Have you ever wanted to download an app, only to find it isn’t available on the official app stores? Or perhaps you were searching for a better price on app purchases? If so, Applob might be the solution.
What is Applob?
Applob is a third-party app store application that provides access to apps and games not listed on platforms like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Launched in 2021 by a startup based in India, Applob aims to open up more choices for users by offering a wider selection of apps, often at discounted prices or with more flexibility around subscriptions and payments.
While Applob is still in its early stages, its convenient features and expansive catalog have quickly attracted millions of users globally. However, some concerns linger around security, legality, and fragmentation as such unofficial app stores continue rising up.
Understanding Applob Capabilities
Compared to the experience on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, Applob provides some distinct features and functionality:
Broader App Selection
Applob grants access to many more apps, including some not approved for or banned from the official stores. The selection encompasses popular and niche apps across all categories – games, entertainment, lifestyle, social, tools, education, health & fitness, music, books, photography, etc.
Customization Options
Users have more personalization options in Applob. This includes different layouts, themes, notification controls, hidden apps, kid profiles, etc. Applob also allows creating multiple user accounts on a single device.
Cost Savings
Many apps on Applob cost less than the official app store pricing. Options like discounted subscriptions, free trials, pay-per-download without subscriptions, and reward points offer more value in Applob.
The Applob interface and menus will look familiar to any smartphone user. App listings showcase descriptions, user ratings, screenshots, and comments. Like Google Play or the iOS App Store, Applob features editor recommendations, top charts for paid/free apps, search tools, category listings, account management, and so on. Overall, the experience remains user-friendly.
Key Advantages of Using Applob
Applob’s unofficial status provides some clear incentives to users:
1. Get Exclusive Apps
Applob offers apps unavailable on official stores, like classic games, experimental apps, those still in development/testing phases, banned apps, region-locked apps, etc. This increased choice benefits people seeking niche apps.
2. Greater Personalization
As covered earlier, Applob provides increased flexibility in how you organize, control, and view your applications. The multi-account support on one device also makes it handy for shared devices.
3. Save Money
Paying outright instead of subscriptions, discounted purchases, coupons, reward points – Applob offers many avenues to get apps for cheaper than the list price on Google Play or Apple App Store. This appeals greatly to budget-conscious app users.
Potential Downsides to Consider
However, Applob’s unofficial nature means users should be aware of certain concerns:
1. Security Risks
With no official vetting process, Applob likely has fewer security checks to block malware, adware, spyware, unofficial clones of popular apps, etc. Users must be more cautious regarding permissions.
2. Privacy Vulnerabilities
There’s greater risk of data harvesting with fewer privacy protections. Also, sideloading apps required bypassing some default security settings. Users must be judicious in what information they share on such platforms.
3. Violating App Store Policies
Using unofficial app stores violates the Apple App and Google Play Store terms. You risk account suspensions for sideloading apps. Also, app developers might pursue legal action if their paid apps are installed from unofficial sources.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Applob
If you wish to explore Applob’s possibilities despite the caveats above, here is a walkthrough:
1. Download and Install
You can find download links for the Applob mobile app on their website. Android installation involves allowing sideloading apps in your device settings. The process is trickier on iOS devices not jailbroken, often requiring third-party signing services.
2. Browse Categories
The Applob dashboard features numerous categories and subcategories to browse apps. Toggle between Top Charts, Editor Picks, or simple Category-wise listings to discover apps. Adding search filters helps narrow your search.
3. Manage Your Apps
The My Apps section helps manage installed apps for updates, viewing recent downloads, payments history, adjusting notifications, etc. You can also create multiple user accounts here.
Overall, while the navigation differs slightly from the Play Store or App Store, the menus are designed intuitively. With minor adjustments, you can find any app and manage it.
Community Support Resources
As a relatively new platform, the Applob community continually expands, offering some avenues for troubleshooting help or leaving feedback:
1. User Reviews
App listings have user reviews and ratings, helping gauge an app’s quality, issues, advantages, etc. However, some dubious reviews exist on such platforms, so weigh all reviews judiciously.
2. Customer Support Tickets
You can contact Applob support via email or in-app ticketing for technical issues like download failures, payment problems, managing subscriptions, etc. Response times vary depending on the problem urgency.
3. Online Forums
Some independent online forums discuss Applob troubleshooting and share tips among users. These can provide user-generated fixes for common Applob issues that customer support may miss.
Applob for Developers
The open and flexible policies also appeal to many app developers. Here are some development considerations around publishing on Applob:
1. Monetization and Trials
Applob supports paid apps, in-app purchases, subscriptions, ad-supported models and even pay-per-download options unavailable in the Play Store and App Store. There are also tools for timed free trials.
2. App Submission and Review
Compared to Apple and Google checks, Applob has a faster and simpler submission process for publishing apps. Still, apps undergo automated analysis for malware, copyright issues, etc. Expect 1-3 days for review, much quicker than official stores.
3. Developer Profiles
Applob provides registered developer accounts. You can publish multiple apps, track analytics, edit listings, push updates, etc. via your developer profile and dashboard. Additional promotional tools are also available.
For developers struggling with app discoverability, the loose publishing terms can allow publishing experimental concepts. Just ensure you retain ownership rights in case of disputes.
Impact on the App Industry Landscape
As app stores like Applob continue rising, what could it mean for the mobile app ecosystem? A few projections:
1. Forcing Official Stores to Compete
To tackle the threat from alternative app stores, official stores may implement more developer-friendly revenue sharing policies, reduced commissions, better featuring for niche apps, etc.
2. Risk of Poor App Curation Damaging Users
However, unchecked growth of such app stores increases harmful apps infiltrating unsuspecting users’ devices, especially malware vulnerabilities preying on dated devices.
3. Potential for Greater Regionalization
Unofficial app stores often target growth in specific countries and regions. This could accelerate the trend of domestic app stores gaining dominance over global platforms.
The coming years will prove pivotal in whether app market fragmentation through unofficial stores results in greater developer autonomy or just causes consumer mistrust regarding app safety. Much also depends on official stores adapting policies around alternative distribution channels.
Final Words
Third-party Android and iOS app stores like Applob grant access to deeper app selections beyond the Play Store or App Store, often with lower costs and more personalization. However, you must weigh the risks around malware, privacy exposures, security bypasses, and legal violations concerning sideloading unofficial apps, subscriptions, and purchases.
Overall, Applob presents a compelling case for developer and users seeking alternatives app discovery models in a mobile landscape dominated by Google and Apple. Despite safety and stability concerns over unofficial app stores, the demand for options beyond official app stores continues rising globally.
The future trends around multiple app store usage and the growth of alternative app marketplaces bear monitoring as they could force seismic shifts in app monetization and distribution – especially regarding the dominance of Play Store and App Store. For now, Applob remains an intriguing option for adventurous developers and users – albeit with some caution necessitated.
