Setapp Mobile to End Its Services Due to Challenges from EU Digital Markets Act
Setapp Mobile, a mobile app marketplace introduced by Ukrainian developer MacPaw in September 2024, is set to discontinue its mobile app offerings. The platform allowed users across the european Union to access a wide variety of applications-including productivity suites, financial tools, and creative software-through a single $9.99 monthly subscription linked to their Apple ID registered within an EU country.
Reasons Behind Setapp Mobile’s Imminent Shutdown
The company has confirmed that all mobile apps will be removed from Setapp Mobile by February 16, 2026. Importantly, this closure will not affect the desktop version of Setapp’s service. MacPaw attributes this decision primarily to the “complex and evolving business conditions” imposed by Apple following new regulations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
A key challenge arises from Apple’s updated fee structure for apps operating in the European market. One notably controversial aspect is the Core Technology Fee, which levies €0.50 on every first annual install exceeding one million installs within any rolling 12-month period.
How Apple’s New Fees Complicate Alternative App Stores’ Operations
Despite Apple’s efforts last year to modify its policies in line with DMA requirements and avoid regulatory penalties, these adjustments have instead introduced additional complexity rather then clarity or simplicity. This shifting fee framework makes it increasingly difficult for businesses like setapp Mobile to predict revenue streams or scale sustainably over time.
“Setapp Mobile was an aspiring project aimed at providing iOS users throughout Europe with access to alternative app marketplaces-cultivating a thriving ecosystem where both developers and consumers could prosper,” stated MacPaw.
“While we take pride in what we accomplished over two years, ongoing changes in commercial terms have made our current business model unsustainable for future growth or support.”
The Wider Context: Other Alternative App stores Operating Within Europe
The discontinuation of Setapp Mobile does not signal an end for alternative app stores across Europe. Prominent competitors such as Epic Games Store-the platform behind Fortnite-and open-source initiatives like AltStore continue functioning under similar regulatory pressures.
This scenario highlights persistent friction between dominant platform owners enforcing rigid fee structures and smaller entities advocating for more adaptable distribution models that better serve developers and consumers alike.
A Comparable Example: Streaming Platforms Managing Complex Licensing Costs
This predicament resembles challenges faced globally by streaming services that must navigate elaborate licensing agreements with content providers while balancing subscription pricing-a delicate equilibrium further complicated when regulations shift rapidly without clear direction.
The Road Forward: Embracing Innovation Amid Regulatory Hurdles
Although Setapp Mobile will soon cease its mobile operations, MacPaw remains dedicated to pursuing new innovations beyond this initiative. The continuously evolving regulatory landscape is reshaping how digital marketplaces function throughout Europe; companies must adapt quickly or risk becoming obsolete amid these transformations.
