[Yetanfou]

Not really true for Android as there are alternative ways to distribute Android apps in the form of alternative app repositories like FDroid, Aptoide, Amazon. It is also possible to sideload apk's without the need for 'rooting', this in contrast to iOS.

[steiger]

I didn't know you couldn't install apps from unofficial sources on iOS!

Still, I think that getting your app banned from Play Store 99.9% of the times will mean an effectively dead app.

As an Android app developer, I try to publish on as many stores as possible, but traffic from alternate stores is unfortunatelly almost non-existent.

[Yetanfou]

True, the Play Store is the nexus of Android app distribution. The fact that it is not the only venue is a big advantage for both Android users as well as developers as it makes it impossible for a single party - be it Google or an entity pressuring Google into acting in a certain way - to keep applications from reaching users. Although only a small fraction of the total flow it is nevertheless significant in what it embodies: freedom from censorship.

[steiger]

I generally agree.