Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Apple must allow users in the region to install rival app stores on their iPhones. After a long process that included implementing various security checks, Altstore PAL, Apple’s first approved third-party app store, is now available for download in the EU.
Altstore pricing, published on Wednesday, is now €1.50 (excluding tax) per month to offset the new Apple tax on third-party app stores. The Verge reports that while Apple has repeatedly tried to prevent users from choosing to install competing app stores, it’s easy enough to install.
Once installed, users will find two apps. The first is his Clip, a clipboard manager for iOS that runs in the background and stores clips for future use. This app requires a monthly Patreon pledge of 1 euro per month.
Another app on Altstore, Delta is a Nintendo console emulator that can emulate several different consoles, including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, several Gameboys, and Nintendo DS. As a thank you to users who paid to use Altstore, Delta is available for free. The emulator was also released in the regular Apple App Store. Unlike his iGBA, which received the boot from Apple a few days ago, Delta is genuine and should stay in the App Store for a long time.
read more: Apple launches first emulator in 10 years on App Store
Altstore is aimed at indie developers
Riley Testut, the developer of Altstore and the two apps, wants Altstore to become the number one destination for indie developers. This store is intended for developers who are creating apps that can’t otherwise be listed on the App Store. One of his first two apps, Clip, is never approved by the Apple App Store thanks to a workaround that always runs in the background.
Altstore uses Apple’s new web distribution, which allows developers to more easily distribute apps to users in the EU. End users will now be able to add “sources” to her Altstore, allowing them to browse and install more apps. “Source” refers to the developer who hosts the app on their own server. Users can add sources to her Altstore and then download more apps, similar to adding her RSS feed to a newsreader.
read more: Apple announces security plans for third-party App Store on iPhone
Altstore allows paid apps
Altstore relies on Patreon, a monetization platform that allows users to pay for original content from their favorite creators. Developers are encouraged to use the platform primarily to offset Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF). With this fee, the developer will have to pay her 0.50 euros for the first installation per user. That user can download an unlimited number of apps for a year. When the next year begins, app developers will be charged an additional €0.50 for the first app update, user install, or reinstall.
Since Altstore is primarily marketed to indie developers, Patreon allows developers to consistently communicate with their users. This store is set up to allow developers to offer different tiers of payments. The end user pays him 0.50 euros for the basic installation and has the possibility to pay a higher price for the premium version of the app at a later date. An app developer can also charge him one subscription to access all apps, but this is not allowed in the Apple App Store.
People outside the EU can also use the store, but some additional steps are required, such as installing AltServer. The Altstore website provides installation instructions.
