Why sideloading is no longer just for developers, and how to do it safely.
Originally a workaround to sideload apps without jailbreaking, AltStore has exploded in popularity. Using a desktop app to "refresh" the apps on your iPhone, it allows you to install emulators (like Delta), torrent clients, and tweaked apps. With the EU's Digital Markets Act forcing Apple to allow third-party stores, AltStore is pivoting to become a legitimate marketplace. alt app installer
If you are tired of being told what software you can and cannot run, take the plunge. Start with on iOS or F-Droid on Android. It takes ten minutes to set up, and it opens a door to a world of software that the billionaires in Silicon Valley don't want you to see. Why sideloading is no longer just for developers,
Alternative installers flip the script. They give the power back to the user. Depending on your operating system, the landscape looks different. Here are the three most interesting right now: With the EU's Digital Markets Act forcing Apple
If you are on Android, F-Droid is the gold standard. It contains zero proprietary software. Every app is open source. Want a YouTube client with no ads (NewPipe)? A keyboard that doesn't spy on you? A firewall that blocks trackers? F-Droid is where freedom lives. It isn't pretty, but it is powerful.