Zapstore is an open Android app store where developers publish apps directly and communities curate what's worth installing. Instead of going through Google Play, it pulls app listings, releases and publisher profiles from Nostr relays and lets you install APKs straight from the people who built them.
Developer: zapstore · License: Open source (open source) · Price: Free
Before you start: the app only ships an arm64-v8a build, so make sure your Android device uses that architecture. Minimum supported Android version corresponds to SDK 29. If you want to build from source yourself, you will need JDK 21, the Android SDK (target API 37), and for Tor support, rustup and cargo-ndk at the versions pinned in the repo.
Official file from the developer's release · Nov 7, 2026 · SHA-256 febbb0c7e5a6300c…
Screenshots
Key features
- App discovery with publisher identity and social trust signals, instead of a single centralized gatekeeper
- Catalog listings, curated stacks, releases, and publisher profiles sync from Nostr relays
- Direct APK distribution from developers
- Built-in Tor support for network traffic
- Open source Kotlin/Jetpack Compose client that anyone can build and audit
Why isn’t Zapstore on Google Play?
Zapstore is published by its developers on GitHub and is not distributed on Google Play or F-Droid.
Is Zapstore safe?
This is an open-source app (Kotlin/Jetpack Compose client) and the README points to official GitHub Releases as the source for the production APK. Note that the README says the production APK is currently published from a separate Flutter client repo, while this Kotlin rewrite (package dev.zapstore.beta) is still in beta, so check which release you are downloading. Zapstore comes straight from its developer rather than through Google Play, so it hasn’t gone through Google’s app review. As with any app, check the permissions it asks for and install it if you’re comfortable with them.
How to install
- Tap the download button above: the APK file downloads straight to your phone.
- When Android asks, allow your browser to install unknown apps.
- Open the file and tap Install.
FAQ
Is Zapstore free?
Yes, it is a free, open-source app available from GitHub Releases.
Where do I get the production APK?
According to the README, the production APK is currently published from the project's Flutter client on GitHub Releases, while this repository is a Kotlin rewrite (dev.zapstore.beta) still in beta.
Does Zapstore work on all Android devices?
No. The README states the app only ships for the arm64-v8a ABI, so it needs a device with that architecture, and the minimum SDK is 29.
Is Zapstore on Google Play or F-Droid?
No. It is not listed on Google Play or F-Droid. It is published directly by its developers on GitHub.
More free apps you won’t find on Google Play: Open Source Apps · Best Android apps not on the Google Play Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zapstore free?
Yes, it is a free, open-source app available from GitHub Releases.
Where do I get the production APK?
According to the README, the production APK is currently published from the project's Flutter client on GitHub Releases, while this repository is a Kotlin rewrite (dev.zapstore.beta) still in beta.
Does Zapstore work on all Android devices?
No. The README states the app only ships for the arm64-v8a ABI, so it needs a device with that architecture, and the minimum SDK is 29.
Is Zapstore on Google Play or F-Droid?
No. It is not listed on Google Play or F-Droid. It is published directly by its developers on GitHub.
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