[fluidcruft]

If your phone is supported, you could install CyanogenMod (it works fine without gapps installed). From there you can use f-droid for apps, but possibly Amazon App Store could be a good alternative to the Google Play morass.

[darklajid]

I'm running Cyanogenmod, but I like to have (potentially paid) applications (to avoid the 'apps' non-word). I paid for quite a lot already.

I'm never allowed to rate them, to comment on them in the Google Play store, since .. I cannot have a G+ account (and frankly, I don't want one).

[csmatt]

I run CM too. I killed my G+ account when I found it difficult to change my privacy settings. Not being able to rate apps pissed me off.

[3825]

>possibly Amazon App Store could be a good alternative to the Google Play morass.

Sorry but the last time I tried, Amazon App store was a resource hog. Also apps will stop working if you get signed out of the Amazon app store app. It is like they are trying to prevent one guy who they think will buy a copy of their app, get on a stranger's device, log in to the app store, download their apps, and log out and repeat it for all devices in the world.

[fluidcruft]

I don't think any of that is true anymore.

[andrewaylett]

Unless it's changed in the last couple of weeks, it's still the case that you have to remain logged in to Amazon's app store. They don't use the native account manager either, which is irritating, and the store app sometimes loses your login credentials.