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, you've likely faced challenges as Apple has historically guarded their ecosystem closely. However, following a series of legal battles, the landscape began to shift last year. Now, with the Epic Games Store already making its mark on iOS, a new contender, Aptoide, has entered the scene, offering EU iOS users a fresh option.

We previously covered Aptoide during their initial beta phase in mid-2024, and 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 technically beat them to a full release by a few months.

What sets Aptoide apart, however, is its broader range of offerings. Unlike the Epic Games Store, which primarily focuses on gaming, Aptoide provides a more general selection of apps. Additionally, Aptoide introduces an innovative feature allowing users to choose the specific version of an app they wish to use—a functionality previously exclusive to Android users.

Alternatively, yoursWhile my initial remarks might seem skeptical, I believe Aptoide has a legitimate claim to being the first general, third-party app store on iOS, particularly when considering their beta period. The Epic Games Store, while a third-party option, is still operated by a major industry player.

For those of us who have been following the Epic v Apple legal battle and the subsequent opening of iOS to more app stores, this development is promising. Now, the focus will be on whether Aptoide can successfully attract users who are dissatisfied with the Apple App Store.