One of the first alternative app stores in the European Union has closed

One of the most popular alternative app stores to emerge in the European Union has been shut down as a result of the region’s Digital Markets Act. store, Setab Mobilefrom Ukraine-based developer MacPaw, first launched in September 2024, offering dozens of apps across categories like productivity, finance, video, photos, creativity, and more.

Its model provides consumers with access to all of Setapp’s mobile applications through a $9.99 monthly subscription, provided the user’s Apple ID is associated with an EU member state.

Now, the company says that all apps will be removed from Setapp Mobile by the end of the sunset date, February 16, 2026. The company told TechCrunch that apps available on Setapp Desktop will not be affected.

The news of the closure was announced today Setapp support sitewas first observed by MacRumors.

MacPaw stated that “complex, still-evolving business terminology that did not fit within Setapp’s current business model” was the reason behind its decision.

“Complex Business Terms” referred to herein are the complex set of fees that Apple charges for applications that operate under them New trading terms in the European Union Which includes controversial Basic technology fees Which charges developers €0.50 for every first annual install over 1 million in the last 12 months.

The tech giant revised its fee structure last year to avoid further penalties for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), but instead of simplifying fees, Make them more complicated.

One consequence of these constant changes is that developers cannot properly plan how to grow and monetize their business. It also notes that the fees, as they stand, do not make operating an alternative app store in the EU a viable option.

In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Setapp said it found its business model was not “viable,” as business conditions continued to change. The statement stated:

“Setapp Mobile was a bold and innovative project aimed at providing iOS users in the EU with access to alternative app markets – creating a new app ecosystem where both developers and users can thrive. We are proud of what we have accomplished with it over the past two years and continue to believe strongly in this vision. As a result of still-evolving business circumstances, we have decided that it is not possible to further develop or support Setapp Mobile within Setapp’s existing business model. While we are disappointed that Setapp Mobile has been discontinued and has let our user and developer community down, European Union, we look forward to continuing the development of other innovations.

there Other alternative app stores still operate in the EUAnd among the most prominent ones Legendary Games Store From the maker of Fortniteand Open source AltStore.