Altstore PAL, the first third-party iPhone app store, has been launched in Europe, offering users an alternative app marketplace to access apps not available on the official App Store. Developed by Riley Testut, Altstore PAL currently features two applications – Delta, a Nintendo emulator, and Clip, a clipboard manager. While Delta is available for free, Clip requires a minimum donation of EUR 1 from users.
One of the key features of Altstore PAL is its lack of content restrictions imposed by Apple, allowing the distribution of apps that would not be allowed on the Apple App Store, such as torrent clients. Additionally, developers can use Patreon to distribute apps, setting a minimum pledge amount for access without Altstore PAL taking any commissions on donations received through Patreon.
To access Altstore PAL, users in the European Union need to update their iPhones to iOS 17.4 and pay an annual subscription fee of EUR 1.50. This fee helps cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF), which kicks in after 1 million downloads of an app. Users outside the EU or those unwilling to pay the subscription fee can sideload apps using the original Altstore app on a computer and refresh them every seven days.
Developers hosting their apps on Altstore PAL do not have to pay any hosting fees, and there are no commissions on donations made through Patreon. Once Apple has notarised an app, developers can upload the “alternative distribution packet” (ADP) to the server for distribution on Altstore PAL.
Altstore PAL presents an interesting alternative for iPhone users in Europe looking to access apps not available on Apple’s official App Store. The platform’s subscription model and lack of content restrictions provide both users and developers with more flexibility and control over app distribution. However, the mandatory annual fee and the need to update the iPhone to install Altstore PAL may deter some users, especially those outside the EU. Despite these challenges, Altstore PAL’s unique features and developer-friendly policies make it a promising addition to the app marketplace.
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