Riley Testut 

Yes it’s true, AltStore is joining the Fediverse 🥳

Developers can now federate apps, updates, and news alerts to the open social web via our custom Mastodon server, and all likes, boosts, and comments will appear natively in AltStore.

We plan to release this officially soon — but you can check out a beta version TODAY at https://explore.alt.store and start following accounts like @utm!

RE: https://fosstodon.org/@altstore/115333241366044607

AltStore

The social network of the future: No ads, no corporate surveillance, ethical design, and decentralization! Own your data with Mastodon!

Mastodon hosted on alt.store
Oct 7 at 2:01pmIvory for Mac
Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7

That's not all, we'll also be officially launching AltStore PAL in Brazil, Japan, and Australia later this year, with UK to follow in 2026 🌏

This is the first time alternative app marketplaces will be available outside the EU and we are doing everything we can to get ready — stay tuned!

Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7

To get this all done however, we realized we needed more help.

From the beginning it’s been just @shanegill.io and I working on everything thanks to donations to our Patreon, but the truth is we’re starting to reach the limit of what just 2 people can do — and that’s without joining the Fediverse or expanding to new countries.

Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7

So in order to grow the team, I’m thrilled to announce AltStore has received an investment of $6 million USD from @cpaik! Chris was an early investor in Patreon & Twitch, and we’ve been close ever since he sideloaded the manga reader Paperback with AltStore years ago

Additionally, Flipboard CEO @mike will also be joining our Board of Directors! Mike’s experience with Flipboard & @surf will be invaluable as we expand to the Fediverse, and I couldn’t be happier to have both him + Chris on board

Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7

While this solves our problems, we are far from the only Fediverse project that could use some funding and we want to support the growth of the entire ecosystem.

So to give back to the open social web, we’re also donating $500,000 total to these incredible Fediverse-related projects 🎉

@Mastodon
@ivory
Tapestry by @Iconfactory
@mstdn
@bsky.brid.gy
@peertube
@bookwyrm
@akkoma
@fedify

The Fediverse as we know it would not exist without them, so please check them out!

Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7

Between expanding worldwide and adding Fediverse integration, the next year will be an incredibly exciting time for AltStore! Alternative app marketplaces are needed more than ever now, and we’ll continue to do our best to open up the iOS app ecosystem as much as possible.

For much more information about all these announcements, check out the full blog post here: https://rileytestut.com/blog/2025/10/07/evolving-altstore-pal/

Evolving AltStore PAL

In April of last year, we launched AltStore PAL in the European Union as one of the first official alternative app marketplaces on iOS thanks to the Digital Markets Act. We launched with just 2 apps — my Nintendo emulator Delta and clipboard manager Clip — yet Apple immediately changed their App Store rules to allow emulators worldwide for the first time ever.

Riley Testut
Show threadMarci McCueOct 7
@rileytestut this is significant news for the entire community/fediverse and can unlock a whole new class of fediverse innovation. Amazing and congratulations!!
Show threadCasey LissOct 7
@rileytestut Jesus fuck, Riley. This is incredible! Congratulations. You've earned it many times over.
Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7
@caseyliss thanks Casey! Really means a lot 😊
Show threadAdam Bell Oct 7
@rileytestut wow that’s epic! Congrats @rileytestut and @shanegill.io !!
Show threaddansupOct 7
@rileytestut This is amazing, kudos 🥳
Show threadArnel Šarić Sharan Oct 7
@rileytestut
I don't have iPhone, but this is amazing step forward.
Show threadAlexandre ColucciOct 8
@rileytestut Awesome, congrats 👏
Show threadJoachim BondoOct 10
@rileytestut Congratulations guys! 👏❣️
Show threadThe Pink FuryOct 7
@rileytestut @Mastodon @ivory @tapestry @mstdn @bsky.brid.gy @peertube @bookwyrm @akkoma @fedify would you (all) be happy with us sharing this on @time_for_kindness - it's a great example of kindness in community.
Show threadSven A. SchmidtOct 7
@rileytestut That is amazing! I love that you’re embracing the Fediverse and that you’re supporting these essential apps and services ❤️
Show threadPatrick $8 Oct 7
@rileytestut what did he get in exchange for the $6,000,000?
Show threadColin DevroeOct 7
@rileytestut @mike 🙌
Show threadNeoNachoOct 7
@rileytestut Congrats! 🍾
Show threadAmro MousaOct 7
@rileytestut @cpaik @mike @surf Congrats Riley!
Show threadLeonardo Matheus Oct 7
@rileytestut anxiously waiting for the launch in Brazil! Glad to hear it should happen soon-ish
Show threadLonelyBobOct 8
@rileytestut launching AltStore in 🇯🇵 in the future 👏 I’ll be glad to use your App Store and support your efforts!
Show threadStuart BarnesOct 9

@rileytestut beyond excited to see this launch in Australia! I didn’t even know that the door had been opened for this, I knew legal stuff was happening, but to launch THIS YEAR was way sooner than I was expecting!

Clips and torrents, here I come!

Show threadBenRiceMOct 7
@rileytestut Exciting stuff!
Show threadMatt ClarkeOct 7
@rileytestut holy hell dude, this is major news! Congrats on the start of scaling up, it’s been a wild ride so far and looking forward to where the AltStore gang go 🚀
Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7
@akamatchstic thanks Matt! Glad you’ve been around to see the whole ride 😄
Show threadColin DevroeOct 7
@rileytestut @utm @altstore 👏
Show threadAnuj AhoojaOct 7
@rileytestut Huge 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 so excited to work with y'all!!
Show threadRiley Testut Oct 7
@quillmatiq stoked to be working with y’all as well 😄
Show threadshadowwwindOct 7
@rileytestut @utm just awesome!
Show threadJosh HrachOct 7
@rileytestut Great idea. Congrats on the updates!
Show threadSascha Foerster Oct 7
@rileytestut @utm @mellifluousbox @altstore Will you bring the removed ICE apps back to iPhones?
Show threadwakest ⁂Oct 8
@Sascha @rileytestut @utm @mellifluousbox @altstore would be interesting to reach out to them directly, that might make some nice publicity if nothing else
Show threadMichael GinsburgOct 10
Any ETA for an Australian launch?