Scarlet iOS vs TrollStore: Complete Comparison 2026

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Scarlet iOS and TrollStore are both popular ways to install apps outside the App Store on iPhone, but they work through fundamentally different mechanisms and serve different use cases. Understanding how each works helps you choose the right tool — or decide to use both for different purposes. This guide breaks down every significant difference between Scarlet iOS and TrollStore in 2026.

How Each Tool Works

How Scarlet iOS Works

Scarlet iOS uses certificate-based signing to install IPA files on your device. It obtains enterprise or developer certificates and uses them to sign IPA files before installation — the same mechanism Apple uses for enterprise app distribution. iOS trusts these certificates and allows the apps to run. The limitation is that Apple periodically revokes the certificates when they detect mass consumer use, requiring re-signing. Scarlet handles this automatically in most cases.

How TrollStore Works

TrollStore exploits a CoreTrust vulnerability in iOS to permanently install apps without valid certificates. Because it leverages a system-level exploit, installed apps do not expire, cannot be revoked by Apple, and do not require re-signing. Apps installed with TrollStore are as permanent as App Store apps from iOS’s perspective.

iOS Version Compatibility

This is the most important practical difference between the two tools:

  • Scarlet iOS: Works on iOS 14 through iOS 18.x (all current iPhones). No restrictions based on iOS version.
  • TrollStore: Works only on specific iOS versions where the CoreTrust vulnerability has not been patched. As of 2026, TrollStore 2 supports iOS 14.0 through iOS 16.6.1, iOS 17.0, and select builds. iOS 17.1 and above are generally not supported. iOS 18 is not supported at all by current TrollStore versions.

If you are running iOS 17.1 or later — which is most current iPhones — TrollStore is not an option. Scarlet iOS works on all of these versions without restriction.

Installation Process

Installing Scarlet iOS

Visit scarletios.com on Safari, tap Download, install the configuration profile, and trust the certificate. The whole process takes 2-3 minutes and requires no computer, no jailbreak, and no special iOS version. Any iPhone user can install it immediately.

Installing TrollStore

TrollStore installation is more complex and varies by iOS version. Depending on your version, you may need to use TrollInstallerX, TrollMisaka, or the original TrollInstaller via a computer. Some versions require a different app (like Tips) to be replaced temporarily. The process typically takes 10-30 minutes and some technical comfort is helpful. On unsupported iOS versions, installation is simply impossible.

App Persistence (The Biggest Difference)

The most significant practical difference is how long installed apps stay working:

  • Scarlet iOS apps: Signed with certificates that can be revoked. When revoked, apps show “Untrusted Developer” and stop opening. Re-signing through Scarlet restores function within 30 seconds. Certificate revocations happen periodically but Scarlet maintains rotation systems to minimize downtime.
  • TrollStore apps: Permanently installed. Apple cannot revoke them. They continue working indefinitely regardless of iOS updates (as long as you do not update iOS to an unsupported version). No re-signing ever needed.

For users on supported iOS versions, TrollStore’s permanent installation is a meaningful advantage for apps you want absolutely reliable access to.

App Capabilities

TrollStore can install apps with entitlements that Scarlet iOS cannot grant. Entitlements are special permissions that allow apps to access system features normally reserved for Apple or carrier apps. TrollStore-installed apps can use:

  • Root file system access
  • System process spawning
  • VPN without the normal iOS limitations
  • Advanced memory operations

Scarlet iOS installs apps with normal user-level permissions — the same as any App Store app, just without the App Store purchase requirement. This is sufficient for 99% of use cases including games, tweaked social media apps, and utilities.

Security Comparison

Both tools carry security considerations:

  • Scarlet iOS: Uses certificate signing — the same mechanism as enterprise apps. No system vulnerabilities exploited. The risk is trusting the certificates and repos you use for app sources.
  • TrollStore: Exploits a CoreTrust vulnerability to bypass code signing. Apple considers this a security issue and has patched it in newer iOS versions. The exploit itself is used only during installation; running apps do not continuously exploit the vulnerability.

From a practical day-to-day security standpoint, both are considered acceptable risks by the sideloading community. TrollStore’s reliance on an unpatched vulnerability means using it only works if you avoid iOS updates to unsupported versions.

Which Should You Use?

The choice depends entirely on your situation:

  • Use Scarlet iOS if: You are on iOS 17.1 or later, you want the simplest possible setup, or you want a broad app library with an active repo ecosystem
  • Use TrollStore if: You are on a compatible iOS version (16.6.1 or earlier, or iOS 17.0), you want permanent installs without any re-signing, or you need advanced system-level app capabilities
  • Use both if: You are on a compatible TrollStore version — use TrollStore for apps you need permanently reliable, and Scarlet for its broader app library and easier discovery

The Verdict

For most iPhone users in 2026 — especially those on iOS 17.1+ or iOS 18 — Scarlet iOS is the practical choice because TrollStore simply does not work on current iOS versions. For users on older iOS versions who want the most permanent and capable sideloading solution, TrollStore is technically superior. Both tools have their place in the iOS sideloading ecosystem.

Get started with Scarlet iOS at scarletios.com. Also read our comparison of Scarlet iOS vs AltStore for another perspective on the sideloading landscape.

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