What is sideloading?

When referring to iOS devices, "sideloading" means installing an app in IPA format onto an Apple Device, usually through the use of a computer program such as Cydia Impactor, Xcode, on the actual device using a Jailbreak method or using a signing service instead of Apple's App Store. On modern versions of iOS, the sources of the apps must be trusted by both Apple and the user under "profiles and device management" in settings; except when using jailbreak methods of sideloading apps.

Advantages

Sideloading has several advantages when compared with other ways of delivering content to mobile devices:

• There are no restrictions on what content can be sideloaded. Users may sideload any compatible App which may be restricted or banned in their country.

• Content that is removed from the App Store, e.g., for belatedly discovered licensing violations, can still be loaded to the Apple device, as long as there is a decrypted archive of the app.

• Tweaked apps, commonly applied on Jailbroken devices can be applied, and loaded onto a non-jailbroken device.*

* Depending on tweak requirements

Disadvantages

• Depends on the method of sideloading chosen

  • subscription cost

  • potential ads

  • frequency of revocations from Apple (if using third-party certificates)

  • computer requirements

	Frequency of Revokes	Limitations	Computer Required	Advertisements	Subscription Cost	iOS Requirement
AltStore Sideloadly	Every 7 days	2-3 apps	✔			12.2+
Enterprise Certificates	Often	Unlimited apps		✔		Varies
Paid Signing Services	Infrequent	Unlimited apps			✔
Apple Developer Program (manual)	Never	Unlimited apps	✔		~$99 to Apple
Apple Developer Program (appdb)	Never	Unlimited apps			~$99 to Apple
Jailbreak	Never	Unlimited apps	?			11.0+

References

1. Sideloading (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideloading)

2. r/Delta_Emulator Wiki (https://www.reddit.com/r/Delta_Emulator/wiki/guide)