Setapp's EU Alternative iPhone App Marketplace Launching on May 14 (2024)

Monday May 13, 2024 4:22 pm PDT by Juli Clover

MacPaw today said that its Setapp alternative app marketplace for the iPhone will be launching on Tuesday, May 14 in the European Union.

A Setapp marketplace has been in the works since February, which is when Apple first announced the alternative app downloading options that would be coming in iOS 17.4.

For those unfamiliar with Setapp, it is a subscription-based service that lets users access dozens of apps for $9.99 per month. Popular apps like Ulysses, iStat Menus, Spark, Unite, Yoink, and more are available through the current subscription service.

According to MacPaw, Setapp will provide a "carefully selected assortment of apps" across categories like productivity, design, lifestyle, utility, and more.

Setapp already offers a $12.49 subscription that provides access to both the iOS and Mac versions of apps, but EU users will be able to access Setapp apps without having to download them through the App Store. Setapp will give developers a trusted alternative to ‌App Store‌ distribution with none of the standard fees, though it is worth noting that all apps that exceed 1 million first installs per year must pay the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee to Apple.

Apps distributed through alternative app marketplaces are required to submit to a notarization process to ensure they are free from malware, but Apple does not have restrictions on content so apps that might not have been eligible for the ‌App Store‌ can be distributed through alternative means.

Tag: Setapp

[ 70 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

mike2q

1 week ago

Use at your own risk.

Give your burner account a break Mr Cook. You lost the fight. ?

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

erikkfi

1 week ago

all apps that exceed 1 million first installs per year must pay the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee to Apple.

Until the EU properly strikes down this absurd and anticompetitive requirement.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

hagar

1 week ago

It’s about trust. I won’t trust some 3rd party App Store ever nor will I use my CC’s with one.

And that’s fine. It’s all about choice.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

johannnn

1 week ago

Fragmented App Stores here we come.

I will never forgive Epic and Spotify for starting this crap.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

hagar

1 week ago

Use at your own risk.

What risks? The exacte same apps you get from this store are also available in the regular App Store. But as individual purchases/subscriptions and therefore likely more expensive.

Cool, although this may backfire for MacPaw. Are they removing their apps from Apple’s App Store in the EU?

Unlikely they will remove their own apps or demand to remove the third party apps from the App Store.

That’s the beauty of this evolution: want to purchase the apps from the App Store? you can. Want to rent them through the subscription model of Setapp? You can as well. Everyone crying this EU-law would be the end of civilisation is simply flat out wrong.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

frenchcamp49er

1 week ago

That (fictional but probably not far from the truth) percentage will quickly change when apps offering Apple censured content or functionalities are launched.

It’s about trust. I won’t trust some 3rd party App Store ever nor will I use my CC’s with one.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

'); }

Next Emoji Coming to iOS Could Include Face With Eye Bags, Shovel, Fingerprint, Splatter and More

Setapp's EU Alternative iPhone App Marketplace Launching on May 14 (2024)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 With Face ID Said to Be Priced Below $500

Apple Releases iOS 17.5.1 With Fix for Reappearing Photos Bug

iPhone 16 Lineup Rumored to Come in These Two New Colors

Microsoft Says New Surface Pro is Faster Than 15" M3 MacBook Air

iOS 17.5 Bug May Also Resurface Deleted Photos on Wiped, Sold Devices [Updated]

When to Expect the Next iPhone SE to Launch

Top Rated Comments

Next Article