The app is often identical either way. What changes is everything around it.
| Google Play | APK from a website | |
|---|---|---|
| Updates | Automatic | Manual, unless the app checks for updates itself |
| Device matching | Play sends the right build for your phone | You pick the right file for your processor and Android version |
| Security checks | Play reviews uploads and Play Protect scans installed apps | Play Protect still scans, but you rely on the source being trustworthy |
| Paid apps and purchases | Handled by Google Play billing | Paid apps should not be available as free APKs; if they are, the copy is unauthorised |
| Availability | May be limited by country or device | Available if the developer publishes it |
Mixing the two
An app installed from the developer's website and the same app from Google Play may be signed with different keys. If they are, Play won't update the website version, and you can't install one over the other without uninstalling first. Uninstalling can delete the app's data, so back up first. Signal and WhatsApp both publish website APKs that update themselves, which avoids this problem.
Which one to use
If the app is on Google Play and your phone has Play, that's usually the simpler option. Use an official APK when Play isn't available on your device, or when the developer only distributes the app directly. Either way, the APK installation guide covers the safe way to do it.
