When comparing Aptoide vs APKMirror, the Slant community recommends APKMirror for most people. In the question“What is the best Google Play Store alternative?” APKMirror is ranked 1st while Aptoide is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose APKMirror is:
If the current app doesn't work correctly, users can seek an older version of the app by finding it and downloading through APKMirror.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Downgrade at will
Aptoide allows you to downgrade to a lower version in case you have issues with the latest version you installed, provided there is a version lower than your's available.
Pro Free
Everything is completely free on Aptoide.
Pro Open source version available
Aptoide offers an open source client version. This way anyone can look through the code as well as create their own app stores.
Pro Large user base
To date, there are 120 Million unique devices that have installed Aptoide, making this app store top market in terms of a user base that is engaged and generates millions of downloads for its community of app developers and publishers.
Pro Trusted Stamp
Aptoide has a feature called "Trusted Stamps". These are signifiers that an app is trusted and will not contain anything malicious. There are also signifiers to let users know if an app may have been flagged for malicious content.
Pro Create a private store
If you're running closed beta tests or if you want to share certain apps with your employees only, this is the way to go. Follow the path: My Store > Privacy > Private.
Pro Sync with your apps
Aptoide can sync with the apps you installed from other locations, giving you the latest updates from different users to choose from.
Pro You can target specific countries
Maximize the relevance of your ads and increase your click through rates by targeting specific countries. You can find it by going to Aptoide Ads > Campaigns > Create Ad Group.
Pro Paid user acquisition
With Aptoide you can generate organic downloads, but also run paid acquisition campaigns. These campaigns run on a non-incentivized CPI (cost-per-install) basis and they will appear as display ads and/or search ads. When joining Aptoide, you are offered US $50 in promotional funds for you to try their ad platform and acquire free users.
Pro Malware free ecosystem
One of Aptoide’s big advantages is that its commitment to guarantee a malware free ecosystem. There are several layers of protection and validation. You can hear its CEO explaining it in detail here.
Pro Large selection of Apps
By August 2015, Aptoide's market place had grown to over 350,000 different applications, including all the most well known ones. Information is available in the homepage.
Pro Fast update
Updates come on Aptoide before Google Play itself (but they can be a bit buggy).
Pro Global presence and localization
Aptoide's client is translated into over 40 languages and it is used in almost every country, even countries where Google Play is unavailable or has a limited presence (e.g, China, Iran, etc). It is great way to reach out to users that you wouldn't normally be able to if you're only publishing on Google Play.
Pro Partnership program
Aptoide offers a partnership program where partners can set up and manage their own retail Android stores. This allows the partner to choose and curate the content and design of their own store.
Pro Upload all of your apps from Dropbox
You can upload your apps just by putting them in a Dropbox folder. The folder Aptoide will sync with your store. Simply go to My Apps > Add App > Upload with Dropbox and start uploading.
Pro APT based repositories
Aptoide uses an APT based repository system for their store. Users can create their own repos to then share with friends or use privately for backup functions.
Pro Publisher program
Aptoide offers a publisher program to their users that allows anyone to publish and monetize their apps.
Pro Auto update
With Aptoide, you can check an option that will facilitate the automatic update of apps to the latest version available in the market.
Pro Ability to get old version of an app
If the current app doesn't work correctly, users can seek an older version of the app by finding it and downloading through APKMirror.
Pro Safe (Verifiable SHA-256 hash available)
Apkmirror is run by the people behind Android Police, one of the biggest android news sites. All apps are manually vetted and approved.
Pro No account needed
There is no account creation required, so anyone can freely download the app directly from the website.
Pro Get access to early alpha / beta version of apps
The website also hosts many early alpha / beta versions of apps, so that anyone can access the beta app without needing to wait to become a beta tester.
Pro Many popular apps available
There are many popular apps on APKMirror that are also available on the Google Play Store which are contributed by the community. There is a strict check of the app when any user or developer wants to upload the app to the website to ensure that the app is same as on the Google Play Store.
Pro Modern war source for all your favorite developers
Modern war source is an open-source code for online gaming and program developing, which can help to minimize the effort of making an online compatible game.
Pro No region locking
No region locking.
Pro Hundreds of cookie options to deactivate indervidually.
When going on to the website it asks for consent regarding cookies so when you go to manage there are about a hundred to turn off, you can no reject in one hit!
Cons
Con Illegal apps
Aptoide hosts many free apps that are cracks on paid apps from other stores.
Con Not all apps are completely safe-to-download
Some apps in Aptoide are filled with viruses that sometimes Aptoide will mark with "Unknown" or "Warning" in the apps safety test, without removing the app.
Con Most apps are older versions or outdated
The apps they offer at Aptoide are not the newest version. It is an older version, and you will have to go elsewhere to get the newest version.
Con Has ads
There is an unofficial mod by V.R that removes the ads.
Con Slowest downloading
What's terrible for a gamer who is excited to take an opportunity to try other apps, is that it might take at least 5 mins for the install to take place and finish. Depending on the signal strength and size of app, downloads can be faster or slower, like any other download.
Con No native Android store app
APKMirror only comes as a website and does not have their own Android store app, thus users will need to download the app through the website and then sideload their app manually (requires activation of sideloading on ones device, this can be done by going to Settings > Security > Allow Unknown Sources).
Con Uninstalled due to constant failure
It's paralyzed. It freezes up. It shows you every single app you don't have on the upgrade page if you seriously want to call that a page.
Con Many apps are missing
Con Accepts very few new APKs
Whilst this has the benefit of ensuring the APKs that are hosted are less likely to contain malware, it's problematic for developers and means that fewer apps are available.
Con Hundreds of cookie options to deactivate individually
When going on to the website it asks for consent regarding cookies so when you go to manage there are about a hundred to turn off, you can no reject in one hit!
Con Bundled apps need it's own installer
Split APKs bundled as ".apkm" which aren't compatible via SAI, are installable only via APKMirror Installer.
Con There is no compiled 'Changelog history' for apps
There shall be some changelog history, which contains the (maybe official) changelog of the app from earliest to the latest version available on that site (i.e. ApkMirror).