Application Stores – Android & iOS & Windows & Linux & MacOS

If you want to reach users nowadays, you need to publish your creations in some kind of Application Stores or repositories or web sites whether you target –  Android & iOS, Windows, Linux, MacOS or web. All Operating Systems ship with some applicaion source. There are advanced users that know what they are doing, but the majority will stick to the official stores and sources.

Web

The apps that run everywhere are the web apps, but, they must have good rating, SEO and user experience and ultimately – trust – as they are not published in a real sense.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that can offer an app-like experience on various platforms, including desktop and mobile devices. Since PWAs are web-based, they are typically distributed and accessed through web browsers rather than traditional app stores. However, there are platforms and directories that specifically focus on promoting and discovering PWAs.

Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 allows developers to submit PWAs to be listed alongside traditional apps. This enables users to discover and install PWAs directly from the Microsoft Store on their Windows devices.

Google Chrome Web Store

While primarily an extension marketplace for the Chrome browser, the Chrome Web Store also hosts PWAs. Developers can publish their PWAs to the Chrome Web Store, making them discoverable for Chrome users.

Samsung Galaxy Store

The Samsung Galaxy Store supports PWAs and allows developers to submit their PWAs to reach Samsung device users. This expands the distribution reach of PWAs on Samsung smartphones and tablets.

PWA Directory

The PWA Directory (pwa-directory.appspot.com) is an online directory that showcases various PWAs across different categories. It aims to promote and provide a centralized place for users to discover and explore PWAs.

These platforms and directories offer opportunities for developers to showcase their PWAs and make them more discoverable to users. However, it’s important to note that PWAs can be accessed directly through a web browser without relying on these specific platforms. Users can simply visit the PWA’s URL to use the app-like experience provided by the PWA.

Android Stores

Android, being an open-source operating system, allows for multiple app stores to coexist. Here are some popular Android app stores:

Google Play Store

The official app store for Android devices, pre-installed on most Android phones and tablets. It offers a wide range of apps, games, movies, music, and other digital content.

Amazon Appstore

Operated by Amazon, this app store provides a selection of Android apps, games, and digital content. It is available on Amazon Fire devices and can also be downloaded on other Android devices.

Samsung Galaxy Store

Exclusive to Samsung devices, the Galaxy Store offers a variety of apps, games, themes, and other content optimized for Samsung smartphones and tablets.

Huawei AppGallery

Huawei’s official app store, primarily available on Huawei and Honor devices. It offers a collection of apps and games, including both global and region-specific content.

Aptoide: A third-party alternative app store that allows users to discover and download a wide range of Android apps and games. It operates on a decentralized model, where individual stores can be created by users.

F-Droid

A community-driven app store that focuses on open-source software. F-Droid offers free and open-source Android apps with an emphasis on privacy and security.

Xiaomi App Store (Mi App Store)

Xiaomi is a popular smartphone manufacturer, particularly in China and other Asian countries. Mi App Store comes preinstalled on Xiaomi devices, which offers apps, games, and other content specifically for Xiaomi devices.

Baidu Mobile Assistant: Baidu is a leading search engine in China, and they have their own app store called Baidu Mobile Assistant. It provides a wide range of Android apps and services, predominantly targeting users in China.

T-Store

T-Store is the app store for LG devices, primarily available in South Korea. It offers apps, games, and other digital content specifically for LG smartphone users.

KakaoTalk’s Gift

KakaoTalk is a popular messaging app in South Korea, and they have their own app store called KakaoTalk’s Gift. It provides a variety of apps, games, and digital content for users of the KakaoTalk platform.

Yandex

The app store based in Russia.

It’s important to exercise caution when using third-party app stores that don’t ship with your device and ensure that you download apps from trusted sources to mitigate security risks.

iOS stores

The official App Store is the primary and only authorized source for iOS apps on Apple devices. Apple exercises strict control over the iOS ecosystem, including the distribution and installation of apps. However, it’s worth noting that certain alternative app stores or platforms have emerged for jailbroken devices, which have been modified to bypass Apple’s restrictions. These unofficial platforms are not supported or endorsed by Apple and are associated with various risks, including potential security vulnerabilities and violation of device warranties.

Once a device is jailbroken, users can install third-party app stores such as Cydia, Sileo, or Installer. These alternative app stores offer a variety of apps, tweaks, and modifications that are not available through the official App Store. Users can browse and download apps from these stores, expanding the options beyond what is offered in the Apple-controlled ecosystem.

It’s important to note that jailbreaking your iOS device is a complex process and can have various implications. Jailbreaking can void your device warranty, expose your device to security risks, and cause instability or performance issues. Additionally, with each iOS update, Apple introduces new security measures that may make it more difficult to jailbreak newer devices or versions of iOS.

MacOS

Microsoft Windows

The Microsoft Store (formerly known as the Windows Store) is the official and primary app store for Windows devices. It is the central marketplace for apps, games, and other digital content for Windows 10 and later versions. However – Microsoft was late in the game with app stores, becuase installing apps is possible.

There are also other platforms or sources from which you can download and install applications for Windows. Some examples include:

Third-Party Websites

Many software developers and vendors offer their applications for download directly from their websites. Users can visit the developer’s website, download the application installer, and install it on their Windows devices.

Steam

While primarily known as a digital distribution platform for games, Steam also offers a range of non-gaming applications. Users can download and install various software titles from the Steam platform.

Win32/Win64 Applications

Windows supports the installation of traditional Win32/Win64 applications, which are not necessarily distributed through the Microsoft Store. These applications can be downloaded from various sources, such as official software vendor websites or other trusted platforms.

It’s important to note that while there are alternative sources for downloading applications on Windows, users should exercise caution and download software from trusted and verified sources to ensure the security and integrity of their systems.

Linux

Linux distributions typically use package management systems and repositories to manage software installations. Here are some commonly used app stores or repositories in the Linux ecosystem:

Ubuntu Software Center (or GNOME Software)

This is the default app store for Ubuntu and many Ubuntu-based distributions that use the GNOME desktop environment. It provides a graphical interface to search, install, and manage software packages.

Debian APT (Advanced Package Tool)

Debian, the parent distribution of Ubuntu, uses the APT package management system. Users can interact with APT through the command-line interface (CLI) using commands such as apt-get and aptitude to search, install, update, and remove software packages.

Red Hat Package Manager (RPM)

RPM is a package management system used by Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Fedora, and other RPM-based distributions. Users can install and manage software using the rpm command-line tool or graphical frontends like DNF (Dandified Yum) and PackageKit.

Arch User Repository (AUR)

Arch Linux users can access the AUR, a community-driven repository that hosts a wide range of user-contributed packages. Users can utilize AUR helpers like Yay or Trizen to search, install, and update software from the AUR.

Snap Store

Snap is a universal package management system available on various Linux distributions. The Snap Store provides a graphical interface for users to search and install software packaged as snaps, which are self-contained applications with their dependencies.

Flatpak

Flatpak is another universal package management system that provides sandboxed applications across multiple Linux distributions. It utilizes Flatpak repositories, such as Flathub, to distribute and install applications.

These are just a few examples, and the specific app stores and repositories available can vary depending on the Linux distribution you are using. Each distribution often has its own package management system and associated repositories where users can find and install software packages.