It was only a matter of time: thanks to the entry into force of the DMA, the first third-party app store for iOS arrived in Europe: it is called Setapp, and was created by the Ukrainian company MacPaw. The beta version is already available, the stable version is expected in April.
Setapp isn’t entirely new to the market: it exists for Mac subscriptions for $9.99 per month, offering subscribers more than 240 apps. MacPaw calls it the first subscription-based platform that offers users a curated collection of Mac and iOS apps:
“Setapp will now be available directly on iOS devices, enabling a more integrated and convenient user experience. This expansion promises a diverse selection of premium applications for users and a supportive environment for developers.”
The alternative store is offered as a subscription service to a collection of applications for both operating systems – macOS and iOS – containing tools for productivity, creativity and system management. There are no ads, no in-app purchases, updates are free “ensuring that the latest versions and features are always available”.
Setapp’s is a particular proposal, as it offers the entire catalog upon subscription to the service with monthly payment. No individual app purchases, then: for $9.99 per month you can download all the apps, without any limit. The final version, we recall, will be made available in April, i.e. a month after the entry into force of the DMA and the simultaneous release of iOS 17.4, the first version of Apple’s operating system with support for alternative marketplaces within the European Union.
Subscription pricing for iOS has not yet been disclosed. Below is the current price list which includes the offer for Mac, also bundled with iOS. In the meantime, if you want to try it, you can join the waiting list on the official Setapp website
-Mac:
$9.99/month
-1 Mac
7-day free trial
-Mac + iOS:
$12.49/month
-1 Mac + 4 iOS devices
7-day free trial
-Power User:
$14.99/month
-4 Macs + 4 iOS devices
7-day free trial
The Setapp beta includes several app types and categories, including:
-Productivity & Business Tools
-Design Software
-Lifestyle & Productivity
-App Utility
-Specialized professional tools