Setapp Mobile is Shutting Down: An Alternative iOS App Store Closes

An alternative iOS app marketplace is preparing to shut down, with Setapp confirming that its EU-only Setapp Mobile service will be discontinued in February 2026 following challenges tied to Apple’s evolving marketplace rules. Setapp says Setapp Mobile is scheduled to be discontinued on February 16, 2026, citing complex and still-changing business terms that no longer align with its current operating model. Once the shutdown date is reached, all apps distributed through Setapp Mobile will be removed, and users will no longer be able to access or update those apps through the platform. Setapp is advising users who installed apps via Setapp Mobile to transfer any stored data ahead of time, as access to those apps and their associated data will end permanently. Setapp Mobile launched as part of a wave of alternative iOS marketplaces made possible by recent European Union legislation that forced Apple to open iOS to third-party app stores for the first time. The service was limited to the EU, requiring users to have an Apple account set to an EU country and an iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later to install or update apps. Advertisement Why Setapp Mobile is closing According to Setapp, the decision to sunset the service is rooted in business complexity rather than user demand, with the company pointing to distribution terms that proved difficult to sustain long-term. Setapp Mobile operated separately from Setapp’s long-running macOS and iOS subscription offering, requiring developers to sign new Apple agreements and meet different regulatory obligations. While the platform offered access to more than 50 curated apps under a single subscription, not all existing Setapp developers opted to participate in the mobile marketplace. The service also deliberately excluded games, social networks, streaming platforms, and ride-hailing apps, instead focusing on productivity and utility software without ads or in-app purchases. Users currently subscribed to Setapp plans that include mobile access will retain full functionality only until the February 2026 shutdown date, after which Setapp Mobile apps will no longer be available. Advertisement The company notes that the broader Setapp service will continue operating, with Setapp Mobile treated as a discontinued product rather than a company-wide exit from mobile software. Setapp has not indicated whether it plans to launch a revised mobile marketplace in the future, suggesting that regulatory and commercial uncertainty remains a key barrier. The closure highlights the difficulty alternative app stores still face on iOS, even after regulatory changes designed to reduce Apple’s long-standing control over app distribution.