Brave records 37.5% more downloads in the EU as Apple complies with DMA

As the deadline for DMA (Digital Markets Act) compliance ended on March 6, 2024, Apple rolled out a series of last-minute changes in the EU, including the ability to switch the default browser from Safari. As it turns out, many have taken the route, and Brave reported a massive increase in installs.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Brave browser’s official handle shared a graph depicting the increase in the number of downloads on iPhones (iOS) in the EU.

Between March 6 and March 9, the number of downloads increased by around 3,000 or approximately 37.5%. If we compare the numbers from January, the increase is as high as 57%.

It was after Apple, following the release of iOS 17.4, gave users in the EU the option to choose a default browser. This was presented when they launched Safari for the first time, and the list included the popular and most downloaded options from the App Store, including Edge, Opera, and Onion Browser.

This gives us a fair idea of how companies like Apple and Google prevent users from switching to third-party apps, creating a monopoly-like situation, a problem that the DMA was meant to address. It also highlights that, when given an option, users tend to break free of the imposed ecosystem!

In subsequent posts on X, Brave directly addressed Google and requested that similar changes be enforced on Android.

It’s time to give users an easy choice of browsers, Google.
If you really care about users, you’ll allow free and open competition so they can find the browser that suits their individual needs.

A few days ago, Microsoft made similar changes to Windows in a bid to comply with DMA. This included allowing easy Edge removal, seamless setup experience, and user-oriented data handling.

What is your take on the provisions of the DMA? Share with our readers in the comments section.