8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (2024)

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  • Kvaesitso

  • Auxio

  • Breezy Weather

  • Table Habit

  • Fridgey

  • Orgzly Revived

  • Wall You

  • Sharing

Google's Play Store is undoubtedly the biggest source of Android apps, but that doesn't mean it has everything. There are some real gems in a popular alternative app store called F-Droid. Here are some of my favorites.

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1 Kvaesitso

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Most launchers consist of app grids, but not Kvaesitso, which instead places the focus on your widgets and the ability to search for what you need.

In Kvaesitso, your Home screen shows only a clock and a search bar (though you can add a dock if you wish). Swipe up to view all of your widgets arranged in a column. Tap the search bar or swipe down to search for apps, files, contacts, web links, and more.

For such an unconventional launcher, Kvaesitso remains highly customizable, giving you a wide range of freedom to make the distinct experience better fit your tastes.

Download:Kvaesitso (Free)

2 Auxio

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Streaming music has never been my thing, but I love local music players. Auxio has been my go-to for years. It's a beautiful app that fully embraces Android's Material You vibe.

Are there standout features about Auxio that set it apart from other players? I think of it the other way. It has all the essential features, is fully free, and doesn't track my listening habits. By setting such a high bar, I'm left wondering: why search for anything else?

Download:Auxio (Free)

3 Breezy Weather

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8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (9)
8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (10)

Weather apps are a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, many weather apps are privacy nightmares, tracking your location and selling that information. They can monetize your usage even if they don't show you ads.

Breezy Weather is a fully open-source and private option that is also one of the more attractive weather apps around. The card-based layout feels right at home on a Pixel, and you get a diverse selection of widgets.

On top of that, the app includes an animated live wallpaper that changes to match the current weather in your area.

Download:Breezy Weather (Free)

4 Table Habit

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8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (13)

An issue I regularly face with to-do list apps is that many of my tasks are small and recurring. I don't need to give them an urgency level, set a due date, or write a detailed description. I just want to remember to do them and maybe have an idea of how often I've missed the mark. The Table Habit app is perfect for this sort of task.

It can help you do more of the tasks you consider positive or reduce the habits you think of as bad. Need to water the plants each morning? Set a reminder in Table Habit and jot down when you're done so you also have a record of how often you've watered. Want to spend fewer hours binge-watching Netflix shows? Set a goal and note whether you've gone over.

The app is a helpful aid that isn't trying to sell you a subscription service to monetize your desire to make a few positive changes in your life. You can think of it as a less flashy version of the Habits app that helps you build productive habits.

Download:Table Habit (Free)

5 Fridgey

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I've never been big on apps that help you catalog the items in your home, be that books or your vinyl collection, but I do get the appeal, particularly with an app like Fridgey. This is a place to log all the food in your fridge to help you keep tabs on what you have on hand.

Yes, using this app takes quite a bit of work. Still, it can go rather far in helping you cut down on food waste and save money since it helps you not only view what you have but also manage expiration dates. This way, you cook food before it goes past its prime. You can pair Fridgey with other ways to use tech to save money on groceries.

Download:Fridgey (Free)

6 Orgzly Revived

8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (17)
8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (18)

Orgzly is both a note-taking and to-do list app. You arrange notes into notebooks and have the freedom to both jot and sort things however you want.

You can include to-dos within notes and mark them as done. You can use your notes as tasks and give them a date. In short, you can view your notes as notes, tasks, or calendar events.

Orgzly is available on the Play Store, but that version hasn't been updated in a few years. Orgzly Revived is a fork of that project that still receives support. It's a good option unless you need a cross-platform note-taking app you can use on multiple devices.

Download:Orgzly Revived (Free)

7 Wall You

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8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (20)
8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (21)

Many of us prefer Android because it gives us much more freedom to make the device our own. We can change the launcher, app icons, and the theme. Yet when you're done with all of these, you still need a good wallpaper. It's a shame that searching for one online can be an overwhelming, somewhat sketchy-feeling affair.

Wall You is a polished app that displays wallpapers from various sites such as Wallhaven, Unsplash, OWalls, and Bing without exposing you to tracking or anything nefarious. You can add wallpapers to your favorites for later use and apply them to your phone directly from the app.

Download:Wall You (Free)

8 Sharing

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8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (23)
8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (24)

AirDrop and Quick Share are great if you're operating within one ecosystem, but their usefulness falls apart when you use an unsupported device. Cloud storage services are great, but they're a bit excessive if you just want to send a file from one device to another.

Sharing is an app that works across any device as long as the receiver is connected to the same network and can open a web browser. You select files on your phone that you wish to share, press the Power button within the app, and then type in the displayed URL in a web browser on the receiving device (or scan the generated QR code).

Sharing uses unsecured HTTP, so if you're on a public Wi-Fi network, it's best to first generate a hotspot on your phone and connect the receiving devices to it. This way, no one else can snoop on your files during the transfer process.

Download:Sharing (Free)

The above apps are all free and open source. So, even if I didn't explicitly call out their privacy credentials, know they're safer options than trying out apps randomly from the Play Store. Why expose yourself to relentless tracking and ads if you don't have to?

Once you've downloaded your favorite streaming apps or the messaging apps you need for your social circle, check out F-Droid when you need a useful tool or utility. There are more options out there than you might expect.

  • Android
  • Android Apps
  • Google Play Store

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8 Amazing Android Apps You Won't Find on the Play Store (2024)

FAQs

What 9 apps were removed from the Play Store? ›

Malware Alert: Google Removes 9 Apps From Play Store After Detecting Joker Malware
  • Super Hero Effect.
  • Classic Emoji Keyboard.
  • QRcode Scan.
  • EmojiOne keyboard.
  • Battery Charging Animations Battery Wallpaper.
  • Volume Booster Loud Sound Equaliser.
  • Dazzling Keyboard.
Nov 17, 2021

Why are some apps not available on Play Store? ›

If you are looking for an app that is no longer available on Google Play, the developer may have removed the app from Google Play or the app violated our Google Play Developer Programme Policies and Developer Distribution Agreement and was removed or suspended from Google Play.

Which apps removed from Play Store? ›

List of Apps Removed by Google from Play Store
  • Bharatmatrimony – Dating/matchmaking application.
  • Truly Madly – Dating/matchmaking application.
  • Quack Quack – Dating site.
  • Stage – OTT platform.
  • Kuku FM – OTT podcast application.
Mar 4, 2024

Where are apps not on Play Store? ›

Install a third-party app store
  • Go to the app store's website and download the APK file (in our case, it's Aptoide.com). ...
  • Go to the Files app on your phone and find the Aptoide APK file. ...
  • Tap on the APK file to start the installation process.
  • A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to install the app.
Jun 1, 2024

What are the 10 apps deleted by Google? ›

Google removed the apps of 10 Indian companies including Info Edge, 99acres, BharatMatrimony, Truly Madly, QuackQuack, Stage, Altt, and Kuku FM over non-payment of service fees. Sanjeev Bikhchandani and Murugavel Janakiraman responded. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was tagged in a post.

Which apps is Google delisted? ›

Google had earlier delisted ten prominent Indian apps, including Shaadi.com, Naukri.com, and 99 acres, from its Android Play Store. The affected apps reportedly include Kuku FM, Bharat Matrimony, Shaadi.com, Naukri.com, 99 acres, Truly Madly, Quack Quack, Stage, ALTT (Alt Balaji), and two others.

Why any app is not installed in Play Store? ›

Make sure that you have a strong Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. If your connection is unstable, the Play Store might not be able to download the app's files. The app is not compatible with your device. Check the app's compatibility requirements before trying to install it.

Which of the following is not found in Google apps? ›

Answer. Explanation: 2) Facebook is not found in Google App.

Why can't I download certain apps on the Play Store? ›

Ensure that you are connected to a stable internet connection via Wi-Fi or mobile data. Clear the cache and data of the Play Store app, update the app, check for available storage space, and restart your device. These five potential solutions can help you resolve the problem and make downloading apps seamless.

Which apps are banned by Google? ›

Google has 'banned' these 14 apps from Play Store
  • 115. Google has 'banned' these 14 apps from Play Store. Popular anonymous messaging app Sarahah has recently been removed from app stores. ...
  • 215. Sarahah app. ...
  • 315. TubeMate. ...
  • 415. CM Installer. ...
  • 515. TV Portal. ...
  • 615. AdAway. ...
  • 715. Grooveshark. ...
  • 815. PSX4Droid.

How many apps have been removed from Google Play Store? ›

Google Play Store: delisted apps 2021-2022

As of the first quarter of 2022, the Google Play Store removed almost 215,000 mobile apps from its platform, down from almost 419 thousand apps delisted during the previous quarter.

How many apps are blocked by Play Store? ›

In 2023, Google said it blocked 2.28 million bad applications from being published on Google Play and banned 333,000 developer accounts.

Why some apps are not in Play Store? ›

If you are looking for an app that is no longer available on Google Play, the developer may have removed the app from Google Play or the app violated our Google Play Developer Program Policies and Developer Distribution Agreement and was removed or suspended from Google Play.

Can you install apps not from Play Store? ›

Use trustworthy tools: APKMirror, APKPure, or F-Droid are some of the most reliable websites for downloading Android Packaging Kits. They also have a rich collection of all the latest apps. Even apps not from Google Play. You can visit their website or install their apps to browse and download their APK files.

How do I find deleted apps on Play Store? ›

Find Recently Deleted Apps in Google Play Store
  1. Go to Google Play and tap on the Menu. Go to the Google Play Store and log in using your Google account. ...
  2. Choose My Apps and Games. From the menu, select the My Apps and Games option. ...
  3. Tap on All option. ...
  4. Find the deleted apps and tap on Install.
May 23, 2024

What does Google Play Store has stopped? ›

If you are seeing the “Unfortunately, Google Play Store has stopped” error message on your Android phone or tablet, it could be caused by any number of things. Some potential issues are a lack of internet connection, not enough storage space, or corrupt data.

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