If you have an iOS device, you probably know how difficult it is to install applications from anywhere but Apple’s App Store. However, there are a number of alternative iOS app stores you can use to download your favorite apps and games, often for free.
Based on extensive research and testing, we identified the following as the five best App Store alternatives:
- AltStore: The best overall iOS App Store alternative
- Scarlet: The best alternate App Store for tweaked apps
- SideStore: The best iOS App Store alternative for games and emulators
- AppDB: The best App Store alternative for productivity and software apps
- BuildStore: The best App Store alternative for security and reliability
Any unofficial app store is subject to security and privacy threats as the listed apps are not tested by Apple. Hence, it’s vital to only access these App Store alternatives with a VPN on your iOS device.
When testing different alternative app stores for this article, we relied on NordVPN, which has an excellent iOS app with robust security and lightning-fast speed.
NordVPN
For more tips on how to use these alternative app stores and what you can find, check out the rest of the article!
Apple maintains a tight grip over the iOS ecosystem, only permitting users to download applications from its App Store. However, several Apple App Store alternatives have sprung up over the last few years, catering to developers and users seeking an escape from Apple’s control.
These App Store alternatives list popular apps, games, and even cracked software for users to download. You can even find free versions of paid games and apps. After rigorous testing, we’ve created this list of the five best iOS App Store alternatives in 2024.
However, since these other app stores are almost entirely unregulated, they are often used by hackers to spread malware or obtain user data. As such, using a VPN when using alternative app stores is essential. We recommend NordVPN, which is the best VPN for iOS due to its market-leading encryption and beautifully designed iOS app.
Why Do You Need App Store Alternatives?
The official Apple App Store is the go-to place for most iOS users to install apps and games. With over 1.8 million applications, it boasts a stellar collection with relevant apps for most use cases.
However, there are a few compelling reasons to consider using App Store alternatives, such as:
- Access to free and tweaked apps: Alternative app stores frequently list free versions of apps and games that need to be purchased on the App Store. However, it’s important to note that downloading tweaked versions of paid apps could constitute copyright infringement in most countries.
- Avoid Apple’s 30% App Store fee: Apple charges a 30% fee on all in-app purchases on the App Store. This is why apps like Spotify don’t let users purchase content in their iOS apps. Using alternative app stores can help avoid this high fee.
- Find apps not listed on the App Store: Apple vets and tests every app listed on the App Store. As such, several quirky apps, including those featuring adult content, don’t make it to the App Store. However, App Store alternatives have fewer restrictions and often host apps rejected from the App Store.
While alternative app stores have several benefits, they are less secure and reliable than the official App Store. Moreover, they can host copyright-infringing content, which can land you in legal trouble if you download them. To protect yourself when exploring an alternative App Store, we strongly recommend using NordVPN, which is available at a limited-time discount of 72%.
The Best iOS App Store Alternatives
We tested more than 15 App Store alternatives and picked the five best ones based on the availability of apps, user interface, and ad-intrusion. Here’s a quick overview of the top five alternative app stores for iOS.
| App Store Alternative | Best For | Free Version | Can be Installed Directly on iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|
| AltStore | Apps not listed on the AppStore | Yes | No |
| Scarlet | Tweaked versions of popular apps | Yes | Yes |
| SideStore | Hardware-accelerated games and emulators | Yes | No |
| AppDB | Productivity and software apps | Yes | Yes |
| BuildStore | Free versions of paid apps | No | Yes |
App Stores and Jailbreaking:
Some popular App Store alternatives, like Cydia, require users to jailbreak their devices. However, jailbreaking your Apple device voids your warranty. It can also lead to legal action if you use your jailbroken device to download copyrighted content illegally.
Hence, we have not included iOS App Store alternatives that require jailbroken devices on this list. Instead, we have select App Store alternatives that use Apple’s Enterprise or Developer priviliges to sideload applications.
As a result, most applications will only let you sideload three applications at a time. You may also need to refresh or reinstall the apps every seven days. While this is cumbersome, it ensures you don’t violate Apple’s policies and end up in legal trouble.
While the App Store alternatives listed above are relatively malware-free, we cannot guarantee their security. This is why it’s essential to encrypt your internet activity with NordVPN — which also includes built-in malware Threat Protection — thereby bolstering your security and privacy online.
1. AltStore: The best iOS App Store Alternative
Visit: AltStore
- Well-designed and clean interface
- Features verified apps that can’t be found on the AppStore
- Almost completely malware-free
AltStore was developed by an iOS developer who had developed a GameBoy emulator for the iPhone but could not officially launch it on the AppStore. So, he found a legal workaround and used Apple’s developer privileges to distribute his app.
AltStore is now one of the most popular alternative app stores for iOS. It features a slick interface that makes installing your favorite apps very easy. However, installing AltStore on your iOS device requires a computer and can be cumbersome for some users.
We used AltStore to install the GameBoy emulator and a clipboard app, which made copy-pasting things much easier. As far as legal third-party app stores go, there are few better options than AltStore.
To access more apps, you’ll need to install different repositories. We found a variety of repositories on AltStore, and the number will only increase as the app gains more traction.
2. Scarlet: The best alternate app store for tweaked versions of popular apps
Visit: Scarlet
- Extensive library of the latest apps and games
- Slick user-interface
- Direct installation on iOS devices
Scarlet has been a popular iOS app store alternative for a few years now. Its popularity is owed to the extensive list of up-to-date games and apps. Its slick black and red user interface doesn’t hurt either.
Scarlet is particularly useful for downloading tweaked apps, such as Tinder++, which manipulates the interface to enable access to premium and gold features. Resultantly, you can swipe across an unlimited number of profiles daily and even see who’s liked you!
Of course, Apple’s AppStore should be your go-to for the untweaked version of Tinder. Regardless of the version you choose, it’s vital that you know how private Tinder is and how you can secure your privacy.
We particularly liked the fact that Scarlet can be directly downloaded on your device, unlike AltStore. However, it does require you to “trust” a suspicious developer named “Bank of Chongquing.” If you’re conscious about your device’s privacy, trusting this developer may not be the best idea.
We also had trouble finding a reliable download link for Scarlet due to the sheer number of fake websites and mirrors filled with ads. While the link we’ve provided above worked at the time of writing, we can’t guarantee it will remain active. As such, it is vital to use NordVPN on your iOS device when downloading and using Scarlet.
3. SideStore: The best iOS App Store alternative for games and emulators
Visit: SideStore
- Wide selection of games and console emulators
- Does not require a PC or computer after initial installation
- Features safe and verified apps
SideStore is a fork of AltStore. It was developed to correct one of AltStore’s only drawbacks: the need to connect to a computer periodically to refresh apps.
Since it’s an AltStore fork, SideStore borrows heavily from the former’s design and interface. This is not a negative by any means, as both apps are exceptionally easy to use. However, like AltStore, you will need a PC or Mac to install SideStore. There’s also hardly any ad-intrusion, which makes browsing through the app a pleasant experience.
But once it’s installed on your device, downloading games and apps is a breeze. The app repository is continuously growing, supported by an enthusiastic community of users and developers. You can also download IPA files from the internet and install them on your iOS device with SideStore.
4. AppDB: The best app store alternative for productivity and software apps
Visit: AppDB
- Huge library of software and productivity apps
- Direct installation on your iOS device
- Works on AppleTV
AppDB is a popular sideloading app with a huge catalog of games, productivity apps, and more. Unlike some of the other apps on this list, we had no trouble installing AppDB. All you need is an email address and your iPhone device.
However, we were a bit disappointed to find that once installed, AppDB does not function as a standalone app. Instead, it still opens in a browser window. This makes the browsing experience a bit clunky, even though there are hardly any ads.
Despite the slightly subpar experience, AppDB’s app library is probably the largest of any app store on this list. If you’re looking for photo editing apps or productivity suites, it should be right at the top of your list!
Like Scarlet, you can even find tweaked versions of popular apps. For instance, we downloaded Watusi for WhatsApp, which unlocks several great features, such as unlimited pinned chats, sending messages to unsaved numbers, and switching to dark mode.
Even though the encrypted messaging app has recently added several privacy-preserving features, WhatsApp does not quite match a dedicated private messaging service like Signal. You can learn about this and more in our WhatsApp vs. Signal comparison.
Remember to use a VPN when browsing through AppDB for an additional layer of security!
5. BuildStore: A great paid alternative iOS App Store
Visit: BuildStore
- Paid service means there are fewer fake or malware-loaded apps
- Huge community of users and developers
- App permissions are rarely revoked
BuildStore presents a commendable alternative to the iOS App Store, primarily due to its expansive range of apps. With over 300 applications available and approximately ten new additions each month, users can access a diverse selection of apps, including the tweaked ‘++’ versions.
It is a unique service in that it only has a paid tier. While this closes the door for anyone looking for a free AppStore alternative, it ensures the platform’s overall sanctity and security. Since BuildStore is a paid service, apps downloaded from it don’t need to be refreshed constantly, like they do on AltStore or SideStore.
Moreover, BuildStore is recognized for its minimal advertising, which is starkly contrasting to other platforms where ads can often interrupt and degrade the user experience.
While BuildStore looks exceptional on the surface, we were surprised to find several disgruntled users on its Reddit forums. These users complained that they weren’t able to set up the app despite paying for it and following the installation guides. Support from BuildStore was also not forthcoming.
How We Selected the Best iOS App Store Alternatives
To ensure that we selected only the best iOS App Store alternatives, we employed robust criteria evaluating several different aspects. Some of the key aspects we focused on are:
- Safety and security: While alternative app stores are a great place to find free apps and games, they are replete with malware and other cyber-security risks. We tried to only include platforms that have a reputation for being safe.
- Ad-intrusion: Most alternative app stores earn money by hosting ads. However, the app stores on our list don’t rely on ads for revenue generation and barely show any ads, leading to a much-improved user experience.
- User interface: Apple’s AppStore offers unparalleled usability and boasts an excellent interface. Hence, we paid significant attention to the user interface and design of these alternative app stores, ensuring users wouldn’t feel too much of a difference.
- Variety of apps: An app store without a large selection of apps is pointless. As such, we created this list by examining the number and variety of apps, including tweaked apps, hosted on each store.
The Best VPN for Alternative iOS App Stores
By now, you probably know that alternative iOS app stores aren’t entirely safe. Of course, the ones we’ve listed are relatively ad and malware-free, but they’re still not nearly as secure as the iOS App Store.
This makes using a VPN when visiting alternative iOS app stores vital. With NordVPN’s AES-256-bit military-grade encryption, your data and browsing activity are secure when visiting the App Stores. Moreover, it also prevents prying eyes online, such as hackers, from discovering sensitive information about you, such as your location or device model.
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If you sign up for NordVPN today, you can get it for the unbelievably low price of $ 3.39. If you’d rather try NordVPN before purchasing it, you can always use its generous 30-day free trial.
Final Thoughts on the Best Alternative App Stores
If you’re looking for free versions of paid apps or tweaked/modified games, the alternative app stores on our list are definitely worth a visit. We’d recommend trying out AltStore first due to its safety and excellent design. But if you’re looking for a large selection of popular apps, then Scarlet should be your go-to.
Regardless of the alternate app store you choose, installing and using them without a VPN is dangerous. NordVPN is our best iPhone VPN and helped us safely browse different app stores on iOS.
Have a question about alternative app stores on iOS? Check out the section below for answers to some of the frequently asked questions about alternatives to the Apple AppStore.
There are several alternative app stores for iOS. For example, AltStore is one of the best most popular alternative iOS app stores. However, these are not official alternative app stores and installing them can be tricky. Moreover, they often contain malware. Hence, using a VPN when visiting such sites is vital.
While there are now several alternative Apple app stores, these are often not secure. We recommend sticking to our list of the best alternative app stores:
- AltStore: the best overall alternative iOS app store
- Scarlet: an alternative app store with a large selection of tweaked apps
- SideStore: the best alternative app store for emulators and games
- AppDB: the best app store for productivity apps
- BuildStore: the best paid alternative iOS app store
Yes, iOS apps can be installed without the AppStore. However, unike Android, you can’t simple download an .apk file from the web and install it. Instead, you will need to install an alternative app store, which can be a tricky process.
