One of the more visible alternative app stores that launched in the European Union following the introduction of the region’s Digital Markets Act is preparing to shut down. The app store, Setapp Mobile, was created by the Ukrainian software company MacPaw and launched officially in September 2024. It offered users access to dozens of apps spanning categories such as productivity, finance, video, photography, creativity, and more.
Setapp Mobile operated on a subscription-based model, giving consumers access to its entire catalogue of mobile apps for a monthly fee of $9.99, as long as the user’s Apple ID was registered in an EU member country.
MacPaw has now confirmed that all applications will be removed from Setapp Mobile by the end of its sunset period on February 16, 2026. Apps that are part of Setapp Desktop will continue to operate as usual and will not be affected by the shutdown, the company told TechCrunch.
The decision to close the service was announced on Setapp’s support website and was first reported by MacRumors.
According to MacPaw, the move is driven by “still-evolving and complex business terms that don’t fit Setapp’s current business model.”
These “complex business terms” refer to Apple’s updated fee structure for apps operating under its revised rules in the EU. This structure includes the controversial Core Technology Fee, which requires developers to pay €0.50 per first annual install above 1 million installs over 12 months.
Apple adjusted its fee framework last year to avoid additional penalties for noncompliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, rather than simplifying the system, the changes introduced further complexity.
One consequence of these ongoing adjustments is that developers face significant difficulty in planning long-term growth and monetisation strategies. The situation also highlights that, under the current conditions, operating an alternative app store in the EU may not be commercially viable.
In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Setapp said it concluded that its business model was no longer “viable” as the commercial environment continued to shift. The statement said:
- Setapp Mobile was a bold, breakthrough project that aimed to provide EU iOS users with access to alternative app marketplaces — creating a new app ecosystem where both developers and users could thrive. We are proud of what we have accomplished with it over the past two years and remain passionate about this vision. Due to still-evolving commercial conditions, we have determined that it is not viable to continue development or support for Setapp Mobile under Setapp’s current business model. While we are disappointed to discontinue Setapp Mobile and let down our user base and developer community in the EU, we are looking forward to pursuing the development of other innovations.
Despite Setapp Mobile’s closure, several other alternative app stores continue to operate in the EU. These include, most notably, the Epic Games Store, created by the maker of Fortnite, and the open-source AltStore.
