It’s been over a year since EU regulations allowed iOS developers to use browser engines other than Apple’s WebKit. So, where are the promised alternatives from Google, Mozilla, and others?
The Open Web Advocacy (OWA) group claims Apple is erecting significant technical and financial barriers, effectively preventing competition. These obstacles include a lack of adequate testing tools outside the US, unfavorable legal terms, and a requirement that developers create entirely new apps for EU users, rather than simply updating their existing browsers. This forces developers to start from scratch in terms of user acquisition and maintain two separate browser versions, a costly and inefficient process.
Mozilla expressed its disappointment last year, calling Apple’s restrictions a heavy burden on independent browser providers. A spokesperson stated that Apple’s actions prevent true browser competition on iOS by making it exceedingly difficult for rivals to offer viable alternatives to Safari.
While Apple introduced support for non-WebKit browsers in iOS 17.4 to comply with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), OWA argues this compliance is superficial. They contend that Apple’s restrictions prevent true competition, which is essential to maintaining Apple’s lucrative revenue stream from Safari’s search engine revenue—estimated at $20 billion annually and a substantial portion of Apple’s operating profit. Losing even a small percentage of Safari’s market share could cost Apple hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
This isn’t just an EU issue. UK regulators are also investigating Apple for hindering mobile browser innovation, putting further pressure on the tech giant to allow alternative browser engines.
The situation highlights a larger tension between Apple’s control over its ecosystem and the desire for greater competition and consumer choice in the mobile browser market. The lack of WebKit-less browsers on iOS, despite regulatory changes, raises serious questions about Apple’s commitment to open standards and fair competition.
