Best IPA Libraries and Repositories for iOS 2026
Why Repositories Matter for iOS Sideloading
A repository, or “repo”, is a hosted list of IPA files that a developer or community keeps up to date. You add its URL to a sideloading app such as Scarlet iOS, and every app in the list shows up in your library. Repos are where most of the sideloading catalog lives: emulators, modified apps, utilities and developer tools.
This guide covers the IPA libraries and repositories that are still active in 2026, what each one actually hosts, and the main risk of each. It also shows how to judge a new repo before you add it. Last checked: October 27, 2026. Every source below was online and updating on that date; sources that had gone offline or that we could not verify were removed from this list.
If you use Scarlet iOS to add these sources, you can get the app from our Scarlet iOS install page.
How to Add a Repository to Scarlet iOS
Before looking at specific repos, here is the quick process for adding any repository to Scarlet iOS:
- Open Scarlet iOS and go to the Sources (or Repos) tab.
- Tap the + (Add) button.
- Paste the repository URL.
- Tap Add Source and wait for it to load.
- The repo’s apps appear in your library.
You can remove a repo from the Sources list at any time. Repos sometimes move to a new URL; if one stops loading, check its website for the current address before you look for a copy elsewhere.
AltStore and SideStore use a different kind of source (a JSON AltSource). The URLs their own docs recommend are listed in our guide to AltStore and SideStore sources. To publish your own apps that way, see how to make an AltStore or SideStore source.
The Scarlet iOS Built-In Library
Scarlet iOS ships with its own library of popular apps, so you can install something without adding any repo. If you are new to sideloading, start there and add third-party repos only when you need an app it does not have.
To learn more about what Scarlet includes, see the Scarlet iOS complete feature list and guide.
Active IPA Libraries and Repositories in 2026
1. AppTesters IPA Repo
AppTesters (apptesters.org) runs one of the largest public IPA repos. On October 27, 2026 its repo listed about 9,800 entries and had been updated that same day. It is published in a format that Scarlet iOS reads directly, and the same list can be browsed on its website.
Repo URL: https://repository.apptesters.org/
What it hosts: modified versions of popular apps (social, streaming, music), and also unlocked copies of paid apps.
Update frequency: daily.
Safety note: an active, long-running source, but the files are modified builds, not the developers’ originals. Unlocked copies of paid apps break those apps’ terms, and some apps detect modified builds and block or ban the account. Never sign in to a modified app with your main Apple ID or a main social account.
2. iOSGods App
iOSGods (app.iosgods.com) is a long-running modding community. Its app library lists more than 6,000 tweaked apps and hacked games. Browsing and installing is free; the optional paid plan, iOSGods App+, adds faster and more reliable signing. You can also sign apps with your own developer certificate or upload your own IPA.
What it hosts: mostly game mods (unlocked features, gameplay changes) plus tweaked apps.
Update frequency: several times a week across the catalog.
Safety note: mods of online games can get the game account banned, so use a separate game account. Prefer mods with recent forum feedback, and skip ones from unknown uploaders.
3. BuildStore (paid)
BuildStore (builds.io) has run since 2013. It is not a repo URL you add to Scarlet but a separate paid store: it links your device to its developer certificate through a configuration profile, and you install apps from its site. It lists more than 3,000 apps, with plans from $6.99 a year to $5 a month (prices from builds.io, October 2026). The plans differ mainly in what happens when Apple revokes the certificate.
What it hosts: emulators, media apps, tweaked apps and games.
Update frequency: frequent, catalog-wide.
Safety note: you install a configuration profile, so read what it asks for before you approve it in Settings. A paid plan does not stop Apple from revoking certificates; check the revoke terms of the plan you pick.
4. Emulators: get them from the developer first
Older lists, including earlier versions of this one, pointed to emulator-only repos. For the best-known emulators you no longer need one: Delta (Nintendo systems) has been on the App Store since April 2024, and PPSSPP (PlayStation Portable) and RetroArch (multi-system) since May 2024, all free. An App Store copy is signed by Apple, updates itself and is never revoked, so it is the safer choice over any repo build of the same app.
For emulators that are not on the App Store, such as DolphiniOS (GameCube and Wii), use the project’s own website or GitHub releases. The open-source Quantum Source (Quark Sources), an AltStore-format source with about 38 emulators and homebrew apps (last updated December 2025), is one community option; check that your sideloading app reads AltStore-format sources before you add it.
Safety note: emulators are legal, but download games only from copies you own. Repo builds of App Store emulators are usually older than the App Store version.
For a focused look at emulator picks, see the guide on best emulators to install with Scarlet iOS in 2026.
5. GitHub-Hosted Developer Repos
Many independent developers publish their own repo or IPA releases on GitHub. These usually carry one app or a handful. The advantage is transparency: you can see the source code, the release history and who maintains it. The disadvantage is that maintenance varies a lot.
Best for: users comfortable judging an open-source project.
Update frequency: varies widely.
Safety note: look for recent commits, an active issue tracker and releases built from the published source. A repo with no code, only IPA files, is no safer than any other unknown source.
Quick Comparison
| Source | Cost | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet built-in library | Free | Smaller catalog |
| AppTesters (repo) | Free | Modified builds, account bans |
| iOSGods App | Free, App+ paid | Game account bans |
| BuildStore (paid store) | From $6.99/year | Revokes, profile access |
| App Store emulators | Free | Lowest risk |
| GitHub developer repos | Free | Varies by maintainer |
For full app stores rather than repos, see the best third-party app stores for iPhone, ranked, and for more Scarlet-specific sources, the best Scarlet iOS repos for 2026.
What Makes a Repository Safe?
Not all repos are equal. These are the signs of a trustworthy one:
- Longevity: a repo that has been active for a year or more has a track record you can check.
- Community presence: an active forum, subreddit or Discord shows real users and gives you feedback on broken or suspicious files.
- Transparency: the maintainers are named, there is a changelog and a way to contact them.
- No credential requests: a legitimate IPA repo never asks for your Apple ID, iCloud password or payment details just to browse or install apps.
- Recent updates: a repo that has not changed in six months may be abandoned, and its IPAs may not run on current iOS versions.
- Realistic promises: be most careful with repos that offer every paid app for free; those files are the most likely to be altered.
Staying Safe While Using Repos
Use a secondary Apple ID for any sideloaded app that asks you to sign in, and never enter your main Apple ID in an app from a third-party repo. Keep iOS up to date so known security holes are patched. If you notice unusual behavior, such as heavy battery drain, unexpected network activity or apps you did not install, remove your recent sideloads and check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management for profiles you do not recognize. For a deeper look, read is iOS sideloading safe.
Build Your App Library
Start with the Scarlet iOS built-in library and the App Store emulators, then add one third-party repo, such as AppTesters, only when you need something they lack. Fewer, well-known sources are easier to keep track of and safer than a long list of unknown ones.
Get Scarlet iOS and start exploring at Scarlet iOS.