How to Buy Android Apps in Countries that Don’t Support Paids Apps

by Antonio Wells Jul 13, 2010 11:43 AM – 16 Comments

We get complaints often from folks in countries regarding why Google has not allowed Paid Android applications as of yet. Thanks to one of our readers tipping us, there’s a workaround to it and possible to buy Android apps in countries that do not support paid apps without rooting your phone!

Countries Offering Paid Android Apps

So what countries currently offer paid Android apps? Here are the countries where people can buy paid applications:

Australia
Austria
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

Here’s the Workaround

Order a prepaid SIM card from a country listed above that supports paid Android apps in the Android Market. When you insert the SIM card in your phone it thinks you’re located in the country where the SIM was purchased from, thus you see the Paid apps for purchase. When you change the SIM card back and visit the Market those paid apps won’t be listed nor would you be able to get automatic app update notifications but they stay on your phone! So hit up eBay or other outlets to get a SIM card.

[Thanks Crisse78!]

Tags: Access Paid Apps in Android Market Outside US, Android Market, Country Doesn't Support Paid Apps, No Paid Android Apps, No Root Required, Paid Android Apps, Prepaid SIM Card

Categorised in: News

16 Comments

By Jonas on July 13, 2010 at 1:18 pm:

I’m German so I am able to see most of the paid apps. But this sound interessting to me anyway.

My question is: After ordering a prepaid card from the US – will I be able to download let’s say Pandora?

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- By Antonio Wells on July 16, 2010 at 9:46 am:
  
  Yes, you should be able to.
  
  Reply
By Bristolboy on July 13, 2010 at 1:39 pm:

I think it is bizarre that it isn’t possible to buy paid apps in more countries. I understand some countries aren’t included due to risk of fraud etc but countries such as Norway (where the Android powered HTC Desire is the top selling phone), Sweden, Ireland, Belgium etc and these countries have less risk of fraud than many of the countries paid apps are available in – plus they have a reasonably large populations (plus many use similar currencies to other markets eg the Euro).

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- By Jan on July 13, 2010 at 2:44 pm:
  
  It is an unfortunate consequence of having to deal with laws regulating taxation and financial operations in different countries. E.g. even though Google is in US, if they are deemed to sell a significant amount in Europe, they are liable for VAT here – which differs from country to country!
  
  So they just limit the pain and go for only the major markets – UK, France, Germany, etc. where the size of the market justifies the cost. The rest is pretty much out of luck.
  
  It is not only Google – e.g. eBay and Paypal work in exactly the same manner. Paypal is simply not available for many countries because of the local laws.
  
  Reply
  - By etc. on July 21, 2010 at 3:43 pm:
    
    There is still no good excuse for this situation. When dollar was cheap I used services (virtual private server) of US-based hosting company. It worked as you described: each payment contained EU (or more precisely: Polish) VAT and everything was fine. So a hosting company could do that then and the Almighty Google cannot do that now. Heck, even Windows Mobile Marketplace does it better.
    
    Reply
By Jan on July 13, 2010 at 2:41 pm:

Careful with this!!!

While you may be able to purchase from the Market like this (hyper expensive charges for roaming on the prepaid card, many prepaid cards do not have data or roaming even active, many countries require ID/activation for prepaids now, etc.), you can get easily burned.

Many apps are checking/registering the SIM as a kind-of supplementary copy protection. Once you swap the SIMs back, the app stops working because it thinks it is in a different phone.

A better option (if you really, really have to have that app) is contacting the developer directly. Many will accommodate you and sell you the app or point you to one of the alternative stores which are available in more countries. It is also a lot cheaper, considering the cost of the prepaid SIM and postage vs. the cost of an average app.

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- By TG on August 23, 2010 at 12:55 am:
  
  I live in the Philippines where paid apps are not yet available. As suggested, I plugged in a UK SIM and voila! All paid apps were suddenly visible in the Android Market!
  I bought the Slingplayer Mobile and the Flight Tracker using Google Checkout, then downloaded them over WiFi. Both applications worked well even after I had inserted back my local SIM.
  What is even better is that Google Checkout does not require you to pay with a USA-issued debit or credit card, something that you need if you were to buy from many USA-based online stores!
  
  Reply
By MobileDeveloper on July 14, 2010 at 5:17 am:

Tested in Estonia with Three UK prepaid sim to purchase Robo Defence. Worked like a charm.

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By IBoughtAnAndroid on July 25, 2010 at 9:16 am:

I didn’t know this when I bought it. And I’m not rooting the phone to buy stuff.
First and last Android phone I buy. Meanwhile I go get the crap I want on torrents

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By Android_DK_user on August 21, 2010 at 1:16 pm:

Question: if you purchase a foreign SIM, couldn’t you still download the paid apps using the wireless internet connection on the mobile phone and thereby get around the roaming carges?

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- By etc. on August 21, 2010 at 2:02 pm:
  
  Yes, using foreign SIM card and downloading via Wi-Fi should do the job.
  
  Reply
By WhoAmI on August 21, 2010 at 4:38 pm:

Another workaround: Buy an iphone or another phone that let’s you use it fully where ever you are.
Wish I knew this before I bought an android.

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By dominic on September 1, 2010 at 5:41 am:

Gud day everyone, I seriously think Google must make a change. It is not seem to be appropriate to NOT have paid apps in all the main countries. This is quite unacceptable. Even my country Malaysia does not support paid apps/

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By Matt Seigal on September 24, 2010 at 7:45 pm:

I use a non Market app called Market Enabler available from the SAM marketplace that gets your phone to pretend it has a simcard from a supported country. It works fine from China without needing to swap my simcard each time I want to buy an app.

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By Martin on September 26, 2010 at 9:31 pm:

Great, thank you! I was always wondering what told Android where I am. VPN did not work. Will put my German SIM in soon as I get home.

Cheers,
Martin

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By dido on January 14, 2012 at 1:09 pm:

It doesnt work !!!
I’m from Bulgaria and when I put my UK SIM card in the phone, I can see the price but can’t download and install it ?!?!??!

Reply