Developers can release apps on Altstore PAL using Patreon, and the platform will not charge commissions for donations made through it.
Altstore PAL launched in Europe With an Annual Subscription, offers Nintendo emulator. As the first third-party iPhone app store or alternative app marketplace, as Apple refers to it, Altstore PAL debuted in Europe on Wednesday. After updating to iOS 17.4, users in Europe can now install Altstore PAL to access apps that are not available through the official App Store. But to access the first third-party app store to open in the area, users will need to pay a small yearly fee due to Apple’s mandated Core Technology Fee (CTF).
In a blog post, developer Riley Testut provided information about the Altstore PAL app marketplace, mentioning that two apps are available for download: Clip, a clipboard manager, and Delta, a Nintendo emulator. The creator states that the latter will demand a minimum payment of EUR 1 (about Rs. 90) or more, while the former will be available for free download via Altstore PAL.
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The new Altstore PAL will allow developers to distribute programs with Patreon by setting a minimum pledge amount that unlocks access to an app. It will also remove Apple’s content restrictions, which prevent you from downloading torrent clients or using the Apple App Store on iOS. According to Testut, developers can use the Patreon income to pay Apple’s CTF fee, which becomes due after one million downloads, and the platform will not charge commissions on donations made through the platform.
EU users will need to update their iPhones to iOS 17.4 to install Altstore PAL. They will also need to pay EUR 1.50 (about Rs. 135) annually for an annual subscription that enables the project to pay Apple’s CTF, according to Testut. Users can use a computer to sideload programs (using the original Altstore app) and refresh them every seven days. This is an option for both non-EU users and those who don’t want to pay the annual charge.
In contrast to users, developers can host their programs on Altstore PAL for free, and Patreon payments are free of charge. According to Testut, the “alternative distribution packet” (ADP) needs to be published to the developer’s server after Apple has notarized an app. For users to include the same source in the Altstore PAL app and start downloading and updating it, they must next develop and upload a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file containing metadata about the program.