All About Cydia, The Alternate iPhone App Store GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Mobile Phones > iPhone & iOS 35 35 people found this article helpful
All About Cydia
An alternative app store for iOS devices
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 17, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android While the information in this article is still useful, both Cydia and jailbreaking face an uncertain future. Cydia's app sales feature was disabled in Dec. 2018. Jailbreaking has been fading away as Apple has made the iOS more powerful and flexible, and as security holes have been patched (which makes it harder to jailbreak). With app sales gone and momentum slowing, Cydia could cease operations entirely. Cydia is an alternative App Store that offers apps for the iPhone, iPod touch, and some versions of the iPad that aren’t available in Apple's official App Store. Apps offered in Cydia may have been rejected by Apple for reasons including that they violate Apple’s terms for apps or that they compete with Apple’s own apps. Some apps available at Cydia may also allow users to do things Apple doesn’t want them to. Cydia What Do I Need to Use Cydia
An iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, with iOS 3 or higher, that is jailbroken. Where Do I Download Cydia
Many jailbreaks for iOS give you the option to install Cydia as part of the process. If yours didn't, you can download the latest version of Cydia here. What Kind of Apps Does Cydia Have
The types of apps available in Cydia vary widely. Some perform system-level tasks that Apple blocks from apps approved for the official App Store. Some apps are intended for testing purposes only. Some developers prefer Cydia to the App Store as a matter of principle—they don't want Apple to take 30 percent of their revenue on paid apps or subscriptions. What Do Cydia Apps Cost
Just like in the official App Store, apps at Cydia are both free and for pay. Paid apps cost anywhere from US$0.99 to $20 or more. Remember: For the time being, at least, Cydia's app-sales feature has been disabled. Can I Pay For Cydia Apps With My Apple ID
No. Your Apple ID account only works for buying things from Apple (at the App Store or iTunes, for instance). To buy apps through Cydia, you can use PayPal, Amazon Payments, or in some cases, your credit card. Are Cydia Apps Safe
One of the ways that Apple promotes its App Store is by stressing that it reviews apps for bad coding or malicious behavior. This is designed to protect users and promote good-quality software. Cydia doesn’t offer this kind of in-depth vetting of apps before they are available to users. One on hand, Apple’s approval process restricts apps that may be perfectly safe, but in some way opposed to Apple’s interests. On the other, it ensures some level of quality. Because Cydia isn't supported by Apple and its apps aren't checked before they're posted, you install apps from Cydia your own risk. That risk could include that some apps contain malware or spyware, or that Apple may not provide support to you as a result of problems caused Cydia apps, even if you're still under warranty. Apple has specifically not supported jailbroken devices in the past, on the grounds that jailbreaking voids device warranties. Does Cydia Work Like the App Store
In many ways, yes. But in one crucial way, it doesn't. Apple's App Store stores all the apps it sells on Apple's servers and you download them from there. Cydia, however, is more like a directory or middleman than a store. When you download apps from Cydia, the download doesn't come from Cydia servers, but rather directly from the creator of that app. That also means that redownloading apps from Cydia could be a problem, if the creator of the app no longer offers it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Get Apps That Are Not in the App Store How to Turn Off Family Sharing for iTunes Are iPads Really That Safe from Viruses and Malware? How to Hide iTunes and App Store Purchases in Family Sharing How to Download and Sync Apps to an iPod Touch How To Use the Apple App Store on iPhone How to Download iPhone Apps From the App Store Using iTunes How to Get Peacock TV on Firestick How to Lock Apps on Any iPhone How to Easily Fix the iPhone White Screen of Death What Does Jailbreaking a Phone Mean? Can You Jailbreak the Apple Watch? How to Connect an Xbox One Controller to an iPhone What Is a Third-Party App? What It Means to Jailbreak Your iPhone How to Use iPhone DFU Mode Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies