7 Websites Every Android Enthusiast Should Know.
The internet is full of useful resources and you will find a wealth of information, even if it is the rarest of the niches. Android has a myriad of apps and services to help you improve your user experience and efficiency. So, if you are an Android enthusiast like me, then here are a few online services you should know about.
1. AppBrain
The best websites for Android fans
While the app description on Google Play gives you a good idea, it doesn’t cover every detail like the exact number of downloads, the date the app was first released, the changelog, etc.
Read: How to Cast Android Screen to PC Using Wi-Fi or USB
You can find all this information and more in the App Brain. Just enter the URL of this app on Google Play (scroll down to the bottom of the homepage) and hit the search icon. AppBrain will display hidden details that you cannot find in the description of Google Play apps, such as when the app was first released, last update, changelog, average rating change, Play Store rating in different countries, etc.
Try AppBrain
2. APKMirror
I’m pretty sure you already know all about APKMirror, this site hosts the APKs of new and popular Android apps. But the reason I am including it here is because it not only gives you the latest APK, but also gives you a different version of the same application.
For example, let’s say Facebook has released some weird update and now the new version crashes on your phone, you can go back to the previous version of Facebook with the APK. The same thing happened with File Explorer ES and QuickPic after it was bought by Cheetah Mobile. APKmirror is the best choice for people who really need an app and don’t want to look for an alternative.
How Safe Is APKMirror?
APKMirror is one of the few reliable APK hosting sites owned by the same people as AndroidPolice. However, there is no way to be 100% sure. Google condemns users downloading the APK file. However, the Android enthusiast is willing to take such a risk. Right? I have been pulling the APK from APKMirror for the last 3 years and have never encountered a malware issue.
P. Abs.foozy.com.
While you can always find APKs of popular apps on sites like APKMirror, it doesn’t have the APK of all apps on the Google Play store, especially the less popular apps. And that’s where apps.evozi.com comes in.
Evozi is an online one-click downloadable APK that allows you to download the APK of any Android app or game from the Google Play URL. Well, this is not really an Android app, it only allows you to download free apps and games from the Google Play store and not paid ones to prevent piracy.
On the subject: How to extract an APK from Google Play (video
It’s safe?
Sites have directly downloaded the APK from the Google Play Store, so it is unlikely that the app will get infected with malware. However, there is no way to be 100% sure, you can only be 90% sure. I have been using apps.evoxi since its launch in 2013 and have never encountered malware issues. However, sometimes it throws a timeout error, in such cases you can use its alternatives like apk downloaders.
Visit Apps.evozi
4. r / googleplaydeals
A subreddit dedicated to finding the best paid Android app that is sold or made completely free. Yes, there are many Android apps and websites that do the same thing, like AppsSale. Since every subreddit on Reddit is a community, you can see people voting up and down for the best apps, and discussing in the comments whether the app is worth buying even at the discounted price.
Related video: Getting Started with Reddit
Check out r / googleplaydeals
5. Go to the subreddit of your phone
If you consider yourself an Android enthusiast and would like to know everything related to Android, then I suggest that you follow r / andorid or r / androidapps if you are into apps and not the device itself.
But in particular, I highly recommend that you subscribe to your phone’s subreddit. Yes, every fairly popular phone has its own subreddit where people discuss everything related to that particular device – be it the latest news, tips and tricks, updates, bugs, etc.
For example, since I have a Google Pixel, I subscribed to r / GooglePixel, if you have OnePlus, you subscribe to Subreddit r / oneplus. Likewise, there is a subreddit for each device.
6. VirusTotal
Got an APK from a suspicious source? VirusTotal is a free service that analyzes suspicious files. Note though, apps like VirusTotal are working on detecting signatures that match the malware signature, not its behavior.
So, there are fake positives. For example, on this Reddit thread, a user received a false positive for the PDF Web Application Hacker Guide caused by code examples in the text.
View VirusTotal
H. BFilter.net
AppFilter is a relatively new service that makes it easy to find apps. It may not have the best web interface yet, but it works fine. You can filter apps based on ads, in-app purchases, category, content rating, and developer. The results are displayed as a list, and all paid apps are highlighted in yellow.
You can use AppFilter to find out if it is worth installing an app or not and if you can get a similar app with additional features. Appfilter can also help you find free alternatives to paid apps that you can also find out manually, but this website will save you a lot of time.
Visit AppFilter.net
Best Website For Android Amateurs
I have selected some of the best sites for Android enthusiasts. Reddit is always a good place to start when looking for support and answers to a common problem, the community is awesome and always ready to help. APKmirror is a great app hosting website and you can find almost any version of the app as long as the DMCA hasn’t turned it off. For applications not found anywhere else, Evozi is a great option. What sites do you find useful? Let us know in the comments below.
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