Finally ! The AltStore publisher had to have its third-party app store validated by Apple, and it’s done. The AltStore is available on iPhone!
In recent weeks, the landscape of applications on iOS has been profoundly disrupted thanks to the DMA (Digital Markets Act). This new regulation forced Apple to review its rules and authorize the installation of third-party app stores within the European Union. A revolution similar to that already in place on Android. The PAL AltStore, the first alternative application store, is now available on iPhone.
AltStore PAL
A paid download fraught with pitfalls
Launched on April 17, the Alt Store has been validated by Apple teams and is accessible online. However, the download is not done via the App Store, but directly on the official website altstore.io, for a fee. In fact, it will cost you 1.5 euros per year, or 0.125 euros per month, to acquire this alternative blind. This low price is probably intended to discourage impulsive downloads and to prevent possible heavy charges for AltStore in the event of exceeding one million downloads, in accordance with Apple’s rules.
But the obstacle course does not end there. Apple puts several obstacles in place to dissuade users from installing this third-party app store. From installing the “online marketplace” to authorization in the iPhone settings, including confirmation windows and warnings, you have to go through six different screens before successfully installing the AltStore.
A classic interface and new features
Once installed, the Alt Store appears as a rather classic application with five tabs: “News”, “Sources”, “Browse”, “My Apps” and “Settings”. The main difference with the App Store lies in the “Sources” tab, which allows you to install different application sources. Users of Linux and other systems will be familiar with this feature.
Currently, the Alt Store source only offers two applications: Deltaan application based on GBA4iOS, which is a popular emulator for NES, SNES and N64 consoles, and Clip, a clipboard manager that allows you to group all the elements copied to the iPhone. It is also possible to connect your Patreon account in the Alt Store settings to access beta versions and become a “patron”.
A modest but historic beginning
Although the Alt Store’s launch is modest in terms of available apps, it marks a historic turning point for iOS. Indeed, this is the first official alternative app store validated by Apple to be installed on an iPhone. It remains to be seen whether this opening will herald the arrival of new third-party application stores and greater diversity in the iOS ecosystem. Besides, it’s quite funny, because we had already tested the AltStore in 2019 thanks to TestFlight via the App Store Connect portal.