AltStore PAL, an alternative app store for iOS made possible by new regulations in markets like the EU and Japan, is expanding its platform by integrating with the open social web.
The company announced support for the fediverse, a decentralized social network powered by the ActivityPub protocol that runs services such as Mastodon, Flipboard, PeerTube, and Threads. The move effectively turns AltStore PAL into the first federated app marketplace, allowing developers and users to interact across decentralized social platforms.
In the fediverse ecosystem, users join independent servers that connect with each other, allowing people to communicate and respond to posts across different networks. By launching its own Mastodon server, AltStore PAL aims to give developers a new way to share updates about their apps.
Instead of relying only on traditional app store notifications, developers can publish updates through the fediverse. These posts can then be seen, liked, and shared by users across platforms such as Mastodon, Instagram’s Threads, and even Bluesky — provided Bluesky accounts are bridged to the fediverse.
AltStore PAL co-founder Riley Testut previously explained the idea when the company teased its plans while announcing its $6 million Series A funding round.
“If you have a Mastodon account or Threads account, you could follow these accounts. You could follow the source from our Mastodon server, and then in your timeline you would see when there was an app update,” Testut explained.
Users will also be able to interact with these posts inside the AltStore PAL app. By signing in with Mastodon or Bluesky accounts, users can like app updates, follow developers, and receive alerts directly within the marketplace.
At launch, several apps are already participating in the federated ecosystem, including Loops, a decentralized short-form video platform; PeerTube, a federated video sharing service similar to YouTube; and iPhanpy, a Mastodon client built by indie developer Matt Fantinel.
Some larger apps are expected to join the marketplace later. However, many developers are waiting for Apple to finalize changes to its commission structure in the EU. Apple recently decided to replace its Core Technology Fee with a new Core Technology Commission after regulatory pushback, as previously reported here.
Users interested in exploring the social side of the marketplace can visit AltStore PAL’s Mastodon server at https://fosstodon.org/@altstore.
Meanwhile, apps and developer posts can be discovered on the platform’s Explore page at https://explore.alt.store/public/local.
Alongside the fediverse integration, AltStore PAL has also introduced a refreshed interface with an iOS 26 “Liquid Glass” design and a redesigned app icon.