With the Digital Market Act (DMA) in the EU, Apple was forced to allow developers to distribute their apps through alternative app stores (or App Marketplace) in member countries. However, these developers must pay Apple a fee for the underlying technology once they reach a certain number of downloads. To make things easier for small developers, AltStore will offer Patreon-backed apps.
AltStore App Marketplace is coming to EU users with Patreon integration
For those unfamiliar, AltStore is an alternative app store available for iOS long before DMA existed. However, for EU users, developer Riley Testut decided to launch AltStore as an official app market, following all the guidelines established by Apple under the DMA.
First, Apple said it would charge a core technology fee, or CTF, of €0.50 per annual install for apps popular enough to register more than a million downloads a year. However, this has worried small developers who may not have enough money to pay the fees if their apps become an overnight hit.
To help developers pay Apple fees and even monetize their apps, Testut said TechCrunch that apps can have custom integration with Patreon so users can buy them. For example, AltStore plans to soon make beta versions of Delta (a Nintendo emulator) and Clip (a clipboard manager) available to those who pay $3 a month through Patreon.
“This integration will create a new business model for applications that would not have been allowed without the DMA coming into effect,” Testut said.
The EU is not satisfied with Apple’s terms
However, one thing to keep in mind is that Apple may eventually be forced to do away with CTF. That’s because the European Commission recently announced that it is not happy with the changes Apple has made to comply with the DMA and will investigate the company for non-compliance.
Asked specifically about the risk of bankruptcy for small developers, Apple said it was “working on” improving its conditions for developers in the EU. The company still has no plans to bring App Marketplaces to other countries unless required by law – which could happen in the US soon.
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