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Is it possible to limit searches within the Google Play Store to apps (gratis or paid) that do not contain ads?

If it's not possible within the Google Play store, is there another effective way to accomplish this?

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There's the Playsearch website which allows you that without having to install anything beforehand:


Playsearch website, your criteria marked (click image for larger variant)

In addition to what you asked for, you even can specify how long ago the last update should be at maximum, what size the app should have, what Android version it should support, how well it ranks (stars) – and how wide-spread (number of installs) it should at least be.

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Not sure with native Google Playstore, but you could use Yalp or a fork of Yalp, Aurora (F-droid link), it has many search filters e.g for ads, gratis, number of downloads etc..

Aurora Store is an alternate ( FOSS client) to Google's Play Store, with an elegant design, using Aurora you can download apps, update existing apps, search for apps, get details about in-app trackers and much more.

Select the filter and tap apply, your search results will match your criteria.


Filters in Aurora (click image for larger variant)

Disclaimer I am not affiliated with Aurora, but I use it as a replacement to Google play store client

Acknowledgements

  1. Xda thread
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I prefer to block ads using the free Blokada app from F-droid instead of searching apps without ads.

It works when using apps, browsing (and more), and it makes using Android definitively a far better user experience.

(I have been using it both in our Xiaomi phones and our Samsung tablet).

Blokada efficiently blocks ads, tracking and malware. It saves your data plan, makes your device faster and protects your privacy. It's free, open source and secure.

Blokada works across all of your apps, not only the browser! It doesn't require root, supports both wifi and mobile networks, and is perfectly safe and simple to use.

Blokada is an open source project, which means you can be sure it's always going to be free, safe to use, ...

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  • This seems suspiciously commercial. What is your connection to this app - developer, company owner, other? Is there a disclaimer of some sort due here? I am also suspicious of their statement that the device has to be "prepared" for the app to work. Why? A video to show the procedure, but I don't see a statement of the ramifications. – wbogacz Jun 13 '19 at 12:16
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    @wbogacz f-droid is a known repository of open source/free apps for Android, and the app is simply installed.I am using my real name, and have a linked.in link in my profile, you are free to visit my CV and my long time bona fide U&L SE profile to find out I have no links with them. And I cannot understand how you jumped to that conclusion in a guy answer that says it is using an app for non-enterprise use that there are commercial implications. I made no special "preparations" for it rather than downloading the f-droid apk and authorising it to install apps. – Rui F Ribeiro Jun 13 '19 at 13:30
  • @wbogacz Using a VPN that filters ads is the classic Android way of eliminating ads without root access. Another app that does exactly the same would be DNS66. These are hosted on alternative app stores because blocking parts of other apps violates the play store rules. – knallfrosch Jun 14 '19 at 13:08
  • @wbogacz I used DNS66 also via f-droid before trying blokada. Blockada seems more effective and more flexible. – Rui F Ribeiro Jun 14 '19 at 14:06
  • This doesn't answer the question, nor is it a "frame challenge" or an "XY-problem". The idea is to support ad-free apps. – pipe Jun 15 '19 at 11:51
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There is a brand new website, still officially in beta, called AppFilter.

It allows the user to search for apps, while filtering for ads, IAP's, paid/gratis, ratings, category, and more.

It seems to work well, and currently has over a million apps indexed.

It is free to use, and the author (no affiliation with me) is seeking donations to improve the server.

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