Aptoide Launches First Free iOS App Store in EU

• Aptoide, the independent app store, is now available at no cost for iOS users within the European Union.
• While it positions itself as the first free alternative app marketplace, the Epic Games Store actually launched earlier.
• However, Aptoide could be considered the first general-purpose, third-party storefront on iOS.

If you've been searching for an alternative to Apple's iOS App Store, options have been limited due to Apple's strict control over its ecosystem. Fortunately, after prolonged legal battles, the landscape began shifting last year. Following the debut of the Epic Games Store on iOS, a new contender named Aptoide has entered the scene.

Observant readers may remember our previous coverage of Aptoide when we reported on its initial beta phase in mid-2024. Now, all iOS users in the EU can download Aptoide free of charge and test it out. Although it claims to be the first alternative app marketplace on iOS, many will recall that the Epic Games Store beat it to a full public release by several months.

Aptoide differentiates itself through the variety of apps it offers. Rather than focusing solely on gaming, it features a broader selection of general applications and includes an innovative feature that lets users choose which version of an app they wish to install—an option reportedly exclusive to Aptoide and previously available only on Android.

Although my description might come across as slightly skeptical, I believe Aptoide has a legitimate case for being the first alternative store—especially if you factor in its beta period. The Epic Games Store, for instance, is technically a third-party platform only because it isn't operated by Apple or Google. Still, at its heart, the EGS is backed by a major industry player.

For those following the Epic vs. Apple legal dispute and the subsequent opening of iOS to third-party stores, this is encouraging news. Now, the question is whether Aptoide can successfully attract users who are unhappy with Apple's offerings.