AltStore
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| Developer(s) | Riley Testut |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 28 September 2019[1] |
| Operating system | iOS, iPadOS (client); Windows, macOS (server)[2] |
| Type | Alternative app distribution platform[2] |
| License | GNU Affero General Public License[2] |
| Website | https://altstore.io/ |
AltStore is an alternative application distribution platform for iOS and iPadOS devices, enabling users to install applications that are not available through Apple's official App Store without requiring a jailbroken device. It relies on a user’s personal Apple Developer certificate to sign and sideload applications, which must be refreshed periodically to remain functional[2].
History
Riley Testut began developing AltStore after Apple declined to approve his Nintendo emulator, Delta, for distribution on the App Store. Leveraging functionality in Xcode that allowed developers to sideload apps for testing, he created AltStore to extend this sideloading capability to a broader range of applications. AltStore was publicly announced on 25 September 2019 and officially launched three days later, on 28 September 2019[1].[2]
By mid‑2022, AltStore had been downloaded over 1.5 million times and was maintained through donations on Patreon. Riley Testut later hired Shane Gill to assist with documentation and developer support.
Features
- Sideloading without jailbreak: AltStore exploits a loophole in Apple’s developer tools (Xcode) to sideload .ipa files using a personal Apple Developer account. This method does not require the device to be jailbroken and preserves iOS security measures[2].
- Certificate expiration and refreshing: Applications installed via AltStore are signed for seven days with a free Apple ID or one year with a paid Apple Developer account. After expiration, users must reconnect the device to a desktop running AltServer to refresh and re‑sign the apps[2].
- AltServer integration: AltServer is a companion desktop application available for macOS and Windows. It runs on a computer in the same local network as the iOS or iPadOS device and installs AltStore on the device. AltServer also handles periodic app refreshing[2].
- App discovery and management: Within the AltStore client on iOS and iPadOS, users can browse featured repositories (called “sources”), install compatible applications, and update or remove sideloaded apps[3].
AltStore PAL
In response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which requires Apple to permit alternative app marketplaces on iOS devices in the EU, Testut launched AltStore PAL on 17 April 2024. AltStore PAL is an Apple‑approved alternative app store tailored specifically to EU customers, enabling distribution of applications independent from Apple’s App Store review process[4][5].
At launch, AltStore PAL featured two Riley Testut applications: Delta, a Nintendo emulator capable of playing NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 titles; and Clip, a clipboard manager that can run in the background—functionality restricted by Apple’s App Store policies[5]. AltStore PAL is available only to devices within the European Union and requires a subscription fee of €1.50 per year (plus VAT) for access to the platform and its repositories[4].
On 3 February 2025, AltStore PAL became the first alternative iPhone app store to distribute an adult content browser called Hot Tub. This was permitted under Apple’s notarization process as required by the Digital Markets Act. Apple publicly objected, expressing concerns that hardcore adult content could pose safety risks to EU users, particularly minors. Despite Apple’s objections, AltStore PAL made the Hot Tub app available, and donated its February Patreon earnings to organizations supporting sex workers and LGBTQ+ communities[6][7].
Reception
AltStore has been praised within the Apple community for offering a legitimate method to sideload applications that Apple’s App Store would not approve, while maintaining device security without requiring a jailbreak[8][9]. Critics of AltStore PAL have raised concerns about the distribution of adult content and other applications Apple deems inappropriate or unsafe, warning that such content could undermine user trust in the ecosystem that Apple has maintained for over a decade[6].
See also
References
- ^ a b Testut, Riley. Introducing AltStore. AltStore Blog, 25 September 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h AltStore, Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 June 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "WikiAltStore" defined multiple times with different content - ^ One Jailbreak. Best 22 AltStore Sources and Repos in 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b Testut, Riley. Introducing AltStore PAL. AltStore Blog, 17 April 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b The Verge. Third‑party iOS app store AltStore PAL has arrived in the EU. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b The Verge. The first approved iPhone porn app is coming to Europe. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Reuters. Apple raises concern over first porn app on iPhone under EU rules. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Statt, Nick. How an iOS developer built an alternative App Store for the iPhone. The Verge, 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Newman, Jared. How AltStore is building a haven for forbidden iPhone apps. Fast Company, 5 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2025.