Top 5 Ways to Install Apps Outside the App Store

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Apple’s App Store is no longer the only way to install apps on iPhone in 2026. Whether you want tweaked apps, apps unavailable in your region, developer builds, or just more freedom over your device, multiple legitimate methods exist. This guide covers the top five ways to install apps outside the App Store on iPhone, from the simplest to the most advanced.

Method 1: Scarlet iOS (On-Device Certificate Signing)

Difficulty: Easy
Requires computer: No
iOS support: All versions including iOS 18
App availability: Thousands

Scarlet iOS is the most accessible method for most users. Install it from scarletios.com directly in Safari on your iPhone — no computer, no Apple ID, no technical knowledge required. Once installed, Scarlet provides a built-in repo ecosystem with thousands of apps: tweaked social media apps, modded games, emulators, productivity tools, and more. Tap Install on any app and Scarlet handles signing and installation automatically. Trust the certificate in Settings once and you are ready to go.

Best for: Casual users, anyone without computer access, users wanting the broadest app library

Main limitation: Certificates can be revoked by Apple, requiring re-signing (usually resolved within hours by Scarlet’s rotation system)

Method 2: AltStore with AltServer (Personal Apple ID Signing)

Difficulty: Moderate
Requires computer: Yes (Mac or PC running AltServer)
iOS support: All versions including iOS 18
App availability: Smaller curated library + custom IPA files

AltStore uses your personal Apple ID developer certificate to sign apps. Install AltServer on your computer, sign in with your Apple ID, connect your iPhone, and AltStore appears on your device. Once set up, AltStore automatically re-signs apps every 7 days when your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. The official AltStore app library is small but high quality. You can also install any IPA file you provide.

Best for: Users with a computer who want personal certificate signing, developers testing their own apps

Main limitation: 3 active apps limit (free Apple ID), 7-day re-signing, requires computer availability for re-signing

Method 3: Sideloadly (Computer-Based Signing Tool)

Difficulty: Moderate
Requires computer: Yes (Mac or Windows)
iOS support: All versions including iOS 18
App availability: Any IPA file you can find

Sideloadly is a Mac/Windows desktop app for signing and installing IPA files. It is not an app store — you provide the IPA files yourself from any source. Sideloadly signs them with your Apple ID and installs them on your connected iPhone. It has the best Apple ID authentication handling of any computer-based tool, making it the most reliable Cydia Impactor replacement. Same 7-day expiry as AltStore applies to free accounts.

Best for: Users who want to install specific IPA files not available in any app store, power users who want computer-side control of their signing

Main limitation: No built-in app discovery, manual re-signing required, requires computer

Method 4: TrollStore (Exploit-Based Permanent Installation)

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard (installation varies by iOS version)
Requires computer: Sometimes
iOS support: iOS 14-16.6.1, iOS 17.0 only
App availability: Any IPA file + community sources

TrollStore exploits a CoreTrust vulnerability to install apps permanently — no certificates, no expiry, no revocation possible. Apps installed via TrollStore are as permanent as App Store apps. The significant limitation is iOS version compatibility: TrollStore only works on iOS 16.6.1 and below, and iOS 17.0. Anyone on iOS 17.1 or iOS 18 cannot use TrollStore. For users on supported versions, TrollStore is technically superior to any certificate-based method.

Best for: Users on compatible iOS versions who want maximum app permanence, users who need system-level app capabilities

Main limitation: Does not work on iOS 17.1+ or iOS 18 — excludes most current iPhones

Method 5: EU Marketplace Apps (European Union Only)

Difficulty: Easy
Requires computer: No
iOS support: iOS 17.4+ in EU countries only
App availability: Growing

The EU Digital Markets Act forced Apple to allow alternative app marketplaces in Europe starting in 2024. App stores like AltStore PAL and Setapp Mobile operate as officially Apple-sanctioned alternatives in EU countries. Apps installed from these stores are treated as legitimate by iOS — no certificate trust step, no revocations. This is the most seamless non-App Store installation method for EU users. The app libraries are still growing and not yet as comprehensive as Scarlet iOS for tweaked apps, but they provide a fully legitimate path.

Best for: EU iPhone users who want the most seamless non-App Store installation

Main limitation: Only available in EU countries, app libraries still developing

Which Method Should You Use?

Here is the simple decision framework:

  • Just want the easiest option that works on any iPhone: Scarlet iOS
  • Have a computer and want personal certificate signing: AltStore
  • Have a specific IPA file you want to install: Sideloadly
  • On iOS 16.6.1 or below and want permanent installs: TrollStore
  • In the EU on iOS 17.4+: EU marketplace + Scarlet iOS

Many advanced users combine methods: Scarlet iOS for app discovery and the broad library, with AltStore or Sideloadly for specific apps requiring personal certificate signing. Start with Scarlet iOS and expand from there based on your specific needs. Read more in how to sideload apps on iOS 18 without a jailbreak for the step-by-step guide to getting started.

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