You’ve probably seen the ads or heard the rumors. Maybe you’re a long-time Kindle user or someone who loves those "Free App of the Day" deals Amazon used to run. You go to your iPhone, type in "Amazon Appstore," and you’re met with a screen full of apps that aren't actually an app store.
It’s confusing. Honestly, it's kinda frustrating.
Most people assume that because Amazon is a titan of tech, they must have a dedicated storefront on the iPhone just like they do on Android or their Fire tablets. But the reality is a messy mix of Apple’s "walled garden" policies, international law, and a surprising retreat by Amazon itself. If you're looking for the Amazon Appstore for iPhone, here is exactly what is happening in 2026 and why you probably can’t find the "Install" button you’re looking for.
The Big Letdown: It’s Not Actually an App Store
Let’s get the most important fact out of the way immediately. There is no official "Amazon Appstore" app for the iPhone that works like the one on Android.
If you search the iOS App Store right now, you’ll find the Amazon Shopping app. You’ll find Amazon Music, Kindle, and Alexa. But you won’t find a storefront that lets you download other games and apps.
Why? Because for over a decade, Apple’s rules effectively banned other app stores from living inside their App Store. While those rules have started to crack recently, Amazon hasn’t jumped through the hoops required to make a dedicated iOS marketplace a reality for everyone. In fact, while the tech world was waiting for Amazon to challenge Apple, Amazon was actually busy scaling back.
In August 2025, Amazon officially shut down its Appstore for third-party Android devices. They decided to focus exclusively on their own hardware—Fire TVs and Fire Tablets. This was a massive pivot. If Amazon isn't even supporting general Android phones anymore, the chances of them launching a massive, high-effort Amazon Appstore for iPhone globally have dropped significantly.
The EU Loophole (The Only Way it Actually Works)
If you’re reading this in Paris, Berlin, or Madrid, your situation is different. Thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple was forced to allow "alternative app marketplaces" on the iPhone.
This means that in the EU, companies can theoretically launch their own stores. We’ve seen Epic Games and AltStore take advantage of this. However, as of early 2026, Amazon has remained surprisingly quiet about bringing a full marketplace to EU iPhones.
- The Technical Barrier: Apple still requires a "Core Technology Fee" (or the newer Core Technology Commission) for apps downloaded through alternative stores.
- The User Experience: Installing an alternative store in the EU isn't a one-click process. It involves several "Are you sure?" warnings from iOS that scare off casual users.
- The Incentive: Without a massive library of exclusive games, Amazon doesn't have a huge reason to fight this uphill battle on the iPhone right now.
How to "Get" Amazon Apps on Your iPhone Today
Since you can't get the store, you have to get the services. This is where most people get tripped up. You don't need an Amazon Appstore for iPhone to access your Amazon digital life. You just have to download the individual apps from Apple’s store.
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- For Reading: Download the Kindle app. You can’t buy books inside the app (to avoid Apple's 30% cut), but you can buy them on Safari and they’ll pop up in your library.
- For Shopping: The standard Amazon app is your hub.
- For Gaming: This is the big gap. If you’re looking for those Android-specific games or the "Amazon Coins" discounts, you’re basically out of luck on iOS.
- For Kids: Amazon Kids+ has a dedicated iOS app, but it’s a curated experience, not a full-blown store.
Why Does This Matter?
Competition is usually good for us. On Android, the Amazon Appstore was the only place to get certain apps for free or use Amazon Coins to save 20% on in-game purchases. iPhone users have always paid the "Apple Tax"—that fixed price set by the iOS ecosystem.
The lack of an Amazon Appstore for iPhone means we stay locked into Apple’s pricing. While some US legislators have introduced bills like the "App Store Freedom Act" to mimic the EU’s laws, progress is slow. For now, the iPhone remains a closed loop in the United States and most of the world.
What’s Next for Amazon and iOS?
The dream of a unified Amazon experience on the iPhone is currently on life support. With Amazon killing its Android phone support in late 2025, it’s clear they want to be a hardware company (Fire) and a service company (Prime Video, Music), not a middleman for other people's apps.
If you really need the Amazon Appstore experience, you basically have to buy a $60 Fire Tablet. It’s cheap, it’s built for the Amazon ecosystem, and it’s the only place where that storefront is actually thriving.
Actionable Steps for iPhone Users:
Stop searching for a "Store" app. Instead, download the specific Amazon apps (Kindle, Music, Shopping) you need from the Apple App Store. If you’re in the EU, keep an eye on your Settings under "App Installation" to see if Amazon eventually registers a marketplace, but don't hold your breath. For the rest of us, using the web browser (Safari or Chrome) to manage your Amazon digital purchases remains the only way to bypass Apple’s strict ecosystem limitations.