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App Marketing Networks 2014
Android App Stores for Developers GuideAlternative Android app stores have unique advantages and are often a better option for developers to strategically distribute their mobile apps. Here is our list of some of the best stores out there.
2015 Edition
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Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Android App Stores for Developers Guide
The Google Play store is easily the largest Android app store out there with over 1.4m apps listed, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for app developers looking to get their An-droid app noticed. With so much competition in the app industry now, solely submitting an app or game to Google Play rarely gives developers the success they want. A better option for developers is for them to strategically distribute their mobile app or game across multi-ple Android stores.
The aim of multiple app store distribution is to increase the chance of monetising or achiev-ing exposure for a mobile app or game. Not only that, but alternative Android app stores have unique advantages to using them, such as the discovery of niche apps or download and install incentives. These are features that the Google Play store simply doesn’t offer. In ad-dition to these benefits, there is a far greater chance of getting ‘featured’ on an alternative Android app store than there is on Google Play. Getting featured can give the initial boost required to propel an app or game to success, so it’s a key goal many developers strive for.
With this in mind, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best alternative Android app stores out there for developers to distribute their app to. From AppBrain to Chinese behemoth Wandoujia, these Android app stores offer alternatives to Google Play that developers should hopefully benefit from experimenting with.
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Amazon Appstore
Amazon launched their own alternative app store for Android developers in 2011. The store features a smaller number of apps than some of the other competing stores, this is partly due to their moderation process which has to meet certain quality standards. They offer a free paid app or game every day which can generate a significant amount of exposure for the app developer, and personalised recommendations, 1-Click payment options mean users can find and install a developer’s app quickly and easily.
Amazon Appstore Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Developer select program, cross-platform analytics
• Key stats: 80,000 apps on the store; 25 million apps downloaded every month
Aptoide
Founded in 2011, Aptoide differs from many of the alternative Android app stores out there because any user can also create their own store within its marketplace. Aptoide offers a Certified Publishers Program which is free to use. Once a developer is certified, they are entitled to certain benefits such as being marked as a trusted developer to users by a visible stamp and having access to a larger userbase. A certified developer also has priority in Ap-toide’s search results, with access to app statistics which allows them to analyse the different variables.
Aptoide Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Multiple-store app distribution platform, certified publishers program, app statistics
• Key stats: Used by 3.5 million active monthly users
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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GetJar
On GetJar, developers have the ability to target any phone or platform so there is a high degree of flexibility here. Specifically for developers looking to publish Android apps, there is the ability to grow in-app revenue through GetJar’s Offerwall system and the option of displaying App deals within an app and offering in-app discounts to re-engage existing users or acquire new ones. GetJar claims to reach over 200 million Android users too – developers can target this audience with free cross-promotion and the company’s proprietary Behavio-ral Targeting technology. They are positioned as one of the largest alternative app stores out there at the time of writing.
GetJar Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Promotional tools, cross-platform analytics, distribution platform
• Key stats: 3 million apps downloaded every day; reaches over 200 million Android users
AppBrain
AppBrain gives app developers the option of advertising their app through a pay-per-install based promotion system to acquire new users and expand their business. The option for app developers to monetise their app is carried out through the use of the AppLift SDK by Ap-pBrain. The AppLift network offerwall behind this gives users the chance to download and install free apps to their device.
AppBrain Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: AppLift SDK tools, promotion system, real time tracking
• Key stats: Launched 35 self-developed Android apps that total over 50 million downloads
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Mobango
App developers can publish their mobile apps and games for free by registering with Moban-go. Distribution and the promotion of these apps or games happens from the self-serve plat-form – developers may also track the progress of their app here. While promoting their app on Mobango, developers pay per each individual completed download. A developer’s app is promoted in premium areas of the store. Mobango does not offer a form of monetisation for developers, instead the promotion and subsequent downloads of their app is the incentive to publish.
Mobango Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Self-serve platform for distribution and promotion
• Key stats: 100,000 apps across all platforms; 1bn total downloads globally; 40,000 devel-opers signed up; 8mn users
SlideMe
SlideMe allows developers to sell their new app globally. In essence, the company is posi-tioned as the place that distributes developers’ apps to users who do not have Google Play enabled devices available to them – many of these devices have SlideMe preloaded instead. They also offer custom distribution channels, they have no country restrictions across differ-ent Android device types and there is no setup fee for developers.
SlideMe Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Promotional tools, distribution platform
• Key stats: Preloaded on handsets of over 140 manufacturers; features on more than 20 million Android devices
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Anzhi
Anzhi is driven primarily by its large community where users can discuss the apps they have downloaded. If an app is positively spoken about in the forum, then it is likely that it will be a continuing success for the developer. If users have not enjoyed the app however, an app developer may have difficulty being found and appreciated on the store.
Anzhi Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Promotional tools, free account setup, app distribution
• Key stats: 25 million active users
Samsung Apps
With Samsung Apps developers have access to development tools such as the Samsung Mobile SDK, an in-app purchase system, and the AdHub SDK. The Samsung Mobile SDK consists of ten independent packages with their own features to help developers during the creation process – these packages range from gesture, media control, motion, image filters and more.
Samsung Apps Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Samsung Mobile SDK, promotional tools, in-app purchase system, real-time bidding
• Key stats: Samsung distributes its apps in 125 different countries
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Yandex
With Yandex, developers can find a host of new distribution options that allow them to publish their new app quickly and across all of Yandex’s partner stores. The Yandex store supports payment by credit cards and mobile billing on the developers side of things as well. Once a developer has signed up to the Yandex store, they can add their app by going to the developer console and following the process. In terms of the revenue share model, develop-ers who sell their app on the store will follow the standard 70/30 split.
Yandex App Store Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Distribution through partner stores, payment via credit cards, mobile billing
• Key stats: App store features over 85,000 apps
AppChina
Developers have to register for an account on AppChina, and once this is completed, they can upload and update any apps that are being distributed. AppChina reviews every app submitted to them within 1-3 business days, and any app that doesn’t meet the requirements will be sent back to the developer for changes. Developers from countries other than China, that want to distribute their apps to the store, may find it difficult as there is very little in the way of help. AppChina is positioned as one of the rapidly growing alternative Chinese app stores.
AppChina Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Distribution platform and promotional services
• Key stats: There are 120,000 apps available on the store; on average, each app is down-loaded 5,000 times
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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AndroidPit
Registering to develop with AndroidPit has benefits such as the ability for developers to reach AndroidPit’s partner stores upon app distribution and the fact that the app will be delivered to the respective Android device automatically. The revenue share model is the standard for most app stores: for developers this is the 70/30 split. Paypal and Click&Buy are also supported by AndroidPit meaning there is more choice for developers.
AndroidPit Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: App distribution platform (partner stores included), app statistics ser-vice, Paypal and Click&Buy support
• Key stats: There are 5.4 million unique users per month; there are 14,871 developers regis-tered at the time of writing
Baidu
One of the major advantages of signing up to develop at Baidu is that a developer’s apps are displayed through the search results of many of Baidu’s biggest services. The search engine itself is one of these services, and as Baidu comfortably leads in this area, the chances of a developer’s app getting noticed is greatly increased. One of the key problems for some developers has been that the opportunity to distribute apps in Baidu’s store is hindered by the language barrier – Baidu has since launched an English language website for developers who want to take part in the huge and foreign app market.
Baidu App Store Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Promotional tools, analytics service, in-app updates, MTC centre
• Key stats: 69 million daily native apps are distributed through the store
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Tencent App Gem
As ever, western developers looking to get involved in this huge app store have to contend with the language barrier problem. A developer is required to sign up to submit an app to the Tencent App Gem store which is free – the chance of getting featured on the store can be low, but Tencent has begun to reach out to app developers looking to jump aboard by form-ing new partnerships. A key boast of being featured on the Tencent App Gem store for devel-opers is of course having the chance to access a massive userbase across multiple devices.
Tencent App Gem Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Distribution platform to multiple devices
• Key stats: The store is used by more than 80 million active monthly users; there are over 100,000 Android apps on the store
Wandoujia
Wandoujia is China’s largest Android app store. Developers wishing to sign up will need to visit the developer centre here – from there, Wandoujia will review the pending account within two working days, and if approved, a developer’s APK files can then be submitted to the store for review. The revenue share model for app developers is the following: 40% goes to the developer, the mobile carrier will take 30% (generally a developer will integrate a mobile carrier’s SDK into their app), and Wandoujia takes 30% of the revenue for promotion purposes.
Wandoujia Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Statistics and revenue reports, in-app purchases and billing via Alipay
• Key stats: Over 200 million users; Over 30 million apps downloaded every day
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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HiAPK
Western developers that want to get involved with HiAPK will face similar problems to the other Chinese alternative app stores, namely the issue of the language barrier. As with the other stores, overcoming this can lead to a developer’s app getting distributed to a huge userbase – app developer Punchbox claims the store brought them 3.5 million app down-loads. Developers can sign up and register here, and if they are approved, will gain access to a developer portal to start submitting their apps.
HiAPK Breakdown
• Countries: China
• Developer Services: Free sign up, distribution platform
• Key stats: The store has acquired 100 million users; there are over 290 million app down-loads every month
Appland
The Appland Store has a strong stance on ensuring app piracy isn’t rife on their platform – good news for app developers. Developers will also benefit from their app users making purchases directly through their mobile phone bill, meaning their isn’t a need for card regis-tration or other details. Uploading apps to Appland is free, and app developers with the store can take advantage of cost effective marketing, statistical reports and the ability to tag their app with geographical coordinates.
Appland Breakdown
• Countries: Global
• Developer Services: Distribution platform, statistics,
• Key stats: Pre-installed on mobile operator 3
Android App Stores for Developers Guide
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Android App Stores for Developers Guide
Final thoughts
There you have it, a list of some of the best Android app stores for developers to distribute their app or mobile game to. There’s certainly a large and growing number of Android app stores to choose from, so app developers should take the time to try a few of them out to determine which meets their needs. Have we missed any great Android app stores? Get in contact here.
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