Altstore PAL is the first Apple-approved third-party app store available for download in the EU. This comes in response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act which requires Apple to allow users to install rival app stores on their iPhones. After a lengthy process of implementing security checks, Altstore went live on Wednesday. Priced at 1.50 euro per month, Altstore aims to offset the new Apple tax on third-party app stores. Installation is straightforward, although Apple attempts to dissuade users from choosing to install the competing app store. Once installed, users will find two apps – Clip, a clipboard manager, and Delta, a Nintendo console emulator.
Developed by Riley Testut, Altstore is aimed at indie developers who are creating apps that may not otherwise be approved on the Apple App Store. Clip, one of the two initial apps on Altstore, uses workarounds to run in the background at all times, making it unlikely to be approved on the App Store. Altstore utilizes Apple’s new Web Distribution, allowing for easier distribution of apps to users in the EU. Users can add sources to Altstore, giving them access to a wider range of apps hosted by developers on their own servers, similar to adding an RSS feed to a newsreader.
Altstore will allow developers to monetize their apps using the Patreon platform to offset Apple’s core technology fee. This fee requires developers to pay 0.50 euro for the first installation, with additional charges for updates or reinstallation the following year. Indie developers can use Patreon to communicate with users and offer different payment tiers, including subscriptions for access to all of their apps, a feature not allowed on the Apple App Store. Users outside of the EU can still use Altstore but must follow extra steps, including the installation of AltServer, as detailed on the store’s website.
Delta, the Nintendo console emulator available on Altstore, is free of charge as a thank-you to users who paid for Altstore. Unlike iGBA, which was recently removed from the Apple App Store, Delta is legitimate and should remain available for the long term. Altstore’s focus on indie developers and offering a platform for apps that may not meet Apple’s strict guidelines aims to provide a new avenue for creativity and innovation on iOS devices. By allowing users to access a variety of apps through sources, Altstore seeks to offer a curated selection of unique and diverse applications for iPhone users worldwide.
