How to Install Multiple App Stores on iPhone

Breaking Free from the Single-Store Model

For most of iPhone’s history, the App Store was the only game in town. Apple enforced a strict one-store policy, and any attempt to install apps from other sources required jailbreaking, a complex and warranty-voiding process that most users understandably avoided. That era is over. In 2026, installing multiple app stores on your iPhone is not only possible but increasingly mainstream.

Whether you are in the EU and have access to Apple’s official alternative marketplace framework, or you are anywhere in the world using third-party tools, this guide walks you through every option available for expanding your iPhone’s app catalog far beyond what the App Store offers. Last checked: October 27, 2026, against Apple Support, the AltStore and SideStore docs and the TrollStore README.

The Risks First

• Only Apple-approved alternative marketplaces are officially allowed, and only in Brazil, Japan and the EU. Everything else on this page relies on certificates that Apple can limit or revoke.
• Apps from outside the App Store did not go through App Review. Even for approved marketplaces, Apple says its ability to support users with problems from those apps “is limited”.
• Tools that sign with your own Apple ID share one set of free-account limits. Stacking AltStore Classic and SideStore does not give you more than 3 active apps.

All Options at a Glance

Store or tool	Where	Computer	Apps expire	Limit
Scarlet iOS	Worldwide	No	When the certificate is revoked	Shared certificate
AltStore Classic	Worldwide	Yes (AltServer)	After 7 days	3 apps with a free Apple ID
SideStore	Worldwide	Only for setup	After 7 days, refreshed on the phone	3 apps with a free Apple ID
AltStore PAL and other approved marketplaces	Brazil, Japan, EU	No	No	Notarized apps only
TrollStore	Worldwide	Depends	No	Only iOS 14.0 beta 2 to 16.6.1, 16.7 RC, 17.0
TestFlight	Worldwide	No	Builds expire	Only betas developers invite you to

Option 1: Scarlet iOS (Global, Free, No Jailbreak Required)

Scarlet iOS is a third-party app installer that works without regional restrictions. Its official site, usescarlet.com, describes it as an AppStore and Cydia alternative with a direct install option. It is not technically an “app store” in the traditional sense: it is a sideloading tool that signs and installs IPA files, including from app repositories you add. Because it uses a shared certificate, Apple can revoke it at any time, and apps installed through it stop opening until a new certificate is in place. Scarlet is confirmed on iOS 14 through iOS 26; iOS 27 support is reported by third parties but not officially confirmed. To compare it with the other options, see the best third-party app stores for iPhone, ranked.

How to Install Scarlet iOS

1. Open Safari on your iPhone and navigate to scarletios.com.
2. Tap the Direct Install button.
3. When prompted, tap Install to confirm; Scarlet installs as an app, with no profile.
4. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
5. Under Enterprise App, find the developer listed for Scarlet and tap Trust (once).
6. Return to your home screen. Scarlet iOS is now installed.

Once installed, you can add app repositories and install IPA files. Our guide to IPA libraries and repositories covers what to look for in a source. For a more detailed walkthrough, see our Scarlet iOS download and installation guide for 2026.

Option 2: AltStore (Global, Requires a Computer)

AltStore is another well-established alternative app store that uses your Apple ID and a companion desktop app (AltServer) to sign and install apps. It works globally and does not require jailbreak.

Key Features of AltStore

• Built-in app catalog called AltStore Sources
• Delta, a Nintendo emulator that is AltStore’s flagship app
• Requires a computer running AltServer on the same Wi-Fi network for weekly app refreshes
• Limited to 3 apps with a free Apple ID (same Apple restriction as all free-account sideloading)

AltStore’s own comparison lists the trade-offs of AltStore Classic: it “installs any .ipa file”, may require a computer, and its apps “expire after 7 days”, with a “3 app install limit” and “limited iOS app capabilities”. If an app has already expired, see how to refresh an app that expired after 7 days.

Option 2b: SideStore (Global, Computer Only for Setup)

SideStore is a fork of AltStore that refreshes apps on the phone itself. Its docs say it “will periodically refresh your apps in the background” and that “you only need a computer once during installation”. It signs with your own Apple ID, so the same 7-day and 3-app limits apply, and those limits are shared with AltStore if you use the same Apple ID for both. Setup steps are in our SideStore installation guide, and the limit itself is explained in how to handle the 3-app limit.

AltStore is a great complement to Scarlet iOS rather than a replacement for it. AltStore excels for apps in its curated catalog with automatic refresh support, while Scarlet iOS handles the broader universe of IPAs. Our guide on how to sideload apps on iOS 26 and iOS 27 without jailbreak covers both tools in the broader sideloading context.

Option 3: Alternative Marketplaces (EU, Japan and Brazil)

In European Union countries, Apple now permits officially approved Alternative Marketplaces under the Digital Markets Act. These are fully legal, Apple-approved app stores that can be installed alongside the official App Store. Apple’s support page now says alternative app distribution “is available in Brazil, Japan, and the countries or regions of the European Union”. In each region, Apple says, the country or region of your Apple Account must be set to that region and “you must physically be located” there. Installing apps directly from a developer’s website is listed for the EU only. If you leave the region, you can keep using apps you installed, and for up to 90 days you can still update and install them.

Available EU Alternative Marketplaces in 2026

• AltStore PAL: the official marketplace version of AltStore. AltStore’s comparison lists it for “EU, Japan, and Brazil Only”, installing notarized apps, with no computer needed, apps that do not expire and no installed-app limit. Check AltStore’s site for its current price.
• Epic Games Store: Epic launched their iOS store in the EU to distribute their games and potentially third-party titles
• Various developer-specific stores: some large developers distribute their apps directly through their own marketplaces

How to Install an EU Alternative Marketplace

1. Ensure your Apple Account country or region is set to an eligible country (Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region), and that you are physically there.
2. Visit the marketplace’s website in Safari.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the marketplace app.
4. iOS will display a series of disclosure screens explaining that this app comes from outside the App Store. Read them, then continue.
5. The marketplace app installs and appears on your home screen.

EU marketplaces coexist with the App Store and with tools like Scarlet iOS without any conflicts. Apple notes that apps installed this way “undergo a Notarization process”, but each marketplace reviews apps under its own policies, and features such as Ask to Buy and purchase sharing with Family Sharing are not supported for them.

Option 4: TrollStore (Specific iOS Versions Only)

TrollStore is a unique tool that exploits a CoreTrust bug to permanently sign apps without a certificate that can be revoked. Unlike other sideloading tools, TrollStore-installed apps never expire and cannot be revoked by Apple certificate rotation. However, TrollStore only works on iOS versions where the CoreTrust vulnerability has not been patched. Its README lists the supported versions as “14.0 beta 2 – 16.6.1, 16.7 RC (20H18), 17.0” and says 16.7.x (except the RC) and 17.0.1 and later “will NEVER be supported” unless a new bug is found. It is therefore not an option on iOS 26 or iOS 27.

TrollStore is not a general-purpose solution for most users, but if your device is compatible, it offers the most stable sideloading experience available for supported versions.

Running Multiple App Stores Without Conflicts

The most common concern about installing multiple app stores is potential conflicts. In practice, these tools coexist well because they use independent installation channels. Here is how to minimize any friction:

Avoid Duplicate Bundle IDs

The only real conflict occurs when two tools try to install the same app (same bundle ID). iOS will consider it one app and whichever was installed most recently takes precedence. If you want the same app installed from two different sources simultaneously, one copy needs a different bundle ID, which tools such as Sideloadly and Azule can set. See running multiple versions of the same app.

Certificate Pool Separation

Each tool uses its own certificate. Revoking one tool’s certificate does not affect apps installed by other tools. The exception is your own Apple ID: AltStore Classic, SideStore and Sideloadly all draw on the same free-account limits if you sign in with the same Apple ID. This means even if Scarlet iOS experiences a temporary certificate issue, apps installed through AltStore or TestFlight remain fully functional.

Storage and Organization

Having many extra apps across multiple stores can clutter your device. Use App Library extensively and consider organizing by source in folders: one folder for Scarlet apps, one for AltStore apps, etc.

Which Combination Works Best?

For most users, the optimal setup is:

• Scarlet iOS as the primary tool: no computer needed, works globally, with the revocation risk described above
• TestFlight for official developer betas of mainstream apps (see using TestFlight alongside Scarlet iOS)
• AltStore or SideStore (optional) for apps you want signed with your own Apple ID, like Delta
• An approved marketplace (if in the EU, Japan or Brazil) for notarized apps from the Epic Games Store or AltStore PAL

This combination gives you access to essentially every app available outside a jailbreak context, with minimal management overhead.

Conclusion

The single-store iPhone is over for anyone willing to accept the trade-offs. Between Scarlet iOS, AltStore, SideStore, TestFlight and the approved marketplaces, there are more ways than ever to expand your iPhone’s app catalog. Pick by where you live, whether you have a computer, and how much revocation or weekly refreshing you are willing to live with.

Before installing apps from any of these sources, check them with our guide on how to scan IPA files for malware. To start with Scarlet, see how to install Scarlet iOS, or open our Scarlet iOS install page in Safari.

FAQ

Can I use AltStore PAL outside the EU?

AltStore lists AltStore PAL for the EU, Japan and Brazil only. Elsewhere, AltStore Classic or SideStore are the options.

Do alternative stores conflict with the App Store?

No. They install apps next to App Store apps. The only clash is two copies of the same app with the same bundle ID.

What happens to my marketplace apps if I travel?

Apple says you can keep using them, and update or install alternatively distributed apps for up to 90 days after you leave the eligible region.