When comparing APKMirror vs Amazon Appstore, the Slant community recommends APKMirror for most people. In the question“What is the best Google Play Store alternative?” APKMirror is ranked 1st while Amazon Appstore is ranked 8th. 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 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!
Pro Amazon Underground
"Actually free" apps with free in-app purchases. This only applies to a selection of older apps with the "actually free" banner, not to everything.
Pro Sideloads on any Android device
It's not just for Kindle.
Pro Convenient
Using the Amazon Appstore is pretty convenient as a very large portion of the population already have an Amazon account from using their normal website for ordering goods. Also the fact that they allow anyone to install the store onto their devices means the users collection of apps can be installed easily.
Pro Apps don't need the Google Play services
Amazon uses its own API.
Pro Amazon developer services
Amazon offers app publishing to their users along with tools to pre-test their apps for compatibility. This allows for easy access to publishers in order to get their apps n the store.
Pro Exclusives
The Amazon Appstore gets exclusives from time to time such as The Wolf Among Us or République. Though some of the exclusives are also tied to their own hardware such as the HDX. Not only is this a good incentive to purchase Amazon Android devices, but it also shows a commitment to feature hardcore games on their app store.
Pro Curated selection of apps
Unlike the Google Play Store where anyone can publish anything they like, the Amazon Appstore has a review process before an app is allowed to be published to the store. This means everything is curated and supposedly is guaranteed to work as well as safe to use.
Cons
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).
Con You have to subscribe to use it
Con Fewer apps than Google Play Store
There are far fewer apps on the Amazon Appstore than the Google Play Store. The apps that are available on Amazon are also slower to get updates, in part due to the store not being as popular as well as the verification process Amazon uses to ensure the apps are of quality and are not spyware.
Con Cumbersome developer interface
Previous APK is carried over when updating which can lead to errors if you change the signing keys. Screenshots also have to be a specific resolution
Con Apps can not be used if store is uninstalled
Any app installed from the Amazon Appstore will not work if the Amazon Appstore itself is uninstalled. this is basically a DRM system where in any app from the store will not work if the store is not installed.