From iOS 17.4 you can install alternative app stores on your iPhone, but none are available (yet). These app stores have already been announced!
Third-party app stores in iOS 17.4
Apple has made major changes to your iPhone, because from iOS 17.4 it is possible to install new app stores. So you are no longer limited to Apple’s App Store, but can also download apps from other stores. This is the result of European legislation that came into effect today, which is intended to give (small) developers a fairer competitive position.
Also read: Your iPhone changes completely: this is what Apple turns iOS upside down
In iOS 17.4 you can choose which app stores you have on your phone and where you download different apps. To ensure user safety, Apple continues to monitor apps, even if they don’t come from the company’s own App Store. There are currently no alternative app stores, but they have already been announced. These app stores will be available soon!
1. Setapp Mobile
MacPaw has indicated that it is developing a new app store for iPhones with iOS 17.4 or newer. The company already has a similar version for the Mac. You pay $9.99 per month and get access to more than 240 different apps. These applications are mainly aimed at professional use, so you can convert audio and video files, plan projects and write codes.
The company will soon also launch an app store for the iPhone, for which you will probably also have to pay a monthly fee. The advantage of this is that you get access to all apps at once, instead of having to make separate purchases. It is not yet known when exactly Setapp Mobile will be available as a new app store in iOS 17.4, but the company mentions April as a target.
2. Epic Games Store
One of the main opponents of Apple’s policy in the App Store is Epic Games, the company behind major games such as Fortnite. Epic Games added a direct payment option to the Fortnite app in the App Store in 2020, which is against Apple’s rules. In response, Apple decided to remove the app. It is therefore no surprise that Epic Games is working on its own app store for iOS 17.4.
At the end of 2023, Epic Games announced that it would launch its own app store for the iPhone this year. The company will probably only launch the new app store for iOS 17.4 later this year, under the name Epic Games Store. No further details have been announced about the new app store, but it is expected that Fortnite will finally return to the iPhone this year.
3. Mobivention
Finally, Mobivention has already announced that it is developing its own app store for iOS 17.4. The German company is already at an advanced stage of development and issued a press release last Monday. The new app store is intended for companies and developers who are looking for an alternative way to offer their apps.
Also read: Please note: this iOS 17.4 feature does not work if you are traveling outside the EU
According to Mobivention, the rules for offering apps are simpler in their app store. This does not mean that the software is not checked, because Mobivention does this according to the same criteria as Apple. We can probably expect the new app store for iOS 17.4 soon, because Mobivention indicated that it is ready for a release on March 7. So just be patient, because the first alternative app store is coming soon.
More new features in iOS 17.4
There are currently no new app stores available in iOS 17.4, but that probably won’t be long. Starting from iOS 17.4, you must approve each app before the software is installed. You will then also see from which store you install the app. In addition, Apple continues to check the software of apps, even if they are not in its own App Store.
Don’t want to install any new app stores in iOS 17.4? Don’t worry, Apple’s App Store will remain available. Even more changes are coming to your iPhone with iOS 17.4, because the NFC chip is also open to third parties. In addition, adjustments are being made to browsers such as Google Chrome. Read here what’s new in iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4!
Want to know more about downloading apps in iOS 17 (without App Store)? And always want to stay informed of the latest Apple news? Then keep an eye on the website and download our free iPhoned app. You can also register for our newsletter.