Setapp Mobile to Shut Down EU App Store Operations
Setapp Mobile, one of the pioneers of alternative marketplaces in the European Union following the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), is officially ceasing operations. The platform, operated by Ukrainian developer MacPaw, will remove all applications from its store by February 16, 2026.
Since its launch in September 2024, the store functioned as a subscription service, granting users with an EU-linked Apple ID access to a curated library of software across categories including productivity, creative tools, and finance for a $9.99 monthly fee. While the mobile marketplace is closing, MacPaw confirmed that its Setapp Desktop service remains unaffected.
Regulatory Hurdles and Fee Complexity
The decision to pull the plug stems from what MacPaw describes as “still-evolving and complex business terms” that are incompatible with the company’s subscription-based model. Central to this issue is Apple’s fee structure for EU-based alternative stores, specifically the Core Technology Fee.
This policy mandates that developers pay €0.50 for every first annual install once an application exceeds a threshold of 1 million installs in a 12-month period. Although Apple revised these requirements last year to address DMA compliance concerns, the resulting framework introduced layers of complexity that hindered long-term financial planning for third-party stores.
The Challenges of EU Marketplaces
The closure highlights the ongoing friction between Apple and developers attempting to utilize the freedoms granted by the EU’s digital regulations. According to Setapp’s support documentation, the firm concluded that continuing to support the mobile store was no longer commercially viable.
In a statement regarding the shutdown, the company noted: “Setapp Mobile was a bold, breakthrough project that aimed to provide EU iOS users with access to alternative app marketplaces. As a result of still-evolving commercial conditions, we have determined that it is not viable to continue development or support for Setapp Mobile within Setapp’s current business model.”
Despite the exit of Setapp Mobile, other alternative marketplaces continue to operate within the region, most notably the Epic Games Store and the open-source AltStore. The industry remains split on whether these regulatory changes will eventually foster a sustainable ecosystem or if the administrative and financial costs imposed by platform holders will continue to drive smaller players out of the market.