Apple Will Let iOS Users in the EU to Download Apps Directly From Websites

After iOS 17.4 recently allowed alternative app stores in the EU, Apple announced today that will soon offer more app distribution options for developers. That will include allowing iOS users in the EU to download apps directly from a developer’s website.

“Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website owned by the developer. Apple will provide authorized developers access to APIs that facilitate the distribution of their apps from the web, integrate with system functionality, back up and restore users’ apps, and more,” the company explained today.

On its developer website, Apple shared more details about the requirements for this new Web Distribution option in the EU. Notably, iOS apps distributed directly from a website will need to meet the same “Notarization” requirements that will also apply to apps distributed through alternative app stores in the EU. Moreover, users will need to approve a developer in the iOS Settings app before they can download an app from them.

Developers will need to be enrolled in the Apple Developer program to be able to distribute their iOS apps directly from their website. They will also need to pay the controversial €0.50 “Core Technology Fee” for each first annual install after an app crossed one million installs the past 12 months. Lastly, developers will need to be able to provide customer support and refunds to users.

As usual with Apple, this new option to distribute apps directly from a website comes with a lot of asterisks. However, this still seems to be a step in the right direction, and Apple announced two other changes regarding the distribution of iOS apps in the EU today.

For developers who agreed to Apple’s new App Store policies in the EU, Apple is now allowing them to design themselves the page that will redirect users to an external website to complete a digital transaction. Until now, developers were forced to use an Apple-designed template, which will remain available as an option.

Lastly, Apple will allow companies launching alternative iOS app stores in the EU to only distribute their own apps. For example, that means that the upcoming Epic Games Store on iOS may only include Fortnite and other apps from Epic, but no third-party apps.