AltStore, one of the first alternative app marketplaces to launch in the European Union, is connecting its platform to the open social web. The company is rolling out a fediverse integration that lets people on apps like Mastodon and Meta’s Threads follow app listings and receive update posts right in their timelines, adding a social discovery layer to how users find and track apps.
To support this push, the startup has raised a $6 million Series A from Pace Capital, which now holds a 15% stake in the company. The funding will help AltStore grow beyond its two co-founders, Riley Testut and Shane Gill, and expand to new regions. Flipboard CEO Mike McCue, a prominent backer of decentralized social networks, has also joined AltStore’s board.
Backed by the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which opened the door to competition in the app store space, AltStore has gained meaningful traction. It started by hosting its own third-party apps led by the popular Delta game emulator, then began welcoming other developers in June 2024. The lineup now includes the virtual machine app UTM—an addition widely seen as helping push Apple to permit virtual machines on its own marketplace. In August of last year, AltStore partnered with Epic Games to bring Fortnite and other titles to AltStore PAL in the EU. The store also moved into adult content with Hot Tub, the first iOS porn app, which quickly became its top performer.
In April, AltStore enabled free self-publishing on AltStore PAL, which accelerated growth. The store now counts more than 100 developers, drawing not only game makers but a broad mix of indies and creators whose apps might not meet Apple’s stricter guidelines, including adult content restrictions. Developers also appreciate flexible monetization options, from traditional subscriptions to user donations that help fund ongoing development.
“We have hundreds of thousands of users,” said co-founder Riley Testut. “Wonderful and good numbers.”
The new fediverse integration is powered by ActivityPub and begins with AltStore launching its own Mastodon server. Developers can opt in to have their app updates automatically published across the fediverse. Users with Mastodon or Threads accounts can follow these sources and see app update posts right in their feeds. The posts are generated from a JSON metadata file that mirrors what’s in AltStore, ensuring updates are timely and consistent. People will be able to reply from their Mastodon accounts, like posts from Threads, and, over time, AltStore plans to bridge to Bluesky using tools from the nonprofit A New Social. This approach also boosts discoverability, since users can browse the server and its hosted accounts to find new apps worth trying.
The funding will also flow back into the open social ecosystem that makes this strategy possible. AltStore is committing $500,000 to fediverse projects, including $300,000 to Mastodon gGmbH. Additional contributions support Bridgy Fed by A New Social, Ivory + Phoenix by Tapbots, Tapestry by The Iconfactory, mstdn.social, Akkoma, PeerTube, BookWyrm, and Fedify.
With fresh capital, a growing developer base, and a social-first distribution model, AltStore is positioning itself as a global challenger to traditional app stores. The team plans to expand its storefront to Australia, Brazil, and Japan this year, as more regions adopt competition-friendly laws. For users, that means more choice and better ways to discover what’s new. For developers, it’s a path to publish on their own terms—and reach audiences where they already spend their time.
