I ditched Google Play for apps – here’s what I use now

For most Android users, the Google Play Store remains the default destination whenever a new app is needed. Whether you hear about a fresh service, spot an app on a billboard, or scan a QR code to install it, the Play Store is almost always where that link takes you. I have relied on it the same way for years, treating it as the go-to hub for everything Android.

However, the Play Store is far from flawless. Plenty of apps still slip through Google’s review process that probably should not be there. I am also not a fan of how aggressively Google is pushing AI throughout the store these days. Another frustration is that many apps available for free elsewhere are often packed with ads when downloaded from the Play Store.

Over the past few months, I have become a dedicated fan of open source Android apps. I have already switched both my gallery and file manager to Fossify’s open source alternatives. But Fossify is just the beginning. There are countless excellent open source Android apps that never appear on the Play Store at all. The real challenge is not finding good apps,it is discovering them in the first place.

That is why SafeHaven caught my attention. This alternative Android app store is quickly gaining popularity because it directly addresses that discovery problem. It acts as a storefront not only for Fossify apps but for open source Android apps as a whole.

The best Android apps are not always on the Google Play Store

I have found that open source apps tend to be more reliable and user-friendly. Search for almost any category on the Play Store, and you will likely find dozens of nearly identical apps fighting for attention. Many are fine, some are great, but most are overloaded with ads. What I have realized is that open source apps are often simply better. They are usually lightweight, focused on doing one thing well, and not constantly trying to sell you something. Plus, because the code is open, anyone can inspect it,a major plus if you care about privacy and security.

This app store solves my biggest open source app problem

SafeHaven makes discovering Android apps much easier. As the developer describes it, SafeHaven is a privacy-focused Android app store built around helping users find open source apps beyond what you typically see on F-Droid. Instead of just asking you to trust an app, SafeHaven highlights where the app comes from, whether the developer has been verified, whether the app has been scanned for malware, and how it performs in automated security checks.

The platform pulls apps from multiple sources. According to the developer, it regularly tracks popular open source Android projects and syncs with F-Droid repositories to keep listings up to date. I tried SafeHaven on my Oppo Find X9 Ultra, and getting started was surprisingly simple. The app only asked me to set a nickname on first launch. There was no account creation or sign-in process.

The interface feels familiar enough. You get featured apps, categories, charts, and a search tab for browsing. There are also sections for managing installed apps and tweaking settings like themes, but that is about it. The main focus, as the app claims, is to let users discover and install apps quickly. It is definitely not as polished or intuitive as the Google Play Store, but it does a good job of making open source app discovery feel approachable.

Each listing includes security signals showing whether the source is verified and whether the app has passed security scans. You can also browse screenshots and leave ratings. Installing apps is straightforward. You simply tap the install button, and the APK begins downloading. Since these are sideloaded apps, you will need to enable Android’s Install for unknown sources permission, but beyond that, the process is painless.

It is not perfect, but it is a great starting point

What I like most about SafeHaven is that the developer is not just trying to build another F-Droid-style app store. The goal seems to be creating a proper discovery platform for open source Android apps as a whole. It is obviously nowhere near as polished as the Play Store, and discovery still is not quite at Google’s level. The app is also still fairly early in development. But for what it is, the experience is already surprisingly solid.

I am not sure what projects like this will look like in the long run, especially as Google continues tightening Android’s security and sideloading policies. But as someone who has been using more open source apps lately, I am glad to see projects like SafeHaven exist.