The AltStore PAL app store has become free for users thanks to a grant from Epic Games
Epic Games has supported AltStore PAL developers, who created an alternative app store to the App Store in EU countries. They invested in them as part of the Epic MegaGrants program.
The creators of AltStore PAL stated that they received the grant for "innovations in app distribution." The grant amount has not been disclosed.
The developers plan to use the funds obtained to pay Apple’s Core Technology Fee. This fee amounts to 50 euro cents per month per app download within the EU once downloads exceed one million per year.
GOOD NEWS EU 🇪🇺 For innovation in app distribution, Epic Games has granted us a MegaGrant grant that we plan to use to cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee going forward — and we won’t take it for granted!
What does this mean? AltStore PAL is now FREE — no subscription necessary 🎉 pic.twitter.com/JSJo3FdhBx
— AltStore.io (@altstoreio) August 14, 2024
In light of this, the creators of AltStore PAL have canceled the fee for users accessing the store. Previously, users had to pay 1.5 euros annually — funds that were used to cover Apple’s fee.