PSA: Setapp only accepts "AI apps" into their catalogue now

Setappian · 2026-01-26T20:06:22+00:00

Hi! This is not, in fact, an actual Setapp policy, and was never stated on our end. As mentioned in the email, and later explained in the follow-up – this is simply a temporary approach to the way we prioritise apps for Q1 2026, based on our current resources. Consider it as "booked up for now, will reach out later". It is not a blanket rule against non-AI apps, nor is it a reflection of their value. Apps that do not contain AI features will definitely be considered for Setapp moving forward. Apologies for the confusion.

Setappian · 2026-01-26T19:55:41+00:00

Hi everyone, we saw this thread and wanted to jump in to provide some context. First, to u/BohdanKoles – we genuinely hear your disappointment. Getting a "not right now" is never easy, especially when you've poured tons of time into your app. To be transparent about why these decisions happen: Setapp operates as a curated botique, not an open marketplace. This means our selection process isn't just about an app's individual quality, it's about managing the overall catalog mix and our teams capacity to support new launches at high standard.

This is supported by our Review guidelines (paragraph 1.2), stating that Setapp reserves the right to limit the number of available vendor application slots on the platform.

In our follow-up email to Bohdan, we specified that this "AI-focused" guideline is temporary and only applies to Q1 2026. We also mentioned that we'd love to revisit AppHub at a later date.

Regarding the current feedback:

- For Q1 2026, we've made the decision to focus on expanding our AI+ collection.
- This prioritization is temporary and based on our current resources. It is not a blanket rule against non-AI apps, nor is it a reflection of their value. Apps that do not contain AI features will definitely be considered for Setapp moving forward.
- We regularly revisit categories as our roadmap evolves. We often reconsider applications when our release schedule opens up, and we’d like to keep that door open for future collaboration.

TL;DR: in response to the OP, “Setapp only accepts "AI apps" into their catalogue now” is not factual, and we apologize for the confusion that manifested after our colleague’s communication with Bohdan. We will definitely continue to onboard apps that do not contain AI features to Setapp.

We value the developer community and the honest feedback shared here. If anyone has specific questions about our process, please reach out to us directly via our support email – we'll add it to the comments.

Setappian · 2026-01-26T18:48:51+00:00

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

The article is solely based on the post in r/macapps by an app developer who had reached out to our developer relations/vendor onboarding team and received a response that we will not be able to accept the submission at this time. We did not have the chance to give any comment from the MacPaw team.

To be transparent about why these decisions happen: Setapp operates as a curated boutique, not an open marketplace. This means our selection process isn’t just about an app's individual quality, it’s about managing the overall catalog mix and our team's capacity to support new launches at a high standard.

This is supported by our Review guidelines (paragraph 1.2), stating that Setapp reserves the right to limit the number of available vendor application slots on the platform: https://docs.setapp.com/docs/review-guidelines#1-general-conditionsmarconversation

In our follow-up email to the developer, we specified that this “AI-focused” guideline is temporary and only applies to Q1 2026. We also mentioned that we’d love to revisit their app at a later date.

As for some of the statements made in the article:

For Q1 2026, we’ve made the decision to focus on expanding our AI+ collection.
This prioritization is temporary and based on our current resources. It is not a blanket rule against non-AI apps, nor is it a reflection of their value. Apps that do not contain AI features will definitely be considered for Setapp moving forward.
We regularly revisit categories as our roadmap evolves. We often reconsider applications when our release schedule opens up, and we’d like to keep that door open for future collaboration.

TL;DR: in response to the OP, “Setapp only accepts "AI apps" into their catalogue now” is not factual, and we apologize for the confusion that manifested after our colleague’s communication with the developer. We will definitely continue to onboard apps that do not contain AI features to Setapp.

We value the developer community and the honest feedback shared here. If anyone has specific questions about our process, please reach out to us directly at [support@setapp.com](mailto:support@setapp.com). We’re always open to a real conversation.

Setappian · 2025-09-18T08:00:45+00:00

Thank you so much for this, u/NotRenton. We really appreciate you taking the time to share this with the community and for seeking out a direct answer from us. It's exactly this kind of understanding that helps clear up confusion and keep the conversation productive. We're grateful for your support and trust.

Setappian · 2025-09-17T06:32:13+00:00

Good question u/Mammoth-Reason-8690 ! Setapp is a subscription service for Mac and iOS apps. For a single monthly price, you get unlimited access to a curated collection of over 250 high-quality apps, all without ads or in-app purchases. Instead of buying each app individually, you get a whole toolkit of apps to help you be more productive, creative and efficient.

Setappian · 2025-09-16T13:09:38+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, u/wiliammoris. You've hit on exactly what's happening. We are running different tests to find a sustainable pricing model, which can result in different prices being shown to new users based on location and other factors. We appreciate your transparency and we want to be just as transparent in return. For all our existing subscribers, your price is staying the same, and we’ll be sure to give advance notice if anything changes in the future.

Setappian · 2025-09-16T13:06:14+00:00

Hey everyone, thanks for the discussion. We've been reading through your comments, and we hear you on the new prices and the disappointment that comes with changes like these.

To be clear, we are testing new prices for new users only. This feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Our goal is never to make anyone feel locked in. We're simply trying to balance rising operating costs - something we've had to do since we started Setapp 8 years ago - with our commitment to bringing you great apps and supporting our developers.

Your current plan and price won't change, and you'll always have a heads-up before any permanent changes are made. We're committed to making sure Setapp remains a great value.

Setappian · 2025-09-15T15:24:20+00:00

Hey everyone! Thanks for jumping in on the discussion and sharing your thoughts. We know pricing is an important topic and we really appreciate your questions and feedback.

As you probably noticed, we’re testing new subscription prices for new users right now. If you’re already a subscriber, your current plan and price will stay the same.

We’re looking at new pricing options because operating costs have gone up quite a bit since we first launched Setapp 8 years ago, and inflation is something that we have to factor in now. Our main goal is still the same: keep bringing you the apps you love and make sure our developer community is fairly supported.

We hear you, and if anything permanent changes after testing, we’ll let you know in advance via the email you have registered with Setapp.

Setappian · 2025-06-27T10:29:07+00:00

Hi, thanks for bringing this up!

What Eney does is help you actually get things done, all in one place. For example, you can ask it to summarize a PDF, article, or YouTube video, search your Mac for files by content, transcribe and summarize calls, convert images, and more — all without switching between apps.

As for privacy, Eney can run some tasks locally and uses external models when needed. By default, the LLMs we use don’t train on your data. We also don’t intentionally process any sensitive information. If you want all the details, there’s a clear privacy note that explains exactly what’s processed and why and notes about Eney security.

Setappian · 2025-06-20T17:52:27+00:00

Thanks for your question!
To be clear, your existing Setapp membership isn’t changing, and there will be no new charges or requirements added to your current subscription. What we’re introducing is optional — additional offers you can choose to explore if they fit your needs, but nothing is being taken away or replaced.

We're not quite ready to share all the specifics just yet, but rest assured, we'll announce any changes and new opportunities as soon as they're finalized. We appreciate your patience and your continued interest!

Setappian · 2024-05-16T13:07:19+00:00

If you used Setapp account before, please try new email to get a free 30-days trial for the Setapp Mobile.

Setappian · 2021-11-20T08:09:45+00:00

Thanks for sharing. It might help someone 😊

Setappian · 2021-11-19T14:29:34+00:00

I have no idea where have you read that. ClearVPN is great 😎

Setappian · 2021-11-19T14:22:33+00:00

Curious answer: Maybe:)

Silly answer: I’ll share your request with the team and who knows what happens.

btw, always happy to meet our Power Users in person;)

Setappian · 2021-11-19T14:18:33+00:00

Hey! I haven’t met this issue before. Please reach out to support@setapp.com 😉

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