Free Sideloading Tools Compared: 2026 Edition

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

You do not need to pay to install apps outside the App Store in 2026. Several free tools can do it, but they work in very different ways: some sign apps on your iPhone with a shared certificate, some use your own Apple ID and a computer, and one uses an iOS bug that only works on older versions. This comparison explains how each free tool works, what it costs you in time and limits, and which one fits your situation. If you are wondering whether a paid option is worth it, see paid vs free sideloading methods.

Quick Comparison

Tool How it signs apps Computer needed How long apps last Main limit
Scarlet iOS Shared enterprise certificate No Until the certificate is revoked Revocations stop all apps at once
AltStore Your Apple ID Yes (AltServer) 7 days, refresh over Wi-Fi 3 active apps on a free Apple ID
SideStore Your Apple ID Once, for setup 7 days, refresh on the iPhone 3 active apps, more complex setup
Sideloadly Your Apple ID Yes (Windows or Mac) 7 days, manual or auto refresh The computer must re-sign apps every week
TrollStore iOS bug, no certificate Depends on the install method Permanent Only iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1 and 17.0

Three Ways Free Sideloading Works

Every app on an iPhone has to be signed. The free tools differ in whose signature they use, and that decides almost everything else:

  • Shared enterprise certificates (Scarlet iOS and similar on-device stores): one certificate signs apps for many users. Nothing to set up and no computer, but Apple revokes these certificates when it notices public use, and then every app signed with it stops opening until a new certificate is out.
  • Your own Apple ID (AltStore, SideStore, Sideloadly): the app is signed for your device only. Apple does not revoke these for public use, but a free Apple ID limits you to 7 days per signature and 3 active sideloaded apps.
  • Your own developer certificate (Feather, KSign): free, open-source on-device signers, but they need a certificate from a paid Apple Developer Program account (99 US dollars a year), so they are only free if you already have one; see our Feather vs Scarlet iOS comparison.
  • An iOS bug (TrollStore): apps are installed permanently with no signature check at all. It only works on iOS versions where the bug exists.

Scarlet iOS

Signing: shared enterprise certificate
Cost: free
Computer: not needed
iOS support: confirmed up to iOS 26; iOS 27 is reported by third parties, not officially confirmed

Scarlet installs straight from Safari on your iPhone, comes with an app library and lets you add third-party repos or import your own IPA files. It is the easiest free option to start with. The cost is reliability: when Apple revokes the certificate, Scarlet and everything installed through it stop opening until the developer ships a newly signed build. Our guide to a revoked Scarlet certificate covers what to do then.

Best for: anyone without a computer, or who wants to try sideloading in a few minutes. Start with how to install Scarlet iOS. You can also start from our Scarlet iOS install page in Safari.

AltStore

Signing: your Apple ID
Cost: free with a free Apple ID; a paid Apple Developer account removes the 7-day limit
Computer: yes, AltServer on a Mac or Windows PC
iOS support: current iOS versions

AltStore signs apps with your own Apple ID, so a Scarlet-style revocation cannot affect it. With a free Apple ID each app has to be refreshed every 7 days, which AltStore does over Wi-Fi when your computer runs AltServer on the same network. You can have at most 3 sideloaded apps active at the same time, and AltStore itself counts as one of them. On iOS 16 and later you must turn on Developer Mode.

Best for: people with a computer at home who want 1 or 2 apps that keep working through Scarlet revocations. To find apps for it, see AltStore and SideStore sources.

SideStore

Signing: your Apple ID
Cost: free and open source
Computer: once, for the first setup
iOS support: current iOS versions

SideStore is a fork of AltStore that refreshes apps on the iPhone itself, without a computer running in the background. You need a computer once to install it and create a pairing file; after that it refreshes over a local VPN-style connection on the device. The 7-day and 3-app limits of a free Apple ID still apply, although LiveContainer can run many apps inside a single slot. Setup is the most involved of the tools here, but day to day it is the closest a free Apple ID gets to computer-free. Our SideStore setup guide walks through the current install with iloader and LocalDevVPN. To enable JIT for emulators on iOS 17.4 and later, see StikDebug.

Best for: users who like AltStore’s approach but do not want a computer involved every week.

Sideloadly

Signing: your Apple ID
Cost: free
Computer: yes, Windows or Mac
iOS support: current iOS versions

Sideloadly is a signing tool, not a store: you bring the IPA file, connect your iPhone and it signs and installs it with your Apple ID. It has useful options such as changing the app name or bundle ID, which lets you install a second copy of an app. Free Apple ID limits apply here too, so apps must be re-signed every 7 days, by hand or with its optional auto-refresh, which works while the computer can reach the iPhone over USB or Wi-Fi. See our step-by-step Sideloadly guide.

Best for: installing a specific IPA you already have, and for anyone who wants control over how an app is signed.

TrollStore

Signing: none needed (uses a CoreTrust bug)
Cost: free and open source
Computer: depends on your iOS version and install method
iOS support: iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1 and iOS 17.0 only

TrollStore installs apps permanently: no expiry, no revocations, no app limit. The catch is the iOS version. Apple fixed the bug in iOS 16.7 and 17.0.1, so anyone on iOS 17.1 or later, including iOS 26, cannot use it. If your device is still on a supported version, do not update iOS if you want to keep using it.

Best for: older iPhones that stayed on a supported iOS version. For the other tools on older models, see sideloading on older iPhones.

Other Enterprise-Signed Stores

Stores like TutuApp and AppValley work the same way as Scarlet: shared certificates, no computer, and the same revocations. Their free tiers have changed many times and we could not confirm their current iOS 26 support from their own pages, so check before you rely on one. For a ranked look at these stores, see the best third-party app stores for iPhone.

EU, Japan and Brazil: Official Alternative Marketplaces

Since iOS 17.4, users in the European Union can install apps from alternative marketplaces approved by Apple, such as AltStore PAL and the Epic Games Store. AltStore PAL is now also available in Japan and Brazil. These apps go through Apple’s notarization, need no trust step and are not revoked like enterprise certificates. They only work for accounts and devices in the regions where Apple allows them, and some marketplaces charge their own fees. More in our article on ways to install apps outside the App Store.

Which Free Tool Should You Use?

  • No computer: Scarlet iOS. Accept that revocations will interrupt it now and then.
  • A computer at home and a few important apps: AltStore, or SideStore if you do not want to keep the computer involved.
  • One specific IPA file: Sideloadly.
  • iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1 or 17.0: TrollStore for the apps you care about most.
  • In the EU, Japan or Brazil: check the official marketplaces first.

Many people combine two: Scarlet for convenience and an Apple ID tool for the 1 to 3 apps that must keep working during a revocation. Our AltStore vs Scarlet iOS vs Sideloadly guide compares those three in more depth.

Free Apple ID Limits, Explained

AltStore, SideStore and Sideloadly all inherit the same rules from Apple’s free developer signing:

A paid Apple Developer account removes the 7-day and 3-app limits, but then the tool is no longer free.

Staying Safe With Any Tool

The tool only signs what you give it. The real risk is the IPA file: modified apps from unknown sources can contain malware or steal logins. Download from sources you trust, check files before installing (see how to scan IPA files for malware) and never sign in to important accounts inside a modified app. Our sideloading security guide covers the rest.

More Tool Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free sideloading tool in 2026?

There is no single best one. Scarlet iOS is the easiest because it needs no computer; AltStore and SideStore are more reliable because your own Apple ID cannot be hit by a shared revocation.

Can I sideload without a computer?

Yes. Scarlet iOS installs entirely on the iPhone. SideStore needs a computer only once for setup. In the EU, Japan and Brazil, AltStore PAL also installs without a computer.

Is it safe to use my Apple ID with AltStore or Sideloadly?

These tools sign in to Apple to create the signing certificate. Many users create a separate free Apple ID just for sideloading, so their main account is never involved.

Why do my apps stop working after 7 days?

Apps signed with a free Apple ID expire after 7 days. Refresh them in AltStore or SideStore, or re-sign them in Sideloadly, and they work again with your data intact.

Does TrollStore work on iOS 26?

No. TrollStore works only on iOS 14.0 to 16.6.1 and iOS 17.0.

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