Uploading an app on the Google Play Store is a pretty hectic thing to accomplish.
The app has to go through a vigorous phase of testing to make it comply with Google’s terms and conditions. Unfortunately, many of these apps, and certainly some great ones like AdAway won’t even make it to the Google Play store. That said, they are still available to be downloaded through 3rd party websites.
Also, you need to be aware that since these apps violate Google’s terms and conditions, you can’t completely trust all of them. Some of them have malware attached to them that can ruin your device. In fact, Google recently removed 33 apps that had malware in them.
The bottom line is that you need to be careful with them.
The apps that I will be exploring in this article have been personally tested by me and my team. So, you can rely on them but still be careful as there is no layer protecting your phone apart from your phone’s default virus and malware scanner. Now, without further ado, let’s dive right into them.
- WiFi Signal Monitor Pro
This app is a life-saver. I usually work from home and I constantly need an internet connection. Even though my Spectrum Internet is great, it was struggling after my wife changed the interior of my home. So, I called Spectrum customer service and they told me to download WiFi Signal Monitor Pro.
My devices weren’t getting optimum signals at the same place I used to work. Through WiFi Signal Monitor Pro, I found out that my wife had moved the refrigerator closer to the WiFi router and that was causing signal interference. Anyhow, I moved it to a different location and it was fine afterward.
This is how this app works: you connect your Android phone with your WiFI and then it calculates the signals. When you move around, it shows where the signal strength is maximum and vice versa.
It isn’t available on the Playstore but you can find it on a third-party app store like Aptoide.
- XTunes
A great alternative to your Apple Music and Spotify with a touch of old-school elements.
XTunes is an app with a vast directory of music albums ranging from new releases to classics like Your Man by Josh Turner. The app enables you to enjoy your favorite music while staying within the app or you can download it to your device storage to stream it later.
One of the best things about this app is that it has all the information related to the song like name, artist, album, and cover photo. So, it’s pretty easy for you to find your favorite music and play it offline.
- Key Mapper
Well, iPhone 15 Pro users can customize the action button on the phone to open pre-set apps and actions. “Android phones can’t do the same” is a wrong statement.
There is an open-source app called Key Mapper which enables Android users to remap any key for a different action than what they are designed to build. Those keys include your power button and the volume rockers.
The app enables you to customize buttons the way you want. For example, you can double-click on the power button to open live translation, triple-click to launch apps like your browser, and more. I have set the double click on the power button to open the camera because I love taking pictures of my Coco (a kitten) and she is on a constant run.
All in all, this app is great for making the customizable Android more customizable.
- YIFY Movies Browser
We all love movies, don’t we?! But sometimes the show isn’t available anymore in the cinemas or your streaming service like Netflix has removed it from the platform.
Since you can’t miss it, I have an alternative for you – YIFY Movies Browser.
It is a 3rd party app that has arguably the biggest library of movies. The app enables you to download the movie in 4k, 1080p, or even 480p if you want to quickly download the MP4 file.
One of the downsides of this app is that it can’t let you stream the movies as only downloading is the option. Apart from that it is overall a great app to have on your Android phone.
- Skytube
One of the most annoying things about YouTube is the annoying ads that are thrown on your screen at the beginning of the video, in the middle, and even at the end of the video.
To add fuel to the fire, they keep asking you to subscribe to YouTube Premium which I don’t want. So, I have searched for an alternative to YouTube that has all of the YouTube content minus the annoying ads.
Skytube is my alternative to YouTube. It might have been months since I last opened the YouTube app. I have been enjoying the same content without ads. I love podcasts while the free YouTube doesn’t offer background listening, Skytube lets you enjoy the content while you are running your chores.
Just search “Skytube apk” on Google and you will be able to download it from third-party app stores.