Altstore: Home for apps that push the boundaries of iOS. No jailbreak required
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Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderI've been using Altstore for a while. I just have a Windows VM on my existing Proxmox server running Altserver and never have to worry about it. My primary use-case is a third party YouTube client that integrates ad blocking and SponsorBlock-- it saves me a huge amount of time and frustration when using YouTube. Why not jailbreak? I want to remain on the latest iOS software, and generally speaking, hardware. Jailbreaking is just not an option for me if…
iOS & iPadOS devices would be so awesome if they could just run arbitrary software. The new iPad Pro is more powerful than my Lenovo T-Series laptop, and I would totally buy one if I could actually run e.g. Linux on it. But unfortunately Apple deliberately cripples these devices. Really hope the EU will overthrow these hardware-facilitated software monopolies soon. The truth is Apple already makes quite sizeable profits with the hardware alone, so I think at least power users…
In Switzerland, Delta Emulator is not available in the App Store since Riley made it an AltStore exclusive in Europe. However, you cannot get AltStore either because Switzerland isn't part of the countries where Apple allows alternative stores: https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/118110#countries-and-regions.
It seems like this uses the free iOS developer license to install a few apps temporarily on your phone. I can't see this gaining much traction with the 7 day refresher periods though
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 3
- Total points
- 808
- Total comments
- 551
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-09-25 | A home for apps that push the boundaries of iOS. No jailbreak required | WillPostForFood | 10 | 1 |
| 2019-09-27 | Altstore – An alternative iOS app store, no jailbreak required | jonny_eh | 2 | 1 |
| 2020-07-23 | Welcome to AltStore | colinprince | 2 | 0 |
| 2020-08-17 | AltStore alternative AppStore. No jailbreak required | dnqthao | 4 | 0 |
| 2020-08-23 | AltStore – sideloading iOS apps without jailbreak | coolspot | 4 | 0 |
| 2020-11-08 | AltStore | Shank | 2 | 0 |
| 2021-06-20 | AltStore – An alternative app store for non-jailbroken iOS devicesFirst breakout | murkle | 302 | 215 |
| 2023-03-20 | Altstore: Home for apps that push the boundaries of iOS. No jailbreak requiredBest thread | behnamoh | 333 | 244 |
| 2024-04-20 | AltStore. The first Apple approved alternative App StoreHall induction · Latest 20+ point return | janandonly | 145 | 90 |
| 2024-07-28 | AltStore – Sideloading for iPhone -Discover apps that push the boundaries of iOS | punnerud | 2 | 0 |
| 2026-03-27 | An alternative to the app store that can globally block short form media | tokenomics | 2 | 0 |