People in the European Union are allowed to access alternative app stores thanks to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation designed to encourage increased competition in the app ecosystem. Like Apple's App Store, the alternative app market will provide easy access to the wider world of apps, but instead of apps that go through Apple's app review process, apps in these third-party markets will need to go through a notarization process to meet the “baseline platform integrity criteria.” However, each store can review and approve apps according to its own policies. Stores are responsible for any issues related to support and refunds, not Apple.
To run the alternative app market, developers must accept Apple's alternative business terminology for DMA-compliant apps in the EU. This includes paying a new core technology fee of 0.50 euros per first annual installation of the market app. This is even before the million installations, the standard for other EU apps distributed under Apple's DMA business conditions, are met.
Despite the complex new rules, a small number of developers are taking advantage of the opportunity to distribute apps outside of Apple's walls.
Below is a list of alternative app stores that can be tried out today for iPhone users in the EU.
Altstore Pal
Image credits: Altstore
Co-created by developer Riley Testut, the maker of Nintendo game emulator app Delta, The Altstore Pal is an officially approved alternative app market in the EU. The open source app store allows independent developers to distribute apps along with Clipboard Manager apps called Delta, the makers of Altstore and Clipboard Manager.
Unlike Apple's App Store, the Altstore app is self-hosted by the developer. To work, developers download and upload alternate distribution packets (ADPs) to the server, creating a “source” for users to add them to the Altstore and access the app. In other words, the only apps that appear in Altstore are apps that have added themselves.
Popular apps added by users include the virtual machine app UTM that allows you to run Windows and other software on iOS or iPad. Oldos, recreating iOS 4 built into Swiftui. An iOS dictionary that can be used as Kotoba, Stand-Alone app. App itorrent torrent; QBitTorrent remote client for iOS devices called QBitControl. Social Discovery Platform Peopledrop.
SetApp Mobile
Image credit: SetApp
MacPaw's SetApp has become one of the first companies to agree to Apple's new DMA business terms to set up an alternative app store for EU users. The company has long offered subscription-based services with a choice of curated apps for iOS and Mac customers. Following the implementation of DMA, we have released SetApp Mobile, an alternative app store for iOS users only in the EU. Like other subscription products, the new App Store includes dozens of apps under a single, regular subscription price, and the number of apps increases over time. Apps are free in-app purchases or ads and are generally considered high quality. However, it does not include well-known apps such as Facebook, Uber, and Netflix.
SetApp Mobile is available free of charge to users with the “Power User” and “AI Expert” SetApp subscription plan. Otherwise, users can sign up for both the iOS app and SetApp Mobile iOS apps on their main subscriptions for SetApp via the new “IOS Advanced” plan, which includes $9.99/€9.49 per month or 107.88/€102.48 per year.
Additionally, all SetApp subscribers (except “Family” and “Team”) can try SetApp Mobile for free during the invitation-only beta period.
An epic game store
Fortnite Maker Epic Games launched an alternative iOS App Store in the EU on August 16th, allowing users to download their own games such as Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys. The company said it also offers the game to other alternative app stores, including Altstore Pal. This is currently supported via Grant, and is one of Aptoide's iOS store and Android stores in the EU.
The move to launch Fortnite on an alternative iOS marketplace has been more than four years since Apple removed the game from the App Store over Policy violations ahead of its legal challenge to Monopoly on the App Store. A US court has determined that Apple is not engaged in anti-trust actions, but the lawsuit paved the way for developers to link to their websites for reductions.
aptoid
Image credit: Aptoid
Lisbon-based Aptoide, an alternative game store for iPhone, is an open source solution for app distribution. The company, already known for its Google Play alternative, says it has scanned the app to make sure it's safe to download and install.
The iOS version of the Aptoide store was released in June as an invitation-only beta, so you will need to email it in WaitList to get your access code. As a free store, Aptoide does not charge users to cover the core technology fees paid to Apple, but it gets a 10% to 20% fee for in-app purchases on iOS.
On all platforms, including Android, Web, Car and TV, Aptoide offers 1 million apps to over 430 million users.
Mobile Market
Image credit: mobivention
Mobivention Marketplace, a B2B-focused App Store, allows EU companies to distribute internal apps used by their employees, but not publish them on Apple's App Store. The company also offers the development of a customized app market for businesses that want to provide their employees with their app store just for corporate apps. Large companies can also license Mobivention's technology to deeper customize the app market to suit their unique needs.
Scotch
Image credit: Skich
In March, Skich announced the launch of an alternative App Store for EU users. This has announced that it will differentiate by providing a Tinder-like interface for app discovery. This means that users will swipe and “match” the app they may enjoy. You can also create a playlist to see which apps your friends are playing. The new store will replace Skich's existing app, with the company earning a 15% commission on every purchase. However, the store is not full of apps yet. Instead, they will be selling an offer to developers of Game Developers Conference (GDC) and hope to add a title later in March.