Privacy

Sometimes a server change on a vpn fixes the login errors on Aurora for me.

The only alternatives I can think of would be services like APKMirror, where you can download the apk itself, although a lot of those sites are a little sketchy imo. You can scan the apks with a website called VirusTotal. Some apps also have a github, and you can use Obtainium to update them. Lastly, you can use Firefox or a fork like Iceraven to install a website as an "app" and just use the website like that

Edit: typo

I don't see any issues with Aurora Store, as others have said, try with VPN. Or check their telegram group if there are any issues.

The Aurora Store, alas, will never be a sustainable solution to the problem of proprietary Android apps. It's always going to be a clever hack that survives at the pleasure of the big corporate gatekeeper.

Getting apps via random APKs on the web is even less of a solution, and a terrible idea if you care about your security.

As things stand, web apps and PWAs are the closest thing to a sustainable solution if you need to access corporate services (but there aren't enough of them and banks will never offer them). For the rest, use F-Droid or somehow get the apps direct from the developer, via Obtainium or similar.

I would have to get playstore back probably (that would mean i would have to make a google account now). I need whatsapp and banking apps. maybe whatsapp can work with direct download from their website (it used to work in obtanium too, but stopped), but banking apps are notorious. they want to be installed by playstore, so i have to keep playstore installed but disable it, and that can "sometimes" (i have to keep enabling/disabling play services and play store until it sometimes works) trick the apps that they were installed by playstore.