Setapp wants to offer its own app store for iOS applications as soon as new EU regulations come into force next year. According to Setapp, it has more than 30 partners on board who are willing to offer their apps, including Ulysses, Taskheat, Noteplan, PDFSearch and Soulver. The company advertises for other developers and their offers. So far this is not possible because Apple has complete control of the ecosystem.
Bloomberg reported back in December 2022, Apple is preparing to allow alternative iOS app stores to comply with the DMA (Digital Markets Act). However, Apple still had concerns about the security risks of sideloading third-party apps.
Irrespective of this, the Ukrainian company Setapp assumes that iPhones and iPads should support external app stores. The company already operates a subscription service that gives Mac users access to around 240 apps for $9.99 a month.
According to one, Setapp advertises to attract developers Techcrunch report with a better revenue share than Apple offers in its app store. 70 percent of the revenue is to be paid out to the developers. There are 20 percentage points more if buyers purchase a Setapp subscription.