AltStore is a technology company.
AltStore has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round.
AltStore has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
AltStore is an open-source alternative app store for iOS and iPadOS, enabling users to sideload and discover apps unavailable on Apple's App Store, such as emulators, tweaked apps, and indie titles.[1][3] It serves iOS users seeking more app options and independent developers facing Apple's restrictions, solving sideloading limitations and App Review hurdles through a decentralized, security-focused platform.[1][4] Growth has accelerated post-EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), with AltStore PAL launching as an official third-party marketplace, raising $6M in funding, onboarding over 100 developers, and reaching hundreds of thousands of users.[2][5]
AltStore was founded by Riley Testut, an American developer, in 2019 after Apple rejected his Nintendo emulator app Delta from the App Store.[3][4] Testut leveraged an Xcode loophole allowing temporary sideloading of developer apps (7 days free, 1 year paid), extending this to other .ipa files to create a persistent sideloading solution.[3] Shane Gill later joined as co-founder; initially Patreon-funded with 1.5 million downloads by 2022, it gained traction via community support and EU regulatory changes enabling broader distribution, including partnerships like Epic Games for Fortnite.[2][3]
AltStore rides the antitrust wave against Apple's App Store monopoly, amplified by the EU's DMA forcing sideloading and third-party stores since 2024.[2][5] Timing aligns with global scrutiny (e.g., Epic Games partnership), enabling apps like emulators (Delta, UTM) and games that evade Apple's guidelines.[2][3] Market forces favoring decentralization and indie creators boost it, influencing the ecosystem by pressuring Apple to allow virtual machines and adult apps while building a fediverse-connected community for sustainable, user-empowered distribution.[2][4]
AltStore's $6M raise and developer growth position it to expand beyond EU borders if U.S./global regulations follow DMA, potentially onboarding more indies via Patreon and fediverse tools.[2] Trends like decentralized app stores and anti-gatekeeping sentiment will shape its path, evolving influence from sideloading niche to mainstream alternative with hundreds of thousands of users challenging Apple's dominance.[2][3] As the pioneer enabling Delta-like innovations, AltStore empowers users and creators in a post-monopoly iOS world.[1][5]
AltStore has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
AltStore's investors include Bungalow Capital, Pace Capital.
AltStore has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Series A in October 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 | $6.0M Series A | Bungalow Capital, Pace Capital |