EU alternative app store Setapp Mobile closes

Subscription-based app marketplaces face a reality check as compliance costs reshape competition on iOS in Europe.
Mounting pressure from Apple’s evolving EU fees has forced Setapp Mobile to close, raising fresh doubts about the long-term viability of alternative iOS app stores.

European users will soon lose access to Setapp Mobile, an alternative app store created under the EU Digital Markets Act. The service will shut down on 16 February 2026.

MacPaw, a Ukrainian software developer known for Mac productivity tools, launched Setapp as a subscription-based app platform. Its mobile store debuted in 2024 to challenge Apple’s App Store in the EU.

Ongoing uncertainty around Apple’s EU fee structure weakened the business case. The Core Technology Fee and frequent commercial changes made planning and sustainable monetisation difficult.

Setapp’s desktop service will continue operating, while the mobile store is discontinued. Other alternative app stores remain available in the EU, including Epic Games Store and the open source AltStore.

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