The upcoming iOS 17.4 update will open the door for third-party app stores to exist on the iPhone, but for now only in the European Union. SetApp, the popular Mac app subscription service, will be one of the first alternative app stores on iPhones.
Apple announced last month that the upcoming iOS 17.4 update will allow third-party app repositories, as Android has since its inception, in order to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which was adopted in 2022. The functionality will only be available in the European Union, where Apple is legally required to support it, and not in the United States or other regions. That might change in the future, but Apple is definitely not interested in it yet.
Epic Games has already confirmed that it will build an alternative app store for iPhone devices (mainly for its own game Fortnite), and now MacPaw has confirmed that its SetApp service will also be an alternative app store. SetApp is a popular subscription service for Mac computers that gives you more than 200 apps for a fixed price every month (currently $9.99). The iOS version of SetApp will work the same way, but for iOS apps.
SetApp said in a blog post: “MacPaw’s Setapp is the first subscription-based platform to offer users a curated collection of Mac and iOS apps. The platform empowers developers by aligning rewards with app usage and market value, fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem. Now Setapp will be available directly on iOS devices, enabling a more integrated and convenient user experience. This expansion promises a diverse selection of premium applications for users and a supportive environment for developers.”
SetApp has not confirmed which apps will be included in the iOS app, but the company is likely still in talks with iOS app developers about distribution. The company only said, “The beta version will showcase a carefully curated assortment of apps, including fan favorites from the Setapp catalog.”
We still don’t know when, if at all, Apple will roll out support for third-party app stores in more regions. This may not happen until other countries pass laws similar to the EU’s laws on digital markets, because Apple really he doesn’t want to give up that App Store revenue.
Source: SetApp via MacRumors