When comparing Google Play Crawler JAVA API vs Google Play Unofficial Python API, the Slant community recommends Google Play Crawler JAVA API for most people. In the question“What are the best Google Play store crawlers?” Google Play Crawler JAVA API is ranked 2nd while Google Play Unofficial Python API is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Google Play Crawler JAVA API is:
Allows you to download applications with a single click to your desktop. Simulates Android GCM Push-in mechanism to allow downloads from the web.
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Pros
Pro Desktop APK download
Allows you to download applications with a single click to your desktop. Simulates Android GCM Push-in mechanism to allow downloads from the web.
Pro Well documented
Provides the basic information to set up and use the API on Github's repository.
Pro Well documented set-up
It's well documented towards setting up user login and proxy which are needed for making requests to the API.
Pro Generates ANDROID-ID
Has the ability to generate ANDROID-ID which is needed to request data from the API.
Pro Can be used as a module on other project
You only need googleplay.py and googleplay_pb2.py and you'll be able to use it in your python projects.
Pro Downloading Apps
Downloading an app is really easy, just provide its package name. Was only tested with free apps, but it should work as well with non-free as soon as you have enough money on your Google account.
Pro Allows to list sub-categories and apps
Pro Browse categories
Allows to browse the categories in the PlayStore
Pro Well documented
Thorough documentation that guides the user through the process of using the API.
Pro Active community
The community is very active on the issues section of their Github's page.
Pro Interactive shell
An interactive shell can be started using the apishell.py script. It initializes the api object and logs you in. Allowing you to use it and manipulate it for ease of testing.
Pro Viewing permissions
You can use permissions.py to see what permissions are required by an app without downloading it.
Pro Search
Allows searching for an app with a .py request.
Cons
Con Uses Galaxy S3 properties by default.
Can only download apps that are compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S3. Creators encourage users to use different properties as seen [here.](Motivated users can add other device properties from here : http://www.glbenchmark.com/phonedetails.jsp?benchmark=glpro25&D=Samsung+GT-I9300+Galaxy+S+III&testgroup=system)
Con Needs you to get ANDROID-ID manually and add it into the configuration script
As stated on the API docs - "To get your androidID, use ##8255## on your phone to start Gtalk Monitor. The hex string listed after aid is your androidID."
Con Not maintained anymore
Still can be forked and improved as it is open source.