Sustainable Substitutes for Big Tech Application Stores

Sustainable alternatives to pre-installed mobile application stores.

  • Feasibility: How easily can the average user switch to this substitute? Higher feasibility results in a higher ranking.
  • Editor's Rating: How sustainable is the substitute? The more sustainability attributes it fulfils, the higher it is ranked.

F-Droid

An alternative store for open-source apps on Android-based operating systems.

F-Droid is ad-free and does not contain any advertisements.
It is fully open-source, with all its code and tools available publicly.
F-Droid is privacy friendly, requiring minimal permissions and avoiding user tracking.
No registration is needed to access or use F-Droid.
It is free of charge and does not require any payment.
Website
aurora-store logo

Aurora Store

An alternative application store for Android-based operating systems.

Aurora Store is ad-free and does not include any advertisements.
It is open-source, with its code publicly available on GitLab.
Aurora Store is privacy friendly, offering anonymous login by generating a random Google account token. This token is not linked to any real user data, effectively allowing anonymous access without requiring personal registration.
It is free of charge and does not require payment.
Website
altstore logo

AltStore

An alternative application store for iOS without taking revenu away from app developers.

AltStore is ad-free and does not display advertisements to users.
It is privacy friendly, as it does not track users or collect unnecessary data.
No registration is needed to use AltStore.
AltStore is free of charge and does not require payment for its core functionality.
Website

How to move away from Big Tech Application Stores

Here's a guide on how to migrate away from App Store and Google Play.

First, identify which alternative app store aligns with your needs. Aurora Store is an open-source client for Google Play, allowing anonymous access and downloads. F-Droid is a catalogue of free and open-source Android apps, focused on privacy and transparency. AltStore is a third-party app store for iOS, enabling sideloading of apps without jailbreaking.

For Android, enable "Unknown Sources" in your device settings (Settings > Security > Unknown Sources). Download the APK file of your chosen store (e.g., Aurora Store or F-Droid) from their official websites and install the APK file manually.

For iOS, AltStore requires a computer (Windows or macOS) to sideload the app using AltServer. Follow the official AltStore instructions for detailed steps.

Some apps available on the App Store or Play Store may also be available on alternative stores. Search for them in your new store and install them. For apps not available, check if the developer offers direct APK/IPA downloads or supports sideloading.

Once everything is migrated to alternative stores, deactivate the mainstream application store on your device

Suggestions and Feedback

If you have suggestions for more alternatives or general feedback, please contact me via email or create an issue over on Codeberg. Suggest Substitute on Codeberg Write an Email