Setapp's EU Alternative iPhone App Marketplace Launching on May 14

[MacRumors]

MacPaw today said that its Setapp alternative app marketplace for the iPhone will be launching on Tuesday, May 14 in the European Union.

A Setapp marketplace has been in the works since February, which is when Apple first announced the alternative app downloading options that would be coming in iOS 17.4.

For those unfamiliar with Setapp, it is a subscription-based service that lets users access dozens of apps for $9.99 per month. Popular apps like Ulysses, iStat Menus, Spark, Unite, Yoink, and more are available through the current subscription service.

According to MacPaw, Setapp will provide a "carefully selected assortment of apps" across categories like productivity, design, lifestyle, utility, and more.

Setapp already offers a $12.49 subscription that provides access to both the iOS and Mac versions of apps, but EU users will be able to access Setapp apps without having to download them through the App Store. Setapp will give developers a trusted alternative to App Store distribution with none of the standard fees, though it is worth noting that all apps that exceed 1 million first installs per year must pay the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee to Apple.

Apps distributed through alternative app marketplaces are required to submit to a notarization process to ensure they are free from malware, but Apple does not have restrictions on content so apps that might not have been eligible for the App Store can be distributed through alternative means.

Article Link: Setapp's EU Alternative iPhone App Marketplace Launching on May 14

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Use at your own risk.

 

[mike2q]

Use at your own risk.

Give your burner account a break Mr Cook. You lost the fight. 😉

 

[AppleTO]

Cool, although this may backfire for MacPaw. Are they removing their apps from Apple’s App Store in the EU?

 

[CrysisDeu]

Lol EU users get ready to subscribe to a bunch of setapp alternatives

 

[erikkfi]

all apps that exceed 1 million first installs per year must pay the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee to Apple.

Until the EU properly strikes down this absurd and anticompetitive requirement.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Until the EU properly strikes down this absurd and anticompetitive requirement.

I mean, Apple is providing some of the infrastructure still.

 

[1Michael23]

I mean, Apple is providing some of the infrastructure still.

Like what exactly?

 

[hagar]

Use at your own risk.

What risks? The exacte same apps you get from this store are also available in the regular App Store. But as individual purchases/subscriptions and therefore likely more expensive.

Cool, although this may backfire for MacPaw. Are they removing their apps from Apple’s App Store in the EU?

Unlikely they will remove their own apps or demand to remove the third party apps from the App Store.

That’s the beauty of this evolution: want to purchase the apps from the App Store? you can. Want to rent them through the subscription model of Setapp? You can as well. Everyone crying this EU-law would be the end of civilisation is simply flat out wrong.

 

[foobarbaz]

The iOS apps included in SetApp currently don’t pay anything to Apple (free apps + external payment). Why would they voluntarily switch to the new terms where they start paying the CTF based on download numbers?

 

[SoldOnApple]

The market is going to be flooded with alternate app stores soon enough.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

The market is going to be flooded with alternate app stores soon enough.

and stealing money 🤣

 

[frenchcamp49er]

98% wont buy from an alternative App Store

 

[hagar]

98% wont buy from an alternative App Store

That (fictional but probably not far from the truth) percentage will quickly change when apps offering Apple censured content or functionalities are launched.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

That (fictional but probably not far from the truth) percentage will quickly change when apps offering Apple censured content or functionalities are launched.

It’s about trust. I won’t trust some 3rd party App Store ever nor will I use my CC’s with one.

 

[hagar]

It’s about trust. I won’t trust some 3rd party App Store ever nor will I use my CC’s with one.

And that’s fine. It’s all about choice.

 

[johannnn]

Fragmented App Stores here we come.

I will never forgive Epic and Spotify for starting this crap.

 

[twintin]

What risks? The exacte same apps you get from this store are also available in the regular App Store. But as individual purchases/subscriptions and therefore likely more expensive.


Unlikely they will remove their own apps or demand to remove the third party apps from the App Store.

That’s the beauty of this evolution: want to purchase the apps from the App Store? you can. Want to rent them through the subscription model of Setapp? You can as well. Everyone crying this EU-law would be the end of civilisation is simply flat out

 

[GumaRodak]

Subscription model….enough said…so the Devs instead of paying fees to apple, they will pay to 3rd party app store..of course the early price is tempting, but sooner or later greed card will hit them as well…

 

[svish]

Good to have an option to download app from different store/location but I will always prefer to use the App store.

 

[User 6502]

I mean, Apple is providing some of the infrastructure still.

Hardly. And most importantly nobody asked them to.

 

[__dontpanic__]

Subscription model….enough said…so the Devs instead of paying fees to apple, they will pay to 3rd party app store..of course the early price is tempting, but sooner or later greed card will hit them as well…

I use their MacOS version - I was already paying a subscription for two apps that were available on there, so moving to Setapp's subscription actually saved me money and gave me access to a bunch of other useful paid apps. The only other option would be piracy, but the apps are useful and help me generate an income, so I'm happy to pay. The devs probably get a smaller cut, but they also get access to a wider market that may not discover their product otherwise, so it probably evens out a bit. And the best bit - with competing app stores out there, devs will be able to decide what's most economically viable, which is more than they could do previously. If this doesn't suit them, they can always go back to the old App Store only approach. An open and competitive market is a good thing - I don't know how anyone could rationally argue against it.

 

[coolfactor]

I use their MacOS version - I was already paying a subscription for two apps that were available on there, so moving to Setapp's subscription actually saved me money and gave me access to a bunch of other useful paid apps. The only other option would be piracy, but the apps are useful and help me generate an income, so I'm happy to pay. The devs probably get a smaller cut, but they also get access to a wider market that may not discover their product otherwise, so it probably evens out a bit. And the best bit - with competing app stores out there, devs will be able to decide what's most economically viable, which is more than they could do previously. If this doesn't suit them, they can always go back to the old App Store only approach. An open and competitive market is a good thing - I don't know how anyone could rationally argue against it.

I was a Setapp subscriber for a while. Seemed like a great deal! But as soon as you stop paying that ONE subscription fee, then ALL apps stop working. That model doesn't work for me. I prefer to pick and choose which apps that I'm financing at any given time, not the all-or-nothing approach that Setapp takes, regardless of the price.

I don't think anybody is arguing against an open market. The problem is that humans can't be trusted! Way too many that will take advantage of others without blinking an eye. Apple's model protected us from that darkness.

 

[cjsuk]

I can’t wait until I have to support a family member who installed this or got stuck in it somehow.

 

[Doodah7]

I can’t wait until I have to support a family member who installed this or got stuck in it somehow.

Are you in the EU?? If not, it won't bother you in the slightest. And if the family member is that clueless, they won't know Setapp exists in the first place.

So your glib little comment fails in all cases.