One of the first alternative app stores in the EU is shutting down

One of the first alternative app stores in the EU is shutting down

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Alternative App Store Setapp Mobile in the EU to Close By February 2026

The EU’s Setapp Mobile, an alternative app store, is shutting down due to changing business conditions and fees from Apple.

Technology

New York: One of the first big alternative app stores, Setapp Mobile, is closing. This store was part of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. It launched in September 2024 and was created by MacPaw from Ukraine. It offered many apps for productivity, finance, and creativity, all for a monthly fee of $9.99, but only for users in the EU.

Setapp announced that all its apps will be gone by February 16, 2026. The desktop version will still be available, as confirmed to TechCrunch. The company said the business terms keep changing, making it tough to keep Setapp Mobile running.

Apple’s new fees are part of the problem. They include a Core Technology Fee, charging developers for lots of app installs. MacPaw says these fees are complex and hard to work with. They make it hard for developers to plan for the future.

In a statement, Setapp shared that their project was great but not sustainable anymore. They are sad to stop Setapp Mobile but are excited about future projects. Other alternative app stores, like the Epic Games Store and AltStore, are still active in the EU.

Image Credits and Reference: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/one-of-the-first-alternative-app-stores-in-the-eu-is-shutting-down/