Ukraine-based MacPaw will shut down its Setapp Mobile alternative iOS app store in the EU on February 16, 2026. The service, which launched in beta in September 2024, cited Apple's "still-evolving and complex business terms" as incompatible with its model. Users are advised to back up data before apps are removed.

The closure highlights the tough reality for third-party app marketplaces following the EU's Digital Markets Act. Apple's Core Technology Fee and distribution rules have been criticized by developers as prohibitive. While the Epic Games Store remains active, its CEO has called the fee "ruinous" for long-term competition, suggesting Setapp may be the first major casualty.

MacPaw's separate subscription-based Mac app store will continue unaffected. The move underscores the challenges of challenging Apple's App Store ecosystem, even under regulatory pressure. Watch for whether the European Union further pressures Apple to adjust terms, or if other alternative stores follow Setapp's lead in abandoning the iOS market.