iOS and Android have two of the largest and most recognized mobile app stores in the works but they don’t offer everything users want and they are not the only app stores.
We’ve picked just ten of the best third-party app stores available for iOS users. But first, why do you need one? Doesn’t the Apple app store offer everything you would need? Well, these third-party app stores don’t just benefit those who want to download apps and games; they also benefit the developers who submit their apps to the store.
Content Summary
TweakBox:
TweakBox is one of the more popular third-party app stores, offering plenty of tweaked apps and having more than 15,000 active users per day. First released in 2015, support for this app store has steadily risen, partly because it works in two ways. First, it is an app store, offering a built-in library of more than 300 apps and games, all kept updated, and 20 to 30 new ones are added each month. Most of these are not made available in the iOS app store, making TweakBox the only place to get them from. Second, it allows users to sideload IPA files and self-sign them without needing to jailbreak, which means there is no limit to what you install on your device. TweakBox is a clean app store, with no malware and all apps are virus-tested before being allowed in the store – everything you download is safe and secure.
Features:
- More than 3000 apps and games with more added every month
- “Request an App” feature
- No skills or tools needed to install and use it
- Accounts are quickly restored
- 24/7 customer service
AltStore:
AltStore is one of the best-known third-party app stores that also works without a jailbreak. It differs from other third-party stores in that developer certificates are not required to run the apps and there are few apps in the app store. Instead, it provides users with an easy way to sideload unsigned IPA files on your device, which you can download from the internet. These are generally apps that Apple will not allow into their store, mostly because they have been modified or offer features that Apple doesn’t allow. However, using AltStore on your iOS device requires installing a companion app called AltServer on your computer first. For this, you will need knowledge on how to change your Wi-Fi settings and use an advanced firewall.
Features:
- No need to jailbreak
- App certificates can’t be revoked as users create their own
- Third-party IPA files can be installed in the same way we used to use Cydia Impactor
- Offers open-code
Panda Helper:
Another cool iOS app store, Panda Helper, used to be a jailbreak-only app, giving jailbreakers a source of unofficial content. Now, with more than a thousand apps and games included, it is available to all users without a jailbreak and for free. It has a user-friendly interface, and the store is always being updated, with new content frequently added, including unsigned apps, tweaks, and much more. One of its best features is that you don’t need to install it – Panda Helper can be run right from your browser, making downloads simple.
Features:
- Simple to use
- No need to jailbreak
- Constantly updated
- New apps and games are added all the time
- No need to install – Panda Helper can be run as a browser app
ACMarket:
One of the latest unofficial app installers, ACMarket is packed with thousands of third-party apps, games, tweaks, and more. Unlike some similar installers, ACMarket does not require your Apple ID to work, nor are any of the apps or games restricted by geographic location. The app store is simple to use, you don’t need to jailbreak and it’s completely free. It has support for all iOS versions, including the latest ones.
Features:
- Full support for all iOS versions
- No need to jailbreak
- Completely free
- User-friendly
- Offers SSL encryption to keep your downloads secure
Cydia:
A list of unofficial app stores wouldn’t be complete without talking about Cydia. By far the most popular unofficial app store, Cydia is only available with a jailbreak. However, it does offer a fantastic choice of tweaked and modified content, and plenty of tweaks to change how your iPhone or iPad works and looks. It is compatible with any iOS device that can run a jailbreak.
Features:
- User-friendly
- Compatible with all iOS devices with a jailbreak
- Packed with thousands of tweaks, apps, games, modifications, and more
TutuApp:
Another popular iOS app store alternative, TutuApp offers thousands of modified and tweaked apps and games, for free. It is an incredibly user-friendly app store, with a cool design. Much of what is included in TutuApp cannot be found in the official app store and everything is encrypted with SSL to ensure it is secure. TutuApp is supported on all iPhone and iPad models.
Features:
- User-friendly
- Thousands of games, apps, tweaks, and more
- Supports all iPhone and iPad models
Jojoy:
Jojoy is one of the newer app store alternatives, offering a great choice of content. Not only can you find plenty of apps and games here, but also lots of game emulators, ringtones, tweaks to improve your device, and much more. It is one of the safest app installers, regularly updated and new content is added frequently. Jojoy does not need a jailbreak and works perfectly well on the later iOS versions without interfering with Apple’s security.
Features:
- Easy to download and install
- User-friendly app store
- Compatible with virtually all iOS versions
- Plenty of free apps, games, and more
HappyMod:
HappyMod is another well-known third-party app store that has been around for a while. It is popular because it offers a vast array of unofficial apps and games, not just for iOS but for Android devices too. You can choose from popular apps for free, tweaked apps, and modified games with new features, tweaks, and lots of other content. It’s all free and you don’t need to jailbreak.
Features:
- No need to jailbreak
- High-speed downloads
- Popular apps for free
- Lots of other cool content
SosoMod:
SosoMod is one of the newer app stores and is proving incredibly popular. Here, you can download from a huge choice of modified apps and games, tweaks, free apps, games, and plenty of other content, all free. It works on all iOS devices running iOS 8 or above without a jailbreak.
Features:
- Well over a thousand apps and games
- User-friendly app installer
- Works on iOS 18 or higher on all supported devices
PlayMods:
Last but by no means least is PlayMods, another cool app installer that offers free and easy access to working game emulators, modified games, tweaked apps, and even jailbreak tools. This is one of the easiest app installers to use, offering access to several thousand apps and games without needing to jailbreak your iOS device. There are no hidden fees, app certificates don’t get revoked by Apple as they do with some installers, and it is supported on all devices running iOS 13 or above. You can also access game emulators, like HappyChick, Delta, Provenance, GBA4iOS, and games like GTA iSpoofer, Minecraft, Sniper 3D, Last Day on Earth, Sniper 3D, and Shadow Fight 3, among others. If all that wasn’t enough, you can also download jailbreak tools without using your PC.
Features:
- Completely safe and reliable to use
- Free to use
- No jailbreak is needed
- Compatible with all devices
- No need to provide your Apple credentials
- Top-notch customer service
- Fewer app revokes
This list is just ten of the very best alternative app stores, all offering a fantastic choice of third-party content for free. With the exception of Cydia, all the others can be installed easily, without needing to install any jailbreak tool. They are all free, all easy to use and all offer content you cannot get from the iOS app store.