First EU Alternative App Store Announces Shutdown
▼ Summary
– Setapp Mobile, an alternative app store launched in the EU due to the Digital Markets Act, is shutting down and will remove all apps by February 16, 2026.
– The store, from developer MacPaw, operated on a subscription model offering dozens of apps for a monthly fee to EU users.
– The shutdown is due to Apple’s complex and evolving business terms and fees in the EU, which include a controversial Core Technology Fee.
– MacPaw stated these commercial conditions are not viable for its business model, making it impossible to continue the store.
– Other alternative app stores, like the Epic Games Store and AltStore, will continue operating in the EU.
A significant alternative app store in the European Union is closing its doors, marking a notable setback for the competitive app marketplace envisioned by the region’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA). Setapp Mobile, a subscription-based store from Ukrainian developer MacPaw, will cease operations by February 16, 2026, removing all its mobile applications from the platform. The store, which launched in late 2024, offered EU users access to dozens of apps across productivity, finance, and creative categories for a flat monthly fee of $9.99.
The company has cited Apple’s complex and evolving fee structure as the primary reason for the shutdown. Specifically, MacPaw points to business terms that do not align with Setapp’s current model, referencing the contentious Core Technology Fee. This Apple-imposed charge demands €0.50 for each first annual install beyond one million within a rolling twelve-month period. While Apple revised its EU fee system last year to address DMA compliance concerns, many developers argue the changes created more complexity rather than clarity.
This regulatory environment has made it extraordinarily difficult for companies to forecast growth and build sustainable monetization strategies. The constant shifts in commercial conditions ultimately led Setapp to conclude that continuing its mobile marketplace is not a viable path forward. In a statement, the company expressed pride in its “bold, breakthrough project” but confirmed that the still-evolving commercial conditions forced this difficult decision. The shutdown affects only the mobile storefront; applications available on Setapp’s desktop platform will remain unaffected.
The departure of Setapp Mobile raises serious questions about the practical feasibility of alternative app stores under the current rules. It suggests that Apple’s fee framework, despite DMA intentions, may be stifling the very competition it was meant to foster. While other marketplaces like the Epic Games Store and the open-source AltStore continue to operate in the EU, Setapp’s exit highlights the significant financial and operational hurdles new entrants face. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between regulatory aims to open digital markets and the complex commercial realities imposed by platform giants.
(Source: TechCrunch)
