Not much else to say, just something that's relatively better than just the Google Play Store by itself, and maybe allows you to search by "purchase model" as in, one time purchase vs subscription (the latter being more common, but that doesn't mean a consumer shouldn't be able to find the ones that still work the other way)
Question In your opinion, what's a good place to find app and game reviews?
- Thread starter ManicIowa62
- Start date
VidJunky
Well-known member
- Dec 6, 2011
- 6,204
- 1,198
- 113
Do you not feel like you can trust the reviews at the Play Store?
Anyway, the mainstream advice around here is to use trusted sources for anything you install on your device. Those would be Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, your carrier's app offerings, and your device manufacturer's app offerings. A lot of times here in the forums we see people with device issues after getting apps from the interweb at some cheap or shady app store, where no one knows if the apps are truly vetted, monitored, or maintained. The other issue with those places is that they differ from the first 4 by usually only suggesting apps compatible with your device. Those other places don't care if the app is not compatible with your device which leads to installation issues, stability issues, and function issues.
As for free, paid, or subscription apps, my advice would be to search for the app you want, and if you find it to be any of those that you don't want, sounds like subscription in your case, do a search for alternatives. Using myself as an example, I do some specific things with photos and I'm cheap, like if I can't get it for free, I might not need it cheap, and a lot of the photo editors are subscription now, so when or if I find something I like but don't want to pay for I'll search for alternatives to that app. There is usually someone putting it out there if not for free than maybe less than the other guy. You should be cautious of this too, because the free versions of some apps are not as well tested as the expensive one. It's really a balancing act, between what you trust, like, works, and is affordable.
I can't think of a paid app that I care too much about but in a Google search, because Google puts out Android, I name the app I want an alternative for, and Google just that, alternative to XYZ, and just like the opinions of this world site after site pops up with someone's opinion of what might replace or be better than the app named. As far as that goes you could do the same but instead of asking for alternatives, ask for cheaper than/free version of, and get the same results. Googling doesn't guarantee compatibility with your device but the Play Store or one of the other 3 mentioned will let you know if they work with your device.
Does this help?
Anyway, the mainstream advice around here is to use trusted sources for anything you install on your device. Those would be Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, your carrier's app offerings, and your device manufacturer's app offerings. A lot of times here in the forums we see people with device issues after getting apps from the interweb at some cheap or shady app store, where no one knows if the apps are truly vetted, monitored, or maintained. The other issue with those places is that they differ from the first 4 by usually only suggesting apps compatible with your device. Those other places don't care if the app is not compatible with your device which leads to installation issues, stability issues, and function issues.
As for free, paid, or subscription apps, my advice would be to search for the app you want, and if you find it to be any of those that you don't want, sounds like subscription in your case, do a search for alternatives. Using myself as an example, I do some specific things with photos and I'm cheap, like if I can't get it for free, I might not need it cheap, and a lot of the photo editors are subscription now, so when or if I find something I like but don't want to pay for I'll search for alternatives to that app. There is usually someone putting it out there if not for free than maybe less than the other guy. You should be cautious of this too, because the free versions of some apps are not as well tested as the expensive one. It's really a balancing act, between what you trust, like, works, and is affordable.
I can't think of a paid app that I care too much about but in a Google search, because Google puts out Android, I name the app I want an alternative for, and Google just that, alternative to XYZ, and just like the opinions of this world site after site pops up with someone's opinion of what might replace or be better than the app named. As far as that goes you could do the same but instead of asking for alternatives, ask for cheaper than/free version of, and get the same results. Googling doesn't guarantee compatibility with your device but the Play Store or one of the other 3 mentioned will let you know if they work with your device.
Does this help?
Well, I've been screwed by apps from the Google Play Store that just didn't work well, or didn't work at all. But the reviews on JUST the Google Play Store by themselves were pretty much all positive ones.
Not to mention, the free features may work perfectly well, but that doesn't mean the subscription or the premium features do, since there can be problems with the payment system specifically, that don't affect the free features.
Wish I could say that was a hypothetical thing, but it sadly isn't.
Unfortunately, I've tried posting here about "Hey, looking for an app like (insert description here)" but I don't get suggestions.
Hence my search for another data point that I could just search for reviews on that other site (whatever it may be) before I spend money on premium features after doing the "free mode" and finding it to work okay. (Just to be sure they test the payment features and the developer doesn't try to trick you with the fine print by making it 20 pages long)
Yes, I'm on board with the idea of actually downloading apps from the Google Play Store directly, or that of the carrier & manufacturer, for the very reasons you mentioned.
VidJunky
Well-known member
- Dec 6, 2011
- 6,204
- 1,198
- 113
To your point about the reviews and apps at the Play Store, my advice about apps has been 3 fold.
1. Don't be the first. I used to say if there are less than 500k downloads it don't go my device. And really I preferred apps with 1M or more downloads. To get a million or more downloads the app must be doing something right, and being early to download an app means you're basically the beta tester for the dev. On top of that many of the early reviews are just 5 stars and no comments, I can get 200 friends to review and recommend an app, and ask them to get a few friends to, and make the early app look really good. Which brings up my second point.
2. Read reviews. Don't read the 4 and 5 star reviews. Read the 1 and 2 star reviews. People are slow to post anything positive but are quick to post negative reviews because when people are mad they are motivated. Now you have to watch out because people also don't read app descriptions or notes posted by the developer. How many reviews do you see where the complaint is due to a user caused issue. I can't tell you how many reviews I've seen, not compatible with my device, tried using the app upside down and backwards and it didn't work. This is also when you'll see, I paid for this and they, didn't give it to me, it got worse, the free version spams you with ads to do anything.
3. Only use trusted sources. A well regulated app store is usually a safe place. App offerings in well known, well visited, and trusted places are more likely to be kept up by the developer, are being reviewed and monitored by the hosting platform, are checked for malware and the like. This is why Apple makes every effort to prevent users from getting apps that do not appear on iTune, stability, compatibility, and safe.
Speaking for myself, asking a forum for alternatives to an app is akin to asking people for their subjective opinions. While you may get a few suggestions the majority of people use a lot of stock apps so finding a meaningful mix to pick and choose from or talk about is going to be low. Not long ago people on Verizon were posting here about loosing Messages+ looking for alternatives. Nearly all of the posts said, I don't want Google Messages, and over half of the respondents all suggested Google Messages. Again, only in my opinion, that was likely due to the fact that people aren't looking past their app drawer or the most convenient thing. The other side of this is obscurity. I have this app that turns my screen green when I get a call and red when I get a text but it stopped working are there any other apps like this? First finding someone who uses an app like that it going to be a shot in the dark in our small pond, finding people who want or would use such an app, again too specific in such a small pool of finding someone else who does the same. Ask Google. Ask Reddit. Ask in the forum or FAQ section of the app you want to replace. Much better hits and responses because those folks know exactly what the app is, have used it, and have an opinion about it. It's all about asking the right question in the right setting to get the best information.
I know I'm wordy, sorry for the long reply,
1. Don't be the first. I used to say if there are less than 500k downloads it don't go my device. And really I preferred apps with 1M or more downloads. To get a million or more downloads the app must be doing something right, and being early to download an app means you're basically the beta tester for the dev. On top of that many of the early reviews are just 5 stars and no comments, I can get 200 friends to review and recommend an app, and ask them to get a few friends to, and make the early app look really good. Which brings up my second point.
2. Read reviews. Don't read the 4 and 5 star reviews. Read the 1 and 2 star reviews. People are slow to post anything positive but are quick to post negative reviews because when people are mad they are motivated. Now you have to watch out because people also don't read app descriptions or notes posted by the developer. How many reviews do you see where the complaint is due to a user caused issue. I can't tell you how many reviews I've seen, not compatible with my device, tried using the app upside down and backwards and it didn't work. This is also when you'll see, I paid for this and they, didn't give it to me, it got worse, the free version spams you with ads to do anything.
3. Only use trusted sources. A well regulated app store is usually a safe place. App offerings in well known, well visited, and trusted places are more likely to be kept up by the developer, are being reviewed and monitored by the hosting platform, are checked for malware and the like. This is why Apple makes every effort to prevent users from getting apps that do not appear on iTune, stability, compatibility, and safe.
Speaking for myself, asking a forum for alternatives to an app is akin to asking people for their subjective opinions. While you may get a few suggestions the majority of people use a lot of stock apps so finding a meaningful mix to pick and choose from or talk about is going to be low. Not long ago people on Verizon were posting here about loosing Messages+ looking for alternatives. Nearly all of the posts said, I don't want Google Messages, and over half of the respondents all suggested Google Messages. Again, only in my opinion, that was likely due to the fact that people aren't looking past their app drawer or the most convenient thing. The other side of this is obscurity. I have this app that turns my screen green when I get a call and red when I get a text but it stopped working are there any other apps like this? First finding someone who uses an app like that it going to be a shot in the dark in our small pond, finding people who want or would use such an app, again too specific in such a small pool of finding someone else who does the same. Ask Google. Ask Reddit. Ask in the forum or FAQ section of the app you want to replace. Much better hits and responses because those folks know exactly what the app is, have used it, and have an opinion about it. It's all about asking the right question in the right setting to get the best information.
I know I'm wordy, sorry for the long reply,
- Dec 4, 2012
- 35,632
- 617
- 113
I remember that thread. My first reaction was, once you eliminate the most common replacement, you really don't have many options left, especially in an SMS app.
- Dec 4, 2012
- 35,632
- 617
- 113
Nope. Take, for instance, video games; if you are too negative, you may not get the next review copy. You can't put out the review before the game goes live, and then you don't get clicks. The same scenario can be used for the movie industry.
Rotten Tomatoes is enough reason to not trust an independant aggreagation site.
Similar threads
- Question
- Question
- Question
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram