MoboMarket hands-on: Download free apps and games from this Google Play alternative 

For the great majority of Android users, Google Play is the only virtual marketplace where apps and games can be obtained from. And that should come as no surprise since Google's service is hardwired into every brand-name Android device. Few people know, however, that there is a number of alternatives to Google Play, and with this article, we'd like to introduce you to one of them. 

The third-party app store that we're bringing under the spotlight is called MoboMarket. Why should you even bother trying that instead of sticking with Google Play? Well, it does have a number of advantages over Google's marketplace. For starters, you can use MoboMarket without the need for a Google account (or any account, for that matter), you can download multiple apps simultaneously, and if you have the MoboMarket client's latest version, you will be allowed to save downloaded apps in APK form. But what the service truly aims to stand out with is its app curation skills – its ability to pick apps that are really worth trying, or apps that the user is likely to be interested in. That was enough of a reason for us to take MoboMarket for a spin on our Android smartphone.  

MoboMarket is a third-party Android app store with lots of free apps and games

MoboMarket is available as a free download from the company's website, but it can also be downloaded for free from the Google Play store. After downloading it from the latter source, we chose to let it update to the latest version in order to get its full set of features. Strangely, we had to enable the installation of apps from unknown sources in order to update the MoboMarket client. Having this option enabled is also required for installing apps via MoboMarket, which might seem unsafe, but that's simply the way the service works. After the update was complete, we noticed that two MoboMarket apps were present in our app drawer. We just uninstalled the version downloaded from the Play Store and proceeded with using the updated version of MoboMarket. 

Soon after launching the app we realized that MoboMarket wasn't offering us any paid apps; only free and freemium software was available in its library. This doesn't mean, however, that there aren't enough apps and games of good quality to pick from. Quite the opposite – we see plenty of noteworthy titles there ready to be downloaded. The frequent presence of apps that are, how should we put it, inappropriate for a younger audience, is a bit disturbing, but it is not like such apps don't make their way into Google Play as well.  

As for the app's interface, browsing MoboMarket's selection of apps is a pretty straightforward process. Software is organised in sections, with tabs dedicated to apps, games, and device personalization. The Focus tab is where the newest, hottest, and most popular apps are listed. Apps and games are also grouped in collections and categories depending on their type and genre, which makes finding apps you're interested in much easier. We like how each app has a large "Download" button next to it for instant installation. If you happen to be not connected to a Wi-Fi network, the app will remind you that downloading an app will eat up your data, which is nice. 

All in all, MoboMarket and its client app are worth trying if you feel like Google Play and its app suggestions aren't exactly your cup of tea. Of course, this third-party service is not going to replace Google Play anytime soon, but that is not really its goal. MoboMarket exists to make it easier for users to find and download great apps and games that they can enjoy at no cost whatsoever. And yes, it does get its job done well, so feel free to give it a shot! MoboMarket can be downloaded from Google Play or from the company's web page.