Google is making it easier to install Android apps outside the Play Store, but US users will be excluded from the initial rollout.
The company has opened applications for its Registered App Stores (RAS) program, which will allow approved third-party marketplaces to offer one-tap app installations and automatic background updates. The program is scheduled to begin Dec. 1, although eligibility will depend on device software, geographic restrictions, and Google’s security requirements.
The changes could make alternative Android app stores more competitive with Google Play. However, with a $10,000 annual registration fee and strict approval requirements, smaller marketplaces may struggle to participate.
What’s Android RAS, and why is it important
One of Android’s biggest advantages over iOS is its flexible app installation.
However, as Google increasingly restricts users who sideload apps, the process is becoming more challenging, with complex requests and warnings appearing each time a user tries to install an app.
Despite the restrictions, many users still flock to third-party marketplaces. One reason for that is that these stores often distribute apps with features or functionality that Google Play restricts. Termux, for instance, offers a more complete experience through F-Droid than its Google Play version, which has been adjusted to meet Play Store requirements.
Google’s RAS program attempts to balance the demand for alternative app marketplaces with the company’s desire to maintain security oversight.
What qualifies a third-party marketplace
Applicants must register via Google’s Android Developer Console, own a registered app package name, and distribute their marketplace as a standalone APK. Google says individual developer accounts are not eligible.
Approved marketplaces must submit their app catalogs and updates for Google malware scanning, address major security vulnerabilities, and maintain policies against harmful applications. They must also obtain Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) AL2 certification through the App Defense Alliance by June 1, 2027.
Registration costs $10,000 annually, payable before Google reviews an application. Additional screening fees may apply if potentially harmful apps account for more than 1% of installation attempts or 2% of a marketplace’s catalog over 30 days. Marketplaces that fail to meet program requirements or pay required fees risk losing their registered status.
Who gets to use it, and under what criteria
Just as Google placed requirements for eligible marketplaces, not every Android user will be able to use the feature.
Starting Dec. 1, the program will be available on devices running Android 17 QPR2 or later in select countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The US is not included in Google’s initial list of supported markets.
Eligibility depends on the user’s home account country rather than their immediate physical location. Someone traveling temporarily to an unsupported country can continue using the features available in their home market. However, users who permanently relocate and update their account country may see their eligibility change.
Google maintains a complete list of supported countries in its official RAS FAQ.
Even if a user checks all these boxes, they still need to use an approved marketplace, suggesting that while Google has loosened its grip, users and marketplaces still face obstacles to freedom.
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What changes for developers and users
For developers, Google’s RAS program could make distributing apps outside Google Play more attractive by reducing installation friction for users. Approved marketplaces will be able to offer a more streamlined installation experience and automatically handle subsequent app updates, potentially making alternative distribution channels more competitive.
However, developers will still need to comply with the policies of their chosen marketplaces, and those marketplaces must meet Google’s registration and security requirements.
For users, the biggest change is convenience. Installing applications through approved third-party marketplaces will require fewer steps, while automatic background updates mean users can get a similar update experience as apps installed from the Play Store.
Then there is security. Google’s approval of a store should not replace the need for independent and careful analysis of any app installed there. Even the Google Play Store and App Store have had instances where malicious apps slipped past their security. That does not make official stores, and now, approved stores, inherently unsafe; still, users should prioritize security.
RAS could make Android’s alternative ecosystem more accessible. But its success will depend on whether enough marketplaces — particularly the most popular ones — apply and are approved, and whether users and developers find the new arrangement worthwhile.
For more on Google’s changing Android app ecosystem, read how Aptoide became the first third-party app store available through Google Play, giving US users another way to access alternative marketplaces.