The Hot Tub adult content browser is launching on AltStore PAL today.
Apple’s famously strict stance on adult content is facing a major shake-up in Europe. The first “Apple-approved” porn app for iPhone is officially rolling out—though not through the traditional App Store. Instead, the app, called Hot Tub, is launching via AltStore PAL, an alternative iOS app marketplace that operates under new European regulations.
A Game-Changer for iPhone Users in the EU
The app’s arrival marks a historic moment for Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem. For years, the tech giant has explicitly banned “overtly sexual or pornographic material” from its App Store, enforcing stringent content policies that left no room for adult-oriented applications. This position was famously reinforced by Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs, who once stated that the company had a “moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone.” His advice for those seeking explicit content? “Buy an Android phone.”
But times are changing. Thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has been compelled to open its platform to alternative app marketplaces. This legislative shift allows iPhone users within the EU to install apps outside of Apple’s curated ecosystem—paving the way for Hot Tub and other apps that would never see the light of day in the official App Store.
What Is Hot Tub?
Hot Tub describes itself as an ad-free “adult content browser,” providing users with a seamless experience to access and consume explicit content without intrusive advertisements or tracking. While the specifics of its features remain under wraps, its approval through Apple’s notarization process—meant to screen for fraud, security risks, and functional stability—signals that the app meets Apple’s technical and security standards, even if it wouldn’t be welcome on the App Store itself.
The app is available starting today for AltStore PAL users in the EU, marking a major win for developers seeking to operate outside of Apple’s strict content moderation policies.
AltStore PAL: The Rebel Marketplace
AltStore PAL, launched in April 2024, was among the first alternative app stores to emerge under the new DMA framework. Created by developer Riley Testut, the marketplace has quickly gained traction for hosting software that Apple traditionally rejects—game emulators, torrenting apps, and even Fortnite, which was famously removed from the App Store due to Epic Games’ legal battle with Apple.
With Hot Tub, AltStore PAL is further pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on iOS devices, offering users content choices that were once unthinkable under Apple’s walled garden.
A Stand Against Censorship and Discrimination
Beyond merely enabling explicit content, AltStore PAL is making a broader statement about digital freedom and inclusivity. In conjunction with the Hot Tub launch, the platform has pledged to donate all of its Patreon earnings for February to organizations supporting sex workers and LGBTQ+ communities.
“We feel this is necessary to fight back against recent harmful policies by politicians, Meta, and others,” Testut told The Verge. His mention of Meta likely references changes to the company’s Hateful Conduct policies in the U.S., which have been criticized for rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, women, immigrants, and other marginalized communities across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
What This Means for the Future of iOS Apps
The arrival of Hot Tub and the growing influence of alternative app stores signal a transformative moment for Apple’s ecosystem—at least in Europe. With the DMA forcing Apple to loosen its grip, iPhone users are seeing unprecedented levels of choice, including access to content and services that were previously restricted.
This raises bigger questions: Will Apple eventually be forced to implement similar changes globally? Will alternative marketplaces like AltStore PAL reshape the app economy? And how will Apple respond to the growing demand for content that falls outside its historically conservative guidelines?
For now, European iPhone users are experiencing a new era of digital freedom—one where even Steve Jobs’ long-standing ban on adult content is no longer absolute.
