Apptoide: First Free iOS App Store Now Available in EU

If you've been seeking an alternative to the iOS App Store, you've likely been frustrated by Apple's tight control over their platform. However, following years 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.

As we previously reported on Aptoide's initial beta in mid-2024, the platform is now freely available for all EU iOS users to download and explore. While Aptoide boldly claims to be the first alternative app store on iOS, it's worth noting that the Epic Games Store did beat them to a full release by a few months.

What sets Aptoide apart, however, is its broader range of offerings. Unlike the Epic Games Store, which focuses primarily on gaming, Aptoide provides a diverse selection of general apps. Additionally, they introduce an innovative feature allowing users to choose the specific version of an app they wish to use—a functionality previously exclusive to Android users and now available on their iOS platform.

While my initial remarks might seem skeptical, I believe Aptoide has a legitimate claim to being the first general, third-party app store on iOS, especially considering their beta phase. The Epic Games Store, while a third-party option, is still operated by a major industry player. In contrast, Aptoide represents a more independent alternative.

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