One of the more prominent alternative app stores that emerged in the European Union as a result of the region’s Digital Markets Act is shutting down. The store, called Setapp Mobile, was launched by the Ukrainian-based developer MacPaw in September 2024. It offered dozens of apps across categories like productivity, finance, video, photo, and creativity.
Its model provided consumers access to all of Setapp’s mobile apps through a monthly subscription costing $9.99, provided the user’s Apple ID was associated with an EU member state. Now, the company has announced it will remove all applications from Setapp Mobile by the sunset date of February 16, 2026. Applications available on Setapp Desktop will not be affected.
MacPaw stated that the reason for its decision is due to still-evolving and complex business terms that do not fit Setapp’s current business model. These complex business terms refer to Apple’s complicated set of fees for apps operating under its new EU business terms, which include a controversial Core Technology Fee. This fee charges developers €0.50 for each first annual install over one million in the past twelve months.
Apple revised its fee structure last year to avoid further penalties for noncompliance with the Digital Markets Act, but instead of simplifying the fees, it made them more complex. One result of these constant changes is that developers cannot properly plan how to grow and monetize their business. It also suggests the fees, as they stand, do not make running an alternative app store in the EU a viable option.
In a statement, Setapp said it found its business model was not viable as the commercial conditions continued to change. The company expressed pride in what it accomplished over the past two years but stated it must discontinue Setapp Mobile within its current business model.
There are still other alternative app stores operating in the EU, including most notably the Epic Games Store from the maker of Fortnite and the open source AltStore.