Updated with Apple’s statement to 9to5Mac following the story.
AI is making app development easier than ever. However, a new report claims that Apple’s App Store is not fully embracing these new tools. The companies behind two “vibe coding” apps that let you create tools by inputting text requests into an AI system say Apple is pushing the category again.
Stephanie Palazzolo and Aaron Tilley, reporting for information:
Apple has quietly blocked AI-powered vibe coding apps like Replit and Vibecode, which help people create games and other apps, from releasing updates to their mobile apps on the App Store unless they make modifications, according to several people with knowledge of the situation.
9to5Mac has Mobile apps covered by Replit for iPhone recently. The app technically supports building software that can be submitted to the App Store.
The information includes Apple’s position, which cites existing App Store rules rather than a new policy:
The company confirmed that it has told some app developers that vibe’s coding capabilities violate old App Store rules that say an app can’t run code that changes the way it or other apps work. Apple’s crackdown comes at a time when vibe coding apps is emerging as a potential threat to the company by helping developers create web apps that aren’t listed on the App Store, a key source of revenue and profits for Apple.
The report goes on to say that vibe encoding apps may need to either retire some features or change how vibe encoding apps are previewed after creation.
The challenge with vibe coding apps and App Store policy is straightforward. Apple doesn’t allow apps to change how they work after they go through the App Store review process.
Vibe’s coding apps essentially allow these apps to become something completely different. However, the new app is not actually being distributed from the App Store. It just works on the user’s device.
Apple tells about App Store Guide 2.5.2, which reads as follows:
Applications must be self-contained in their own packages and cannot read or write data outside of the designated container area, nor can they download, install, or execute code that introduces or changes features or functionality of the application, including other applications. Educational applications designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, under limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such applications must make the source code provided by the application fully viewable and editable by the user.
According to The Information, the fix for at least one of these apps could be simple. It is likely to generate app previews in a browser rather than within the vibe coding app itself. You can read the full Information Report here.
Separately, Apple has hugged Vibe coding technology with its Xcode development environment. Apple recently added support for integration with OpenAI and Anthropic agent coding tools.
Update: Apple says there is no App Store rule specifically against vibe coding apps. In addition to the App Store Guidelines cited above, the company also points to Section 3.3.1(B) of the Developer Program License, which reads as follows:
“Interpreted code may be downloaded into an Application, but only so long as such code: (a) does not alter the primary purpose of the Application by providing features or functionality inconsistent with the intended and advertised purpose of the Application.”
Apple also says it has maintained consistent communication with app developers, explaining the guideline violations and how to comply, including over three phone calls in two months.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links to earn income. More.
