CheckMag | These are your options for circumventing the Apple App store without a jailbreak, but the risk may not be worth it
Getting your iOS apps from someone other than Apple, might be a step in the right direction, but the reality is more complex. Sideloading on Apple devices without the need to jailbreak, has existed for years, (whether you live in the EU or not) and sideloading being available "officially" for EU users, changes little for the overall iOS sideloading landscape. The same risks exist, and unlike sideloading on Android there aren't the trustworthy brands that at least offer a semblance of safety, whether that is simply a perception or not.
Users in the European Union
If you live in the EU, you have the ability to install a range of alternate app stores. Currently, the list includes Altstore PAL, Epic Game Store, and more recently Aptoide and productivity suite Setapp. The problem that all these services have in common is that apps still have to be notarized by Apple. The process for notarization is certainly not fast, nor as stringent as Apple's app review process, and some content can make it through to third party app stores that wouldn't make it anywhere near the official App store. However, what this does mean is that the content that appears on these 3rd party stores, largely mirrors that which is available officially from Apple.
If you choose to install Altstore PAL, you can then install Altstore Classic. Altstore PAL only allows the installation of notaraized apps, however once Altstore Classic is installed, you have the option to add your own sources. More on that in the next section, however, the most significant difference is that apps installed with Altstore Classic will no longer expire.
Overall, the most significant change for EU users is that there is no longer any requirement to mess with developer certificates in order to get unverified or 3rd party app store apps installed, but all the other issues still remain, as they do for users in the rest of the world.
The rest of the world
For everyone else, sideloading is still an option. However in order to do so, whether you use Altstore Classic or something like AppDB, you will be required to either use your own developer certificate, or a developer certificate provided by the site.
Given that developer accounts get revoked, using your own certificate is preferable, although AppDB does offer some guarantees against this. For Altstore Classic, you have to use your own developer account. Free developer accounts can install up to 10 apps for up to 7 days without refreshing. If you opt for a paid developer account ($99 anually), unlimited apps can be installed for up to a year.
Altstore provides a handy workaround for the free developer accounts, allowing you to refresh your certificates automatically. However, you need to connect to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or cable every 7 days in order to keep sideloaded apps functioning.
The piracy problem
While there are perfectly legitimate reasons to sideload apps on your iOS device, emulation, downloading linux iSO's or installing Kodi, sideloading has been and still is, dominated by pirated apps.
AppDB, iOSRocket, Signum, Signulous, and the endless supply of similar sites, all offer access to paid apps. The AppDB as an example, offers several copies of Resident Evil Village available for users to download without paying.
Altstore Classic has the ability to sideload apps through additional sources, and while some offer access to legitimate developers, other libraries offer modified versions of apps specifically designed to circumvent paid features.
Trust issues
Aside from Altstore, (and Aptoid in the EU) almost every sideload service offers questionable content alongside legitimate content, which inherently makes them untrustworthy. If they are prepared to share developer certificates and pirate software, how can users be sure with any level of certainty that they are protected from malware, identity theft, fraud, robbery and all the other risks that come with a compromised phone.
Altstore PAL and Altstore Classic certainly offer the most legitimate way to sideload. The trusted sources list, while minimal, at least provides an element of security for users. However, as soon as you venture towards 3rd party sources, users are yet again forced to entrust their security to developers offering hacked and cracked apps.
As an ex Pixel 9 Pro (Available from Amazon) user that has recently switched to iOS I can only hope that Altstore eventually develops a reputation akin to F-Droid. If you live in the EU (and only the EU), Aptoid could be a legitimate option. But for now, sideloading through Altstore should come with a healthy dose of caution. Sideloading from anywhere else should be avoided completely.
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