Apple has officially enabled third-party app stores on iPhones in the European Union (EU) with the release of iOS 17.4, marking a significant shift in its longstanding App Store policies . This change complies with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to promote competition in digital markets .
In the United States, Apple is facing increasing pressure to adopt similar measures. A recent court ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case found that Apple violated an existing antitrust injunction by restricting developers from directing users to alternative payment methods . The judge ordered Apple to cease such practices, and Apple has updated its App Store Guidelines to permit external payment options within apps .
Additionally, U.S. lawmakers have introduced the “App Store Freedom Act,” which would require Apple and other tech companies to allow third-party app stores and prevent them from mandating the use of their own in-app payment systems . If passed, this legislation could compel Apple to open its iOS ecosystem in the U.S., similar to the changes implemented in the EU.
While Apple has not officially announced plans to allow third-party app stores on iPhones outside the EU, the combination of legal rulings and proposed legislation indicates that such changes may be forthcoming in other regions, including the United States.
