TL;DR The leading android app store in China isn’t Google Play Store. Instead, it’s 1) Huawei App Market, 2) Oppo Software Store, 3) VIVO App Store, 4) Tencent My App, and 5) MIUI App Store. These app stores capture over 99% of the android market shares.
Unlike the west, Google Play Store is not the major android appstore in China. There are many different mobile app stores in China. This post will introduce the top 5 and it captures the 99% of the market android market share.
Apple App Store has already adopted and embraced the changes in the regulations in China. If you publish a game in the China region, you probably have seen a warning message:
“Chinese law requires games to secure an approval number from China’s National Press and Publication Administration. If you offer or plan to offer paid games or games with in-app purchases on the App Store in China mainland, enter your approval number in the App Information section. Affected games that don’t include a valid approval number may have their availability impacted on the App Store in China mainland until an approval number is provided.”
Here are the top app stores that Android developers should know about if they want to launch and market their apps in China:
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Secure Your Free ConsultationDominant Chinese App Stores: Top 5 Platforms Capturing 99% of the Market
1. Huawei App Store / Huawei AppGallery / 华为应用市场
The official app store for Huawei and Honor devices, which is pre-installed on all Huawei and Honor devices and available in over 170 countries and regions around the world.
Official Website: https://appgallery.huawei.com/
2. Oppo App Market / Oppo HeyTap / OPPO软件商店
The official app store for Oppo devices, which is pre-installed on all Oppo devices and available in a number of countries around the world.
Official Website: https://store.oppomobile.com/
3. VIVO App Store (vivo应用商店)
The official app store for VIVO devices, which is pre-installed on all VIVO devices and available in a number of countries around the world.
Official Website: https://dev.vivo.com.cn/distribute/appStore
4. Tencent My App Store (应用宝)
The official app store for Tencent devices is pre-installed on all Tencent devices and available in a number of countries around the world.
Official Website: https://android.myapp.com/
5. MIUI App Store (小米应用商店)
The official app store for devices running MIUI, which is pre-installed on devices running MIUI and available in a number of countries around the world.
Official Website: http://app.xiaomi.com/
Google Play Store
Google Play Store: While not officially available in China, many Android devices in China have access to the Google Play Store through various means, such as using a VPN or installing the store manually.
Third-party app stores
In addition to these official app stores, there are also numerous third-party app stores available in China, such as 360 Mobile Assistant (360手机助手) and Baidu Mobile Assistant (百度手机助手). These app stores are not affiliated with specific device brands and are available to users of all Android devices.
It is worth noting that the availability and popularity of these app stores can vary depending on the region and the specific device being used. Some app stores may be more popular in certain regions or with certain device brands, while others may be more widely used across the country.
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