Aptoide's independent app store reaches 430 million users and 10 billion downloads
Aptoide reports over 430 million users, 10 billion downloads, and 1 million apps across its independent app store, which operates outside Google Play and Apple's App Store. The Lisbon-based company has expanded to iOS in the EU and charges a lower commission than Apple. Its revenue grew 75% year-over-year in 2023, and it has received funding from Digital Turbine.
Aptoide's trajectory spans more than a decade and a half, with its first public release in November 2009. It secured seed funding from Portugal Ventures in 2013 and a €3.7 million Series A led by e.ventures in 2015. Its 2014 antitrust complaint against Google preceded the Digital Markets Act by a decade, positioning the store to benefit when EU regulations reshaped mobile marketplace competition.
The iOS expansion introduces a different economic model for developers. Aptoide charges between 10 and 20 percent commission depending on whether the marketplace generated the purchase, compared with Apple's 30 percent rate. The company also absorbs Apple's Core Technology Fee rather than passing it to users, reducing cost burdens for developers.
Aptoide's growth could signal a gradual shift in how mobile apps reach consumers, particularly in the EU where regulatory pressure has opened doors for alternative marketplaces. Developers may gain more negotiating leverage over commission rates, potentially lowering costs that are often passed to users. Consumers could see more choice and competitive pricing, though the long-term viability of independent stores remains uncertain as platform operators adapt their strategies.