Hi, i currently use iphone and planning to switch to android.

I have a question to degoogled users, how do you pay for apps like minecraft? Is it possible?

  • SFloss (they/them)
    9·
    3 years ago

    You can go to the Play Store on your favorite web browser and buy Minecraft through there, then download Aurora Store from F-Droid and log in to your Google Account on it to download your purchased apps. I’m not sure if MicroG is necessary for this, tbh, but I know it’s one option to download purchased apps.

  • aexiruch
    7·
    3 years ago

    IIRC there are non-google app stores from amazon and samsung, but to me using them would defeat the whole purpose of de-googling in the first place, so I stick to the f-droid “store” where all apps available (which is few, compared to what the walled gardens offer) are free (as in both gratis and libre, though some still have “anti-features”). Some of them accept bitcoin donations, etc. Regarding minecraft in particular, there is a clone called freeminer available, but I haven’t tried it.

    • hellojackOP
      5·
      3 years ago

      Thank you for reply! I found many alternatives for app im using now, but i may just keep using iphone for proprietary apps.

  • Ephera
    61·
    3 years ago

    Well, you mostly don’t. It’s less often necessary to pay for apps on Android than it is on iOS, but mind that if you do still get them from the Google Play Store, the costs are often covered by tracking you and showing you advertisements.

    Amazon also has an app store for Android where you will find some of the paid apps.
    And for example, Raccoon can download paid apps from the Play Store, but it is a bit of a hassle, and I believe not necessarily in compliance with the Terms Of Service of the Play Store, so you kind of risk losing your Google account.

    You may also find alternatives for paid apps on F-Droid.
    For example, instead of Minecraft, you can also play Minetest (F-Droid). If you install the Mineclone 2 modpack/subgame via the Minetest Mods Manager, it will be quite similar to Minecraft.
    Obviously, though, if you want to play Minecraft in multiplayer or like following the newest Minecraft updates, it can’t stand in for that.

  • relativecogniscience
    3·
    3 years ago

    though i appreciate the work of minetest team and other foss games, i think minecraft is on another level.

    IMO, it is your judgement whether to allow a microsoft-owned game onto your otherwise FAANG-free phone, but you cant even make a consented choice on ios or gAndroid.

    i believe you can sideload minecraft from outside the play store. its just installing another apk from an online website, though you have to trust the source.

    it can be ethically questionable to start doing this for apps you havent paid for. additionally, if you do this, you will have to check manually for updates.