AppValley used to be the first name people mentioned when this topic came up. These days it’s more likely to come up in complaints — revokes, broken installs, apps that just refuse to open. If you’ve been burned by it recently, you’re in good company, and you’re probably wondering what’s actually worth switching to.
Here’s what’s working right now.
AltStore — The One Most People Should Use
AltStore has quietly become the most dependable option in this space, and it’s not particularly close. Because it works through your Apple ID rather than relying on enterprise certificates, you sidestep the whole revoke problem that makes other platforms so frustrating. Apps stay installed.
The catch is the setup process. You need a computer to get it running initially, and refreshing apps every seven days is a mild annoyance if you’re on a free Apple developer account. It’s not hard, just a little more involved than tapping “install” and walking away. For most people, that tradeoff is absolutely worth it.
Sideloadly — For People Who Know What They’re Doing
Sideloadly isn’t really an app store — it’s a tool for installing IPA files directly onto your device. If that sentence means nothing to you, it’s probably not the right fit. If it does, Sideloadly is excellent. It gives you more control than almost anything else out there and works reliably for installing custom or modified apps when you already know what you want and where to get it.
Scarlet — The Newcomer That’s Earned Some Attention
Scarlet has picked up a real following over the past year or so, mostly because it’s genuinely easy to use. Direct installs, a clean interface, and none of the bloat that makes some of these platforms feel sketchy. It’s still building its library compared to the older options, but for straightforward use it holds up well.
TutuApp and Panda Helper — Still Around, For What It’s Worth
Both of these are still technically operational. TutuApp in particular has leaned hard into ads to keep the lights on, which makes the experience noticeably worse than it used to be. Panda Helper has a VIP tier that’s more functional than the free version. Neither is where I’d point someone starting fresh in 2026, but they’re worth knowing about if you have a specific reason to try them.
So What Should You Actually Use?
It depends on what you’re after. If you want something that works reliably with minimal drama, AltStore is the answer. If you want the simplest possible experience and aren’t too bothered about library size, give Scarlet a try. If you’re comfortable with IPA files and want maximum control, Sideloadly is the most powerful tool available.
The broader trend here is telling — the most reliable options aren’t really app stores at all anymore. They’re sideloading tools. The traditional third-party store model is showing its age, and the alternatives that have stood the test of time are the ones that work with Apple’s systems rather than against them.