F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.
(1) You can install F-droid app: it acts as a "Play Store" to install these FOSS in their catalog; or
(2) search FOSS app in their site, manually download and install the apk file yourself.
https://f-droid.org/en/
(1) You can install F-droid app: it acts as a "Play Store" to install these FOSS in their catalog; or
(2) search FOSS app in their site, manually download and install the apk file yourself.
When you read the simplified explanation, and it still sounds like gibberish lol
so its an alt app store?
Yes in a way, but FOSS apps (no mainstream apps) for Android.
What I can call an alternative "Play store" is this:
Aurora Store