AltStore PAL, an Alternative App Store, Joins the Fediverse

AltStore PAL apps are now accessible across Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon. AltStore PAL, an alternative iOS app store available in the EU and Japan, has expanded to the social web. The announcement made on Wednesday states that users on Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky can now interact with apps developers federate on its explore.alt.store website. Any social interactions, like likes, will show up on AltStore PAL. Riley Testut, the creator, shared that users can comment on apps through Mastodon and like updates on Threads, with those interactions also visible in AltStore. Users can now log into AltStore PAL via their Mastodon or Bluesky accounts. Testut mentioned that the main goal is to enhance app discoverability by integrating social sharing. The aim is to eventually integrate apps with native support in ActivityPub and become standard ActivityPub objects. AltStore PAL was launched in the EU in 2024, following Apple’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act, and expanded to Japan. The app store plans to expand to Australia, Brazil, and the UK. New fediverse-friendly apps added include Loops, PeerTube, and iPhanpy, accessible from the redesigned Sources page with curated collections such as “popular,” “indie gems,” and “fediverse favorites.”