Alternative App Stores: A Marketer’s Guide to Distribution Beyond Google Play and the App Store
In 2026, on July 22, Google initiated the process of permitting third-party US Android app stores access to the Play Store’s application catalog in response to the legal decision of the Epic v. Google case. Along with the implementation of the EU’s Digital Markets Act and the launch of the Mobile Software Competitive Act in Japan, alternative app stores have turned from a showcase of new ideas to an area in which every mobile app marketer must find out how to conduct the necessary marketing campaigns. In this article, the authors aim to explain what alternative app stores are, why the world has changed so much in the year 2026, and how to prepare the app for its launch. All the ideas will be expressed using easy-to-understand language without complex legal expressions. The authors will also provide insights into how Apptrove can be used for tracking marketing campaigns. What Are Alternative App Stores, and Why Do They Matter Now? Alternative app stores refer to stores o...