a decision particularly relevant for apps with compliance, child-safety, healthcare, or financial considerations. Aptoide Games is currently the only enrolled store visible in Google Play, while existing Amazon Appstore and Samsung Galaxy Store arrangements are unaffected, and developers are encouraged to revisit their settings as additional stores join.

No tracked trend matches for this post yet.

Use this post, company, and trend context to find content marketing opportunities, perform competitive analysis, or address product feature gaps via the Plushcap MCP server or the Plushcap API.