One of the first third-party app stores on iOS is set to open in the European Union. Software company MacPaw announced Thursday that it will release a beta version of its Setapp store, with an official launch planned for April.
Setapp is currently only available on macOS and offers users access to more than 240 third-party apps for a $9.99 monthly subscription. Some examples of select apps available through Setapp include music software n-Track Studio, project planner MindNode, and productivity app Session.
The new iOS app store will feature “a carefully curated assortment of apps, including fan favorites from the Setapp catalog.” In addition to productivity and business tools, Setapp on iOS will also offer design software, utility apps, productivity services and more.
Setapp’s new iOS app store will also be available with a subscription, but it’s not clear how much that will cost. MacPaw Product Marketing Manager Yaroslav Stepanenko speaks The Verge, “Pricing will be adjusted to standard subscription pricing models, but is not yet defined.” If you’re interested in trying out the new iOS store, you can sign up for a waiting list on Setapp’s website.
Apple’s previous anti-sideloading policy prevented third-party app markets from working on the iPhone. Setapp in particular offers a unique approach to the app store business, as it makes all of its apps available through a single monthly subscription instead of users paying individual fees for the apps they want.
“We are setting a new path for the software industry toward a better and more diverse application ecosystem,” MacPaw CEO Oleksandr Kosovan said in a statement. “We carefully curate our collection, ensuring that every app, every feature, and every update aligns with our philosophy of meaningful efficiency.”
In January, Apple announced that it would allow third-party app stores on iPhones as part of its efforts to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which comes into effect in March with the launch of iOS 17.4. This will allow iPhone users to download alternative app stores from the marketplace website, where they can find apps that may not be available in the Apple App Store. Just like third-party apps on macOS, any apps distributed through an alternative store will need to be “verified” by Apple.
Although Apple is relaxing some of its restrictions, there are still concerns about whether third-party app stores will succeed. Critics claim that Apple discourages developers from putting their apps on a third-party store because they will have to agree to a different set of business terms. The new rules impose a “core technology fee” that charges 50 eurocents per install after an app reaches one million downloads a year in the EU, which could hit popular freemium apps particularly hard.