- AltStore Pal is the first Apple-approved alternative iOS app store.
- EU-based iPhone users can utilize AltStore Pal for a symbolic fee.
- Developers must host their apps on their own servers, not AltStore Pal’s.
AltStore Pal is finally available to iOS users in the EU (via The Verge), enabling them to download apps that don’t necessarily comply with Apple’s App Store guidelines. Those running iOS 17.4 or a later OS version can access the third-party app store by paying €1.50 (plus tax) per year. The original AltStore — which requires a desktop computer and a hackier setup — is still available worldwide for free.
AltStore has been a prominent iOS third-party app store for years. Developed by Riley Testut, the marketplace hosts a wide range of apps that Apple may not allow on its own storefront. Now that the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to authorize third-party app stores on iOS, Testut has released AltStore Pal as a standalone version.