Imagine a free and open source software (FOSS) developer seeking to distribute an application on Apple’s iOS or iPadOS. The developer aims to have the software curated within a non‑profit, free software‑oriented repository, similar to F‑Droid on Android. This matters not only for the developer but also for users who want to avoid a distribution model where Apple controls how software is made available.

This is, indeed, only an imaginary scenario, since this isn’t possible on iOS or iPadOS. Apple offers no option for a non-profit or community-driven FOSS app store. The company actively blocks such initiatives through steep financial requirements and tight restrictions, preventing users from freely installing software. This issue was discussed during the 2024 Article 19 Digital Markets Act (DMA) Enforcement Symposium and even led to a formal complaint submitted by civil society groups in 2025.