EU Opens Doors to Alternative App Stores — PWAs Rise as a Real Threat to Native Apps
The app world is undergoing a quiet revolution. Under pressure from regulatory shifts, especially the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), tech giants are opening up their platforms like never before.
Major smartphone platforms including Apple and Android are now allowing alternative app stores and third-party payment systems across the European Union, giving developers and consumers more freedom and flexibility than ever before.
This move is reshaping the app economy, reducing gatekeeper control, and offering better revenue options for developers.
🌐 PWAs Gaining Power
Simultaneously, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are emerging as a powerful alternative to native apps. With new browser APIs, PWAs can now:
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Send push notifications
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Work offline
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Access device hardware (like cameras and file systems)
As these capabilities grow, more companies are turning to PWAs to bypass app store restrictions entirely especially in regions with tight platform regulations.
💡 What This Means
Whether it’s sideloaded app stores or browser-based apps, the mobile app ecosystem is fragmenting and becoming more open. This shift is giving users more choice, developers more control, and regulators more influence.
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