AltStore PAL, a third-party app store leveraging the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), is now available for free, thanks to a generous MegaGrant from Epic Games. The app’s creators announced on social media that this financial boost will allow them to cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee, eliminating the need for a user subscription fee.
Developed by Riley Testut, known for the Delta video game emulator, and his business partner Shane Gill, AltStore PAL launched in response to the DMA, initially featuring two apps: Delta and the clipboard manager Clip. Unlike Apple’s App Store, AltStore allows any developer to self-publish their apps.
Previously, AltStore PAL required users to pay a €1.50 annual subscription fee to cover the costs of Apple’s Core Technology Fee. However, with the support of Epic Games’ MegaGrant, AltStore PAL has dropped this subscription, making the app store entirely free for users.
Epic Games introduced the MegaGrant program in 2019, offering financial support from a $100 million fund to game developers, creators, and tool developers working with Unreal Engine or contributing to open-source projects. The grants range from $5,000 to $500,000, though Epic has not disclosed the specific amount awarded to AltStore PAL.
Epic Games has a history of challenging Apple’s App Store practices, notably suing Apple over antitrust concerns. Although Apple mostly prevailed in that case, the court ruled that developers should be allowed to direct users to their own payment systems, albeit with a slightly reduced commission of 27%. Epic has also been vocal about Apple’s DMA compliance plan, which introduced new developer fees, including the Core Technology Fee now covered by Epic’s MegaGrant for AltStore PAL.
For users who had previously subscribed, AltStore PAL has confirmed they will not be charged for renewals, making this alternative app store an even more appealing option for EU users.
