Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Short answer: A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Open App Markets Act (S. 2153) on June 24, 2025. It would give users and developers more options for app distribution and payments, while limiting some app-store practices. But the bill has not become law: the latest congressional record provided shows it was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nothing changes on your phone simply because the bill was introduced.
If enacted, the proposal could affect how developers sell subscriptions and digital goods, how users install apps, and how Apple and Google operate their stores. It does not promise cheaper apps or require platforms to accept every app without security checks.
The bill in brief
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | S. 2153, the Open App Markets Act, introduced in the 119th Congress. |
| Who introduced it? | Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), with original cosponsors Richard Blumenthal, Mike Lee, Amy Klobuchar and Dick Durbin. |
| What is its status? | The congressional record lists it as read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is a proposal, not current law. |
| Who could it cover? | A company controlling both an app store with more than 50 million U.S. monthly users and the operating system or operating-system configuration on which it runs. The threshold is aimed at large integrated platforms such as Apple and Google. |
| When would it take effect? | 180 days after enactment, if it becomes law. |
These details appear in the bill’s congressional record and text. The proposal is a reintroduction of an earlier Senate effort, not a rule that has been in force since the previous Congress.
Recommended Free Tools
What it could mean for payments and prices
The bill would bar a covered company from making its own in-app payment system a condition of distributing an app or accessing operating-system features. It would also prohibit rules requiring developers to offer the same or better prices in the platform’s store than elsewhere, and penalties for using another payment system or selling through another store. Developers would be able to communicate legitimate offers and payment options to users.
#1 Best Overall
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Those are related but distinct changes. Alternative payment processing means a developer can use a billing provider other than the platform’s system. External payment links or communications let a developer tell users about a purchase route outside the app’s store. The bill would not automatically erase every fee a platform might charge, and the effect of its provisions would depend on implementation, enforcement and possible court disputes.
More payment choice could give developers bargaining power or room to change prices, but consumers are not guaranteed a discount. Developers may still pay for processing, fraud prevention, taxes, refunds, chargebacks, subscriptions and customer support. A business could keep savings, spend them on those costs, or pass some of them to customers.
What sideloading and alternative stores would mean
Sideloading means installing an app from somewhere other than the device maker’s default app store. The bill would require covered companies to provide readily accessible ways for users to choose third-party apps or app stores as defaults, install them through routes other than the company’s own store, and hide or delete covered preinstalled apps and stores.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
That does not mean an unrestricted, warning-free installation process. The text contemplates opt-in consent and risk disclosures, verification of an app’s authenticity and origin, removal of malicious or fraudulent apps, and controls over access to device features, data collection and data sharing. It also preserves defenses related to security, privacy, fraud, spam, intellectual-property infringement and compliance with law.
The likely practical change would differ by platform. Android has long allowed users to install apps from outside Google Play, though the process can involve warnings, permissions and manufacturer or device policies. The Congressional Research Service’s overview describes both that capability and the barriers users may encounter when seeking alternatives. For Android, the bill’s potential effects could reach payment rules, competing stores, defaults, rankings and developers’ access to system features—not just sideloading.
Apple’s iPhone and iPad ecosystem would face a more substantial distribution change because the proposal specifically calls for installation routes outside the covered company’s store and supports third-party store defaults. The bill does not prescribe a particular future settings screen or require Apple to approve every app.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
It goes beyond payments and app installation
The proposal would also constrain other ways a large app-store operator could shape competition:
- Search and self-preferencing: It would prohibit unreasonably favoring the company’s own apps or business partners in organic store-search results through rankings, interface features or algorithms.
- Developer data: A covered company could not use nonpublic business information it obtained from a third-party app to compete against that app.
- Developer communications: It could not block legitimate business offers or communications between developers and users.
- Operating-system access: Developers would have to receive access to generally available operating-system interfaces and hardware or software features, with documentation and on reasonably timely, equivalent terms.
The bill’s text describes these obligations in detail. They could matter to developers even if a user never installs an alternative store or changes payment methods.
Security, support and consumer trade-offs
Supporters argue that security should not be used as a blanket reason to shut out competing stores or payment options. Critics, including platform companies, may argue that centralized review and billing help limit malware, fraud, privacy abuse and confusing support arrangements. Neither prediction is settled by the bill itself.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
The proposal permits restrictions needed to protect privacy or security, prevent spam or fraud, prevent unlawful intellectual-property infringement, or comply with federal or state law. But a covered company would have to show that the measure is applied consistently to its own apps and third-party apps, is narrowly tailored, and could not be achieved through a less discriminatory technically feasible method. Senior executives would also have to certify under penalty of perjury that a security rationale was not a pretext to exclude rivals or impose discriminatory terms. Those standards could become a focus of enforcement and litigation.
More distribution choices could bring more sources for users to evaluate, different warning and refund processes, and varying levels of review or support. The bill does not require a platform to provide warranty service for damage caused by third-party apps or stores installed outside its own store, or customer service for those apps and stores. It also does not require a company to license its intellectual property or trade secrets, or abandon copyright and trademark protections.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →So, installation freedom would not necessarily mean the device maker endorses, troubleshoots or refunds software obtained elsewhere. Users and developers may need to understand which store handles updates, payments, refunds and support before choosing an alternative.
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
What developers could gain—and take on
For developers, the potential upside is greater choice over distribution, billing and customer communications, along with possible limits on a store’s ability to favor its own offerings or use a competitor’s nonpublic data. Alternative stores might compete on curation, pricing, privacy or specialized catalogs.
But moving payments outside a platform’s system does not make the associated work disappear. Developers may need to arrange processing, manage fraud and chargebacks, handle taxes and refunds, maintain subscription systems and answer customer questions. An alternative store also has to attract users, provide reliable discovery and updates, and establish trust. Lower platform commissions would not automatically produce lower prices or higher margins.
What happens next—and when users might notice
Introduction is only the first step. The Senate Judiciary Committee could consider the bill, amend it or vote on it; passage would still require approval by both the Senate and House and the president’s signature. If enacted, the bill sets a 180-day period before taking effect, followed by implementation and potential enforcement disputes. The text calls for separate reviews by the FTC, the Comptroller General and the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division three years after enactment.
As of the latest status in the available congressional record, S. 2153 has only been referred to committee. There is no operative compliance deadline and no new sideloading switch that users should expect because of this introduction. The next meaningful sign of progress would be committee action, not an immediate change to app-store rules.
The Open App Markets Act is also distinct from House proposals titled the App Store Freedom Act, including H.R. 3209 and H.R. 5313. They are separate bills with their own text and legislative paths.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
