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Based in Los Angeles, California, AltStore is an open source alternative app marketplace for iOS and iPadOS devices that enables users to sideload applications restricted from Apple's official App Store. The platform operates with a small team of two core developers and currently serves hundreds of thousands of active users, accumulating over 1.5 million total software downloads since its inception. Historically funded through Patreon subscriptions, the company recently secured $6 million in Series A funding led by Pace Capital to expand its global operations into new international markets. AltStore distributes independent software such as the popular Delta emulator and recently launched AltStore PAL in the European Union, supported by a financial MegaGrant from Epic Games to cover Apple's Core Technology fees. The organization was originally founded in 2019 by software developers Riley Testut and Shane Gill.
AltStore has raised $6.0M across 1 funding round.
AltStore has raised $6.0M in total across 1 funding round.
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 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 | $6M Series A | Pace Capital | Bungalow Capital | Announced |
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 Pace Capital, Bungalow Capital.
