AppChina APK: The Free and Easy Way to Download Chinese Apps on Your Android Device
China APK Store: What You Need to Know
If you are an app developer or a mobile user who wants to access the vast and diverse Chinese app market, you might have heard of the term "APK store". But what exactly is an APK store and why is it so popular in China? In this article, we will explain what an APK store is, what are the benefits and challenges of using one in China, and how you can publish your app on one of the top 15 APK stores in China.
Introduction
An APK store is a platform that allows users to download and install Android applications (APK files) directly from the web, without going through the official Google Play Store. APK stores are very common in China, where Google Play is blocked by the Great Firewall. According to a report by AppInChina, there are over 400 APK stores in China, with a combined market share of over 50%.
china apk store
Using an APK store in China has some benefits and challenges for both app developers and users. For app developers, publishing their apps on an APK store can help them reach a large and untapped audience, as well as avoid some of the restrictions and fees imposed by Google Play. However, they also have to deal with the fragmentation and complexity of the Chinese app market, as well as the risk of piracy and malware. For users, downloading apps from an APK store can give them more choices and flexibility, as well as access to some apps that are not available on Google Play. However, they also have to be careful about the quality and security of the apps they download, as well as the compatibility and performance issues that may arise.
The Top 15 APK Stores in China
There are hundreds of APK stores in China, but not all of them are equally popular or reliable. Here are some of the top 15 APK stores in China, based on their market share, monthly active users, daily active users, features, pros, and cons .
Huawei App Market
Features and statistics
Chinese Name: 华为应用市场
Parent Company: Huawei
Company Type: Tech Hardware/Software
Description: Huawei is a large company manufacturing telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. In recent years, Huaweis mobile phones have become one of the best-selling phones world-wide, and is one of the top-selling phone brands in Mainland China. Huawei is also making headlines for its groundbreaking 5G network technology being rolled out across the world.
Market Share: 44.31%
Monthly Active Users (MAU): 421,788,000
Daily Active Users (DAU): 58,310,500
Pros and cons
Pros:
Huawei App Market is the default store installed on all Huawei phones sold in China, which gives it a huge user base and exposure.
Huawei App Market has a high-quality app selection and review process, which ensures the security and quality of the apps for the users.
Huawei App Market has a user-friendly interface and design, which makes it easy to navigate and search for apps.
Cons:
Huawei App Market is only available for Huawei phones, which limits its reach and compatibility with other devices.
Huawei App Market is affected by the US-China trade war and the US sanctions on Huawei, which may impact its access to some apps and services that rely on Google or other US-based companies.
Huawei App Market may have some censorship or content restrictions, which may limit the diversity and freedom of expression of the app developers and users.
Oppo Software Store
Features and statistics
Chinese Name: OPPO软件商店
Parent Company: Oppo
Company Type: Tech Hardware/Software
Description: Oppo is a Chinese consumer electronics and mobile communications company that produces smartphones, smart devices, headphones, and more. Oppo is known for its innovative and stylish products, such as its rotating camera phone and its fast-charging technology. Oppo is also one of the top-selling phone brands in China and globally.
Market Share: 16.67%
Monthly Active Users (MAU): 153,000,000
Daily Active Users (DAU): 21,200,000
Pros and cons
Pros:
Oppo Software Store is the default store installed on all Oppo phones sold in China, which gives it a large user base and exposure.
Oppo Software Store has a rich and diverse app selection, which covers various categories and genres, such as games, social media, entertainment, education, lifestyle, and more.
Oppo Software Store has a good reputation and trust among users, as it has a strict app review process and a high-quality customer service.
Cons:
Oppo Software Store is only available for Oppo phones, which limits its reach and compatibility with other devices.
Oppo Software Store may have some regional or language limitations, as it mainly caters to the Chinese market and users.
Oppo Software Store may have some censorship or content restrictions, which may limit the diversity and freedom of expression of the app developers and users.
VIVO App Store
Features and statistics
Chinese Name: VIVO应用商店
Parent Company: Vivo
Company Type: Tech Hardware/Software
Description: Vivo is a Chinese technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures smartphones, smartphone accessories, software, and online services. Vivo is known for its innovative features and designs, such as its pop-up selfie camera, in-display fingerprint scanner, and dual-screen phone. Vivo is also one of the top-selling phone brands in China and globally.
Market Share: 13.52%
Monthly Active Users (MAU): 123,900,000
Daily Active Users (DAU): 17,200,000
Pros and cons
Pros:
Vivo App Store is the default store installed on all Vivo phones sold in China, which gives it a large user base and exposure.
Vivo App Store has a wide and varied app selection, which covers many categories and genres, such as games, social media, entertainment, education, lifestyle, and more.
Vivo App Store has a high user satisfaction and loyalty rate, as it has a user-friendly interface and design, a fast app download speed, and a reliable app update mechanism.
Cons:
Vivo App Store is only available for Vivo phones, which limits its reach and compatibility with other devices.
Vivo App Store may have some regional or language limitations, as it mainly caters to the Chinese market and users.
Vivo App Store may have some censorship or content restrictions, which may limit the diversity and freedom of expression of the app developers and users.
Tencent My App
Features and statistics
Chinese Name: 腾讯应用宝
Parent Company: Tencent
Company Type: Tech Software/Internet
Description: Tencent is a Chinese multinational technology conglomerate that provides various Internet-related services and products, such as social media, online gaming, e-commerce, cloud computing, and more. Tencent is the owner of some of the most popular and influential apps in China and globally, such as WeChat, QQ, PUBG Mobile, and Honor of Kings. Tencent is also one of the largest and most valuable companies in the world.
Market Share: 10.32%
Monthly Active Users (MAU): 94,600,000
Daily Active Users (DAU): 13,100,000
Pros and cons
Pros:
Tencent My App is the default store installed on all Tencent-related apps and devices, such as WeChat, QQ, and Tencent Cloud Phone, which gives it a huge user base and exposure.
Tencent My App has a strong and loyal app community, as it integrates with Tencent's social media platforms and allows users to share, comment, and rate apps with their friends and contacts.
Tencent My App has a competitive and attractive app monetization model, as it offers app developers various ways to earn revenue from their apps, such as advertising, in-app purchases, subscriptions, and more.
Cons:
Tencent My App is mainly focused on Tencent's own apps and services, which may limit its diversity and openness to other app developers and users.
Tencent My App may have some compatibility or performance issues with some devices or operating systems, as it is optimized for Tencent's own products and platforms.
Tencent My App may have some censorship or content restrictions, which may limit the diversity and freedom of expression of the app developers and users.
Other notable APK stores in China
Besides the four APK stores mentioned above, there are many other APK stores in China that are worth mentioning. Here is a table that summarizes some of their features and statistics .
Name
Chinese Name
Parent Company
Company Type
Market Share
MAU
DAU
Xiaomi App Store
小米应用商店
Xiaomi
Tech Hardware/Software
5.76%
52,800,000
7,300,000
Baidu Mobile Assistant
百度手机助手
Baidu
Tech Software/Internet
5.02%45,900,000
6,400,000
360 Mobile Assistant
360手机助手
Qihoo 360
Tech Software/Internet
4.55%
41,700,000
5,800,000
Meizu App Store
魅族应用商店</