CheckMag | AltStore could finally give iPhone users the freedom to install what they like, but only if you live in the EU

AltStore, developed by famed iOS developer Riley Testut allows users to sideload up to 3 apps using a free Apple developer account (10 with a paid one) without the need to jailbreak. It is a clever, but hacky workaround that requires the device to connect to an AltStore server (which you can host yourself) every 7 days to refresh the certificates that allow apps to run. Having a paid Apple developer account would enable you to keep them active for a full 12 months. For many people unwilling to jailbreak, this is and has been one of the only safe ways to get legitimate apps like Kodi, Dolphin and UTM onto their iOS device.

However, since the EU ruled that Apple and 5 other tech giants would have to comply with its Digital Markets Act, Apple has been forced to “allow third parties to inter-operate with the gatekeeper’s own services in certain specific situations”. Effectively forcing them to open up the iOS platform to other app stores.

Apple has historically gone out of its way to prevent people doing what they want with their iOS devices. Even if you disregard their previous stance on sideloading, Apple has actively disabled features (such as JIT compilation) to discourage users from running emulators and virtualized machines. Forcing them to use workarounds or suffer a significant performance hit. There have always been alternative app stores for iOS devices such as iOS Ninja and AppCake, but unlike AltStore, these services use 3rd party developer certificates that can be revoked at any time and often tout pirated or modified apps. AltStore on the other hand uses your own developer certificate, is open source and has been verified by other developers.

Back in January, AltStore Tweeted X’d that it was starting the process of becoming a “legitimate” app marketplace and there would be more news in March. We are now well into March without further announcements, but if anyone can or should be allowed to launch a successful 3rd party app store on iOS, it should be Riley and AltStore. Waiting for years quietly in the background for an opportunity such as this to come out of the shadows and dominate iOS devices, allowing easy access to all the apps that Apple has historically made it very difficult, or impossible for us to use

However the journey of AltStore will still be fraught with difficulties. With Tim Sweeny of Epic describing Apple's tactics as “malicious compliance”, there is no doubt that setting up a 3rd party app store will be expensive. Equally, there is a good chance that Apple will still retain control over the distribution of apps by only allowing the signing of apps it approves of.

Nevertheless (for EU users at least), with a bit of luck, AltStore will become the 3rd party app distribution platform it deserves to be, and if anyone can figure out a way to sidestep Apple’s draconian tactics, Riley can.

Otherwise you could just ditch your iOS device, buy the best Android phone (available on Amazon*) and no longer be under the thumb of Tim Cook and his dictatorship. If you can't live without your iOS device at least now there is some hope that freedom will come to iOS users.