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Setapp Mobile Launches in Open Beta as Alternative App Store in EU

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Ukraine-based developer MacPaw has announced the open beta release of Setapp Mobile, its alternative app store for iOS devices in the European Union. This launch comes in the wake of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates support for third-party app marketplaces on iOS in the EU.

setapp-mobile-1.jpg

Setapp Mobile, which has been in closed beta testing for several months, is now available to all EU users running iOS 17.4 or later. The platform offers a curated selection of over 50 apps across various categories, including productivity, finance, creativity, and utilities.

Unlike traditional app stores, Setapp Mobile operates on a subscription model, where users can access all available apps for a monthly fee of €9.49 for its "iOS Advanced" plan, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. The app marketplace follows in the footsteps of Setapp's existing Mac-based service, which has gained popularity for its all-in-one app access approach.

The app lineup includes both MacPaw's own offerings and those from third-party developers. Notable apps available at launch include CleanMyPhone, ClearVPN, Riveo video editor, and MonAI, among others, although it's worth noting that several of these apps are free to download on the App Store.

Speaking to TechCrunch, Yaroslav Stepanenko, director of marketing at MacPaw, emphasized the company's focus on user experience and app curation. "We think there is demand for the alternative app store, so we decided to launch it and tune our business model based on the feedback from users," Stepanenko said.

MacPaw is not alone in trying its hand in the EU market for alternative app stores. Aptoide, a veteran third-party store from the Android ecosystem, recently introduced a dedicated game store for iOS. There's also AltStore PAL, featuring the game emulator Delta and various Patreon-supported apps.

These alternative app marketplaces, as Apple calls them, represent a new frontier for app distribution on iOS, but they also faces challenges, such as navigating Apple's controversial Core Technology Fee and competing with its established App Store ecosystem.

Article Link: Setapp Mobile Launches in Open Beta as Alternative App Store in EU
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/17/macpaw-launches-setapp-mobile-eu/
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Maybe I'm not so representative, as in my 10+ years experiences with iOS I bought only one utility app, it means Halide (and haven't upgraded since they moved to subscription mode as I don't think it's worth the price) but actually, is anybody willing to pay any penny for this collection of bloatware? Most of apps in this collection seems not much useful (of course it's hard to estimate their iOS offering on base of current catalog as much of those apps is MacOS specific and has no sense on iOS).
 
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any links to the runaway success of the Epic iOS alt store?
i dont think i've heard a mention anywhere...

i'm also doubting too many are going to pay up for a subscription of apps that are marginally or niche useful.

the loudest voices want any app for free... not quite a sustaining business model is it? ;)
 
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surferfb said:
I’m sure most EU iOS users are much happier and thankful that they now have the ability to pay €9.50 a month for access to groundbreaking apps like “CleanMyPhone” than they would be if they had access to Apple Intelligence. Thanks EU!
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i thought Americans where supposed to be all for freedom and choice?

I think you're just mad that the EU was able to tell Apple what to do.
 
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Oh great, here we go. Another 15 pages of propaganda from Apple apologists telling us that having alternate storefronts is but a harbinger of the apocalypse without looking at how they have functioned on Android for the last 10 years.

Guys, its getting old now. We all have consumer choice. You can continue to buy groceries from your favorite outlet without bothering people who use the store across the road.
 
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Ctrlos said:
Oh great, here we go. Another 15 pages of propaganda from Apple apologists telling us that having alternate storefronts is but a harbinger of the apocalypse without looking at how they have functioned on Android for the last 10 years.

Guys, its getting old now. We all have consumer choice. You can continue to buy groceries from your favorite outlet without bothering people who use the store across the road.
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Sorta afraid to install apks from some 3rd party websites. Yeah I know those were scanned by virustotal but still.

The only reason for me to install apps not from the store was ability to choose which Minecraft version to play since on Google Play you only get the latest one. But nowadays it is sorta scary to do because of the amount of viruses and modded apks. Plus there are barely any useful apps outside of Google Play since most open source devs just post their creations there for everyone. Samsung store is literally a copy of Google Play, same stuff basically
 
I can see this leading to fragmentation. How long before Zuck wants a Meta app "that combines the amazing experiences of Facebook, Instagram, Quest, WhatsApp and Threads into a single convenient App Store". And Amazon. Google.
 
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Mrjoedot said:
subscription?!
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The Supscription is for all Apps in that store being "free".

I have the macOS subscription. iOS costs extra. But I can use the beta for iOS since months. Maybe about 6 apps are in there, so that's why it still might be free.
 
ashdelacroix said:
I can see this leading to fragmentation. How long before Zuck wants a Meta app "that combines the amazing experiences of Facebook, Instagram, Quest, WhatsApp and Threads into a single convenient App Store". And Amazon. Google.
Click to expand...

So far, they are not doing it on Android, so why they would want to do it on iOS? Just for EU where iOS has 30% market share? Coding shop app is not free.
 
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Ctrlos said:
Oh great, here we go. Another 15 pages of propaganda from Apple apologists telling us that having alternate storefronts is but a harbinger of the apocalypse without looking at how they have functioned on Android for the last 10 years.

Guys, its getting old now. We all have consumer choice. You can continue to buy groceries from your favorite outlet without bothering people who use the store across the road.
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Looking at the results of how the android platform operates is one of the most compelling reason I don't want that "functionality" on iOS.

It is certainly not the "harbinger of the apocalypse". But what it is, is another step towards the elimination of a product that many consumers want and for which they are willing to pay a premium. It is the opposite of protecting consumer choice.

But that is not the reason I'm against the EU (undoubtedly more governments are going to insert themselves) regulations. I believe that without serious and compelling evidence that harm is being caused to unwilling participants, market decisions and design choices should be between individuals and/or organizations.

My problem with the EU regulations/laws is not operational or functional, it is ethical. It is a question of what should government/s be able to mandate.

In this case we are asking the government to decide how a luxury product works. Not because the way it works presents some sort of risk to its users or others. But because the way it works potentially makes it less convenient or more expensive to switch to another product and/or to consume some services. Please keep in mind that the potential inconvenience and cost is well documented and publicly debated. The company presenting the product has actually included the "walled garden" approach as a benefit of the platform in its marketing.

The bottom line for me is that I want design decisions to be driven by consumer interest, not governmental compliance. If there was consumer demand for these system features there would be no need for regulation.

This is not a company that is withholding the cure for cancer to expand profits. It is a company that makes a luxury version of a ubiquitous item for which there are numerous alternatives.
 
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SexExpert said:
i thought Americans where supposed to be all for freedom and choice?

I think you're just mad that the EU was able to tell Apple what to do.
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It remains to be seen how this will affect Apple's app store, which I am totally fine with. I am still waiting for the EU legislation that standardises batteries for power tools, tires for cars, and jackets for suits.
 
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LowKeyed said:
My problem with the EU regulations/laws is not operational or functional, it is ethical. It is a question of what should government/s be able to mandate.

In this case we are asking the government to decide how a luxury product works.
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You could certainly argue that for other aspects of the DMA like, say, messaging interoperability. But as it relates to the app marketplace provisions, billions of dollars go through the App Store and Play Store within the EU alone. It's well within any government's purview to regulate commerce within and through its borders.

Apple is facing these regulations because it chose to be the sole source for third-party software on iOS and has (as has been discussed at length and then some elsewhere) used that position abusively in competing against apps within their own marketplace. Even as the very obvious threat of regulation loomed, Apple refused to modify its terms to foster competition on its own terms, which I'll concede likely would have been a better user experience. Apple didn't fix it, so the EU decided it was time to "fix" it itself and brought down the hammer.

You have Apple to thank for this.
 
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jonblatho said:
You could certainly argue that for other aspects of the DMA like, say, messaging interoperability. But as it relates to the app marketplace provisions, billions of dollars go through the App Store and Play Store within the EU alone. It's well within any government's purview to regulate commerce within and through its borders.

Apple is facing these regulations because it chose to be the sole source for third-party software on iOS and has (as has been discussed at length and then some elsewhere) used that position abusively in competing against apps within their own marketplace. Even as the very obvious threat of regulation loomed, Apple refused to modify its terms to foster competition on its own terms, which I'll concede likely would have been a better user experience. Apple didn't fix it, so the EU decided it was time to "fix" it itself and brought down the hammer.

You have Apple to thank for this.
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Sorry but Apple give away FREE Numbers, Pages software. These compete against Office and can open pretty well the file format yet noone gets upset about that.

You get OS upgrades for FREE too.
You have to pay for Windows sometimes...

EU can regulate how sores (physical or digital) treat customers. Return policies, pricing in clear ways.
But after that, unless an app break local laws, Apple should be able to do what it wants.

I dont see the EU complaining that Spotify arent paying music owners enough...

ANd they set the words up to not target consoles which are even more tightly controlled than Apple.

So maybe direct your outrage at the real issues...
 
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