Apptoide: First Free iOS App Store Now Available in EU

If you've been seeking an alternative to the iOS App Store, your options have historically been limited due to Apple's protective stance over its platform. However, following a series of legal battles, the landscape began to shift last year. The Epic Games Store was the first to break through, but now, Aptoide has entered the fray, offering a new choice for EU iOS users.

We previously covered Aptoide during its mid-2024 beta phase, and now, it's available for free to all EU iOS users. While Aptoide boldly claims to be the first alternative app store on iOS, it's worth noting that the Epic Games Store did launch its full version a few months earlier. Yet, Aptoide distinguishes itself by offering a broader range of apps, not just games. It also introduces a unique feature allowing users to choose the specific version of an app they want to use—a functionality previously exclusive to Android users and now available on Aptoide's iOS platform.

Alternatively, yoursWhile my initial remarks might seem skeptical, I believe Aptoide has a legitimate claim to being the first general, third-party app store on iOS, particularly considering its beta phase. The Epic Games Store, while a third-party option, is backed by a major industry player, whereas Aptoide offers a more diverse and independent platform.

For those of us who have followed the Epic v Apple legal battle and the subsequent opening of iOS to alternative storefronts, Aptoide's arrival is a positive development. Now, the focus will be on whether Aptoide can successfully attract users who are dissatisfied with Apple's offerings.