Accessing Alternative App Stores in the European Union
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has brought about a significant change in the app ecosystem, allowing users to explore alternative app stores. This regulation aims to promote competition, breaking away from the dominance of platforms like Apple’s App Store. However, third-party marketplaces are required to meet specific standards, such as ensuring the apps are malware-free, according to Apple’s “baseline platform integrity standards”. While each store can set its own policies for app review and approval, they are responsible for matters relating to support and refunds, not Apple.
New Business Terms for Developers
Developers wishing to run an alternative app marketplace must agree to Apple’s alternative business terms for DMA-compliant apps in the EU. This includes paying a new Core Technology Fee of €0.50 for each first annual install of their marketplace app, even before the threshold of 1 million installs is met, which is the limit for other EU apps distributed under Apple’s DMA business terms.
Despite the complex new rules, several developers have seized the opportunity to distribute their apps outside of Apple’s confines.
Expansion Beyond EU
Other markets beyond the EU are also exploring alternative app stores. In December 2025, Apple announced its compliance with Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), offering developers more options to distribute their apps and process payments outside of Apple’s App Store. This process also requires developers to accept new business terms, such as a reduced App Store commission of 10% to 21%, a 5% payment processing fee for Apple in-app purchases, a 5% core technology fee, and a 15% store services commission on web sales made through a link in the app.
Alternative App Stores Available Today
Below are some of the alternative app stores that iPhone users in these markets can explore today.
AltStore PAL (EU)
Image Credits:AltStore
Riley Testut, renowned for creating the Nintendo game emulator app Delta, co-created AltStore PAL, an officially approved alternative app marketplace in the EU. This open-source app store allows independent developers to distribute their apps alongside those from AltStore’s makers, Delta, and a clipboard manager called Clip.
Unlike Apple’s App Store, AltStore apps are self-hosted by the developers. To make their apps accessible, developers download an Alternative Distribution Packet (ADP) and upload it to their server, creating a “source” that users add to their AltStore to access their apps. This means the only apps you’ll see in the AltStore are those you’ve added yourself. Popular apps include the virtual machine app UTM, OldOS, Kotoba, iTorrent, qBitControl, and the social discovery platform, PeopleDrop.
Setapp Mobile (EU – closed Feb. 2026)
Image Credits:Setapp
MacPaw’s Setapp was one of the first companies to agree to Apple’s new DMA business terms and set up an alternative app store for EU users. However, this venture was short-lived as the company announced that it would sunset the Setapp Mobile service on February 16, 2026. Apple’s “still-evolving” and complex business terms were cited as the reason behind this decision.
Setapp had offered a subscription-based service featuring a curated selection of apps for iOS and Mac users. The now-closed app store included dozens of apps under a single recurring subscription price, free from in-app purchases or ads and generally considered high quality. However, it didn’t include big-name apps like Facebook, Uber, Netflix, and others.
Epic Games Store (EU)
Fortnite maker Epic Games launched its alternative iOS app store in the EU in August 2024, allowing users to download games, including its own Fortnite and others like Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys, with more to come. The company has also announced plans to bring its games to other alternative app stores, including AltStore PAL, which it’s now supporting via a grant, as well as Aptoide’s iOS store in the EU and ONE Store on Android.
The decision to launch Fortnite in alternative iOS marketplaces comes more than four years after Apple removed the game from its App Store for policy violations, sparking a legal challenge from Epic on alleged App Store monopoly. While U.S. courts decided that Apple was not involved in anti-competitive behavior, the lawsuit paved the way for developers to link to their own websites for a reduced commission.
Aptoide (EU)
