AltStore: First Free iOS App Market in EU

• Aptoide, the independent app marketplace, is now freely accessible to iOS users in the EU
• Though positioning itself as the first free alternative app store, the Epic Games Store technically launched earlier
• Aptoide may rightfully claim to be the inaugural general-purpose third-party app platform

For those seeking alternatives to Apple's iOS App Store, options have been scarce due to Apple's stringent ecosystem control. However, following prolonged legal battles, the landscape shifted last year - first with Epic Games Store's arrival, and now with Aptoide entering the scene.

Our regular readers might remember our coverage of Aptoide's beta launch in mid-2024. Now fully released, this platform offers free access to all EU iOS users. While Aptoide proclaims itself as the first alternative marketplace, tech-savvy users will note the Epic Games Store actually debuted several months prior.

Where Aptoide distinguishes itself is through its diverse app catalog. Beyond just gaming titles, it features general applications and a unique version-selection feature for apps - a functionality previously exclusive to its Android platform.

While my tone might suggest some skepticism, I genuinely believe Aptoide holds merit as the first true independent storefront (especially considering its beta phase). The aforementioned Epic Games Store, while technically third-party, remains backed by a major industry player.

For observers of the Epic-Apple legal battles and the gradual opening of iOS to external marketplaces, Aptoide's arrival marks significant progress. The crucial question now becomes whether this platform can effectively attract users dissatisfied with Apple's ecosystem.