NashStore: Russia’s Import-Substituting Alternative to Google Play Launched
The non-profit organization “Digital Platforms” has opened public access to NashStore, a Russian alternative to Google Play, allowing users to download apps to their smartphones. Until recently, the creators of this import-substituting marketplace had only invited developers to test their product.
According to Rozetked, the catalog features over 1,000 apps and games, including official clients of major banks, media outlets, and media services. NashStore also offers alternative apps from lesser-known developers, such as the Telegram client Colibri X. Among the available apps are Rutube, 2GIS, and Stoloto. The store includes the sanctioned Alfa-Bank app, but not SberBank (although SberMarket is present). The legal movie theater Wink is listed alongside the pirated Zona app. While the official “Gosuslugi” (State Services) app is missing, there is an unofficial “Gos Nalog” (State Tax) app. The majority of the catalog consists of little-known software.
In the Telegram channel “Artimovich’s Laboratory,” which may be associated with well-known IT entrepreneur and former hacker Dmitry Artimovich, users reported being unable to install the app, sharing a screenshot with the message “404 Not Found.”
As previously explained to RBC by Arseny Schelcin, CEO of the non-profit, the initial release in May was planned as an alpha version with a starter catalog. At this stage, the platform is more of an app showcase than a full-fledged store: apps cannot be downloaded in a single click. According to Schelcin, they are negotiating with Google to obtain download rights for NashStore.
German Klimenko, creator of LiveInternet, commented that if Google and Apple continue to operate in Russia, the domestic store may not be necessary, or it could exist alongside Google’s store. In this scenario, a store could be created in just a month or two, serving as practice for Russian developers. “However, if Google decides to ‘punish’ the Russian market and stops listing Russian apps, creating a store alone won’t help. In that case, it would be necessary to develop a store along with a proprietary operating system,” Klimenko noted.