Trusted Source with High Devleoper Control
Accrescent is an application distribution center for Android that focuses on ensuring that the developer controls application validation security instead of handing that authority to a third party like the play store does. Some of Accrescent's key features include signing key pinning to validate the application against the developer's signing keys at first install to ensure that the downloaded application matches the expected code. Additionally, Accrescent requires signed repository metadata to protect against redirects during download.
Since Accrescent is open source and the developer controls their own keys, the user can be sure that whatever application they are downloading is coming from the same source that originally listed the application without relying on a thrid party app store to vet each published change. Accrescent also doesn't require user accounts. Users may download apps without needing to give any personal information besides their IP address to Accrescent.