AltStore’s alternative iPhone app store is coming to more countries, marking a major step for independent app distribution on iOS. Developer Riley Testut revealed that AltStore PAL, which first launched in the EU last year, will soon expand to Japan, Brazil, and Australia by the end of 2025, with the UK joining in 2026.
This expansion reflects growing demand for alternatives to Apple’s App Store, especially after EU regulations opened the door for third-party marketplaces. According to Testut, launching in more countries has been “by far our number one request,” though the team is still awaiting Apple’s confirmation on “exact timing.”
AltStore’s Next Big Step: Global Reach
The news that AltStore’s alternative iPhone app store is coming to more countries highlights how the platform is positioning itself as a global hub for open app distribution. With its upcoming rollout in Japan, Brazil, and Australia, AltStore aims to reach millions of new iPhone users seeking flexibility and developer freedom.
The AltStore team’s approach mirrors a growing trend in digital markets — decentralization and user choice. For developers, this expansion could mean a broader audience and fewer platform restrictions.
AltStore Embraces The Fediverse
In addition to its international growth, AltStore is taking a bold step into the fediverse. The platform will adopt the ActivityPub protocol to connect apps, updates, and news alerts with decentralized social networks like Mastodon and Threads.
Here’s how it works: each AltStore source will get its own ActivityPub account, allowing users to follow, like, or reply to app updates directly from platforms across the fediverse. These interactions will appear natively inside AltStore, creating a seamless bridge between app discovery and community engagement.
Imagine commenting on a new app post on Mastodon and then seeing your reply appear instantly within AltStore — that’s the kind of integration Testut envisions.
Collaboration With Mastodon And Bluesky
To make this vision a reality, AltStore is partnering with Mastodon gGmbH to manage a custom Mastodon server (currently in beta). It’s also teaming up with A New Social, a nonprofit group, to support Bluesky integration through Bridgy Fed — a tool that connects different fediverse protocols.
Testut shared that these fediverse-powered features will roll out to AltStore PAL “in the next few months.” Once live, this will make AltStore one of the first app stores to blend app distribution with social interactivity in an open, decentralized way.
Why It Matters
The fact that AltStore’s alternative iPhone app store is coming to more countries signals more than just expansion — it’s part of a wider shift toward app store freedom. Apple’s ecosystem, once tightly closed, is gradually opening under regulatory and consumer pressure.
For users, this means greater choice. For developers, it means new opportunities to publish and promote apps without relying solely on Apple’s strict policies.
With AltStore’s global rollout and fediverse integration on the horizon, 2025 could mark a turning point in how iPhone users discover, discuss, and download apps.
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