Apptoide: First Free iOS App Store Now Available in EU

If you've been on the hunt for an alternative to the iOS App Store, your options have been limited due to Apple's tight control over its ecosystem. However, following years of legal battles, the landscape began to shift last year. The Epic Games Store made its debut on iOS, and now, Aptoide has entered the fray, offering EU users a new choice.

As some of you might remember, we previously discussed Aptoide during their initial beta phase in mid-2024. Now, all EU iOS users can download Aptoide for free and explore its offerings. While Aptoide boldly claims to be the first alternative app store on iOS, it's worth noting that the Epic Games Store beat them to a full release by a few months.

What sets Aptoide apart is its diverse selection of apps. Unlike the Epic Games Store, which primarily focuses on gaming, Aptoide offers a wider range of general applications. Additionally, they introduce an innovative feature allowing users to choose specific versions of apps, a functionality previously exclusive to Android users and now available on their iOS platform.

Alternatively, yoursWhile my initial remarks might come across as skeptical, I genuinely believe Aptoide has a valid claim to being a pioneering alternative app store, especially considering their beta period. The Epic Games Store, although a third-party option, is still operated by a major industry player.

For those of us who have been following the Epic vs. Apple legal battles and the subsequent opening up of iOS to more storefronts, Aptoide's arrival is promising news. It will be fascinating to see how Aptoide performs in capturing the interest of users who are dissatisfied with the Apple App Store.