Onside.io
 | |
| Company type | Private (B.V.) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software; Mobile application distribution |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Founder | Alexander Baksheev |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Area served | European Economic Area (EEA) |
Key people | Alexander Baksheev (CEO); John Snoek (COO) |
| Products | iOS Alternative App Store |
| Website | onside |
Onside.io is a Dutch technology company that operates an alternative iOS app store within the European Economic Area. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the company emerged in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA),[1] which requires designated “gatekeeper” platforms such as Apple to allow third-party app stores and payment systems on iOS devices.[2]
Onside acts as a two-sided platform: it provides developers with the infrastructure needed to publish applications outside the Apple App Store, and it offers users a compliant method to discover and install apps through independent distribution channels.
History
Onside.io B.V. was incorporated in Amsterdam in 2024.[3] The company was established shortly after the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act, which introduced regulatory requirements compelling Apple to enable third-party app distribution across iOS in the EEA.
Following the entry into force of the DMA, Onside began developing a marketplace and developer console that supports metadata synchronization from App Store Connect, notarization workflows, application signing, and installation analytics. The company also introduced a proprietary payment SDK that enables in-app purchases and subscriptions outside Apple’s billing system.[4][5]
Partnerships
In late 2025, Onside entered a partnership with HTML5 game publisher Playgama to support the distribution of browser-based games on iOS devices using third-party installation flows. Media outlets reported that the collaboration aimed to reach over 300 million users across various markets and was among the first large-scale implementations of non-App-Store game distribution on iOS.[6][7]
Platform and technology
Onside provides infrastructure aligned with Apple's DMA-related entitlements, including support for Web Distribution, third-party app notarization, install reporting, and automated compliance with Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF). The platform does not require device jailbreaking and relies exclusively on APIs released by Apple for developers within the EEA after 2024.
The system includes GDPR-compliant workflows, payment processing via Onside’s SDK, and developer tools for publishing, updating, and monitoring applications.
Corporate affairs
Onside.io is registered as a private limited company (B.V.) in the Netherlands. The company is led by CEO Alexander Baksheev and COO John Snoek.[3]
Reception
Several media outlets have identified Onside as an early example of a third-party iOS app store operating under the DMA framework. The Sociable characterized Onside as a “viable alternative app store” under the new regulatory environment.[8]
EU Reports noted that companies such as Onside illustrate a shift toward competition based on “value and innovation” rather than platform exclusivity.[2]
Novobrief highlighted Onside's partnership with Playgama as evidence of how third-party distribution channels are beginning to influence the mobile gaming sector in Europe.[9]
In January 2026, Contxto quoted Onside product director Artur Assanskiy discussing expected timelines for iOS alternative distribution and related technical changes.[10]
References
- ^ "About the Digital Markets Act". digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b "Apple's clash with the EU's Digital Markets Act could accelerate the shift to alternative app stores". EU Reports. November 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "Onside.io Company Profile". The Org. November 24, 2025.
- ^ "How to Install Tango on iPhone via the Official Onside Store (EU Users) | Tango Help Center". help.tango.me. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Welcome | Onside SDK | Onside". docs.onside.io. Archived from the original on 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Onside.io and Playgama Partner to Bring 300 Million Web Gamers to iOS Through EU-Compliant Alternative App Store". StartupBeat. 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Alternative app stores are opening up on iOS: Onside and Playgama bring 300 million gamers to Europe's iPhones". MSN. October 24, 2025.
- ^ "Alternative App Stores Are Opening Up on iOS—Onside and Playgama Bring 300 Million Gamers to Europe's iPhones". The Sociable. November 2, 2025.
- ^ "Playgama and Onside show how open distribution is changing mobile gaming in Europe". NovoBrief. November 3, 2025.
- ^ Cartagena, Stiven (2026-01-28). "The opening of the App Store in European markets sets a precedent for Latin America". Retrieved 2026-02-06.