Technical

Srinivasa Reddy Kandi: Setapp Mobile to Shut Down, Marking a Setback for EU Alternative App Stores

January, 21, 2026-05:17

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Setapp Mobile to Shut Down, Marking a Setback for EU Alternative App Stores:

One of the earliest and most visible alternative app stores launched in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act is shutting down. Setapp Mobile, created by Ukrainian software company MacPaw, announced it will discontinue operations less than two years after its debut.

Setapp Mobile launched in September 2024, offering users a subscription-based model that provided access to dozens of mobile apps spanning productivity, finance, video, photography, creativity, and other categories. The service cost $9.99 per month and was available to users whose Apple IDs were registered in an EU member state.

According to the company, all mobile applications will be removed from Setapp Mobile by its sunset date of February 16, 2026. MacPaw confirmed that its desktop subscription service, Setapp Desktop, will continue to operate and will not be impacted by the decision.

The shutdown was announced via Setapp’s support site and was first reported by MacRumors.

MacPaw cited “still evolving and complex business terms that don’t fit Setapp’s current business model” as the primary reason for ending the mobile store. These terms refer to Apple’s revised fee structure for developers operating under the EU’s DMA framework, which includes the controversial Core Technology Fee. This fee charges developers €0.50 for each first annual app install beyond one million installs in a 12-month period.

Apple updated its fee system last year in an effort to comply with the Digital Markets Act and avoid additional regulatory penalties. However, critics argue that the changes have made the pricing structure more complicated rather than simpler, creating challenges for alternative app marketplaces like Setapp Mobile.

Author: Kandi Srinivasa Reddy, Srinivasa Reddy Kandi, #KandiSrinivasaReddy, #SrinivasaReddyKandi