In this guide, we will show you the ten best apps that have been removed from the Play Store and explain why they were deleted, along with possible alternative app options – for existing users.
A few other apps get banned for violating Google’s policies, which generally concern user privacy, security, and content standards.
Although none of these apps will likely be able to beat around the bush when they are pulled from Google Play, their identification as malware or illegal raises important questions about safety and legality.
App Names & Its Features
| App Name | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Fortnite | Battle Royale gameplay, cross-platform play, frequent updates, in-game purchases |
| TubeMate | YouTube video downloader, supports various formats, background downloads |
| ACMarket | Alternative app store, free and modded apps, user-friendly interface |
| VidMate | Video and music downloader, supports multiple sources, HD video downloads |
| Showbox | Streaming movies and TV shows, offline viewing, high-quality video streaming |
| Popcorn Time | Streaming movies and TV shows, BitTorrent client integration, multi-platform |
| Lucky Patcher | App modification tool, remove ads, unlock premium features, custom patches |
| Terrarium TV | Streaming movies and TV shows, extensive library, high-quality streaming |
| XTunes | Free music downloader, extensive music library, easy-to-use interface |
| AdAway | Ad blocker, requires root access, custom hosts file support |
10 Best Apps Banned From Play Store
1. Fortnite
Epic Games’ Fortnite was removed from the Google Play Store in August 2020. The ban followed Epic Games’ decision to add a direct payment option for in-app purchases, circumventing Google’s 30% commission on these payments.
That goes against the Play Store policies that kicked it out. That said, Fortnite has remained popular despite the ban and can still be downloaded from Epic Games’ site or via the Samsung Galaxy Store. The whole thing has reignited the debate around app store monopolies and platform fees in general.
2. TubeMate
TubeMate is known for its ability to download YouTube videos directly into Android devices. The exact reason for this is still unknown, but they were banned from the Google Play Store and not allowed to be hosted again due to a violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service, and downloading content by using them could result in the termination of your account.
TubeMate is really attractive to low-data users because it lets them save videos offline in numerous formats and resolutions.
Even though it was pulled from the Play Store, TubeMate is still hosted on multiple third-party app stores and websites.
3. ACMarket
ACMarket is one of the best third-party app stores available for Android that offers various apps and games, including hacked and modified versions.
The platform was removed from the Google Play Store as it does not comply with Google’s policies – enabling distribution of pirated & modified content.
As you can imagine, ACMarket’s particular ability is a substantial threat to developers’ incoming revenue streams. ACMarket can still be found on its official website, even though it is not available in the Play Store.
4. VidMate
VidMate is a video downloader app for Android that allows users to download videos from YouTube, Facebook, or any other website. It was removed from the Play Store, likely for policies surrounding content downloading and distribution.
VidMate’s High-speed downloads and multiple video format options sometimes make It the choice of users. For offline storage, Videos VidMate, however, has been seemingly pulled out of the Play Store yet is available through third-party app stores and via its official website.
5. Showbox
Showbox is a well-designed movie app for Android or an iPhone that may just be what you need to design your ideal theater and watch high-quality movies from the comfort of your home.
The app was removed from the Google Play Store for infringing copyright and distributing copyrighted content without permission.
Showbox offers HD streaming and downloading options, which most legal streaming services lack. The app’s fame was so high that it had to be removed due to several widely popularized law issues.
6. Popcorn Time
It is free software that streams movies and TV shows using torrent technology with an attractive, user-friendly interface. It was pulled from the Google Play Store for copyright infringement and assisting in illegal downloads.
Popcorn Time is arguably the most well-known among regular users, thanks to its user-friendly manner. However, it landed in legal hot water and subsequently shut down. You can still find the app on different third-party websites and repos.
7. Lucky Patcher
Lucky Patcher is a tool for customizing other apps, removing ads, and making free in-app purchases. This game was removed from the Google Play Store for enabling illegal activity in violation of its terms.
Lucky Patcher provides robust functionality for users to personalize and customize their app experiences, but the potential of Lucky Patcher abuse has forced them off the Play Store. Even so, it is well-liked, and there are downloads of this on its official site and other third-celebration websites.
8. Terrarium TV
Terrarium TV was developed to provide free streaming content, such as movies and TV shows. However, the Google Play Store banned it for… infringing copyright and distributing unlicensed content.
One of the best features that made users go for Terrarium TV is that it offers high-quality streams and downloads. Legal disputes eventually led to the app being canceled, but clones and knock-offs continue to pop up on various unofficial stores.
9. XTunes
A music download source for Copyrighted songs870ViewsXTunes is a service that provides downloadable URLs to particular tracks without any need for registration.
As we reported recently, this got kicked from the Google Play Store for its distribution policies on copyrighted material.
XTunes allows users to download music on their devices, which makes it popular among people who want to create and grow their library without wasting money on buying music. Although XTunes was removed, you can still find It in many third-party app stores.
10. AdAway
AdAway is an open-source ad blocker for Android that blocks ads using the host’s file. Google banned the app from the PlayStore because it violated its policy of disturbing other apps’ functionality and revenue.
With this app, apps and browsers become much more ad-free. AdAway is not available on the Play Store but can still be installed from F-Droid and other alternative app repositories.
Which Apps to Choose
If you are downloading a banned Play Store App on your device, always keep it safe and legal! Investigate the cause behind the ban, e.g., violation of privacy policies, inappropriate content throughout your app, scamming users through it, etc. Check out reliable sources and user reviews from outside the Play Store to know how trustworthy it is.
You might want to look towards using alternative app stores with high security, like the Amazon Appstore or F-Droid as well. Make sure to download apps only from trusted sites, and stay away from downloading APKs or using sideloading if you are not familiar with the source of the content, as they can be infected with malware.
Finally, make sure that the app meets your expectations—it must have everything you want and like without sacrificing data or device security.
Conclusion
Although banned apps can sometimes offer interesting and innovative functionalities, you should be cautious of their Play Store removal as a sign they may pose some risk or not even comply with Google’s policies to begin with.
However, alternative solutions do exist, and users can determine this by researching thoroughly before selecting anything that might offer them the best combination of security with their desired Roblox functionality.
You should always trust your judgment and use apps from reputed sources only without giving a thought to the risk of using banned applications.
Being informed and cautious is key to using innovative applications without compromising your data or device security.
