How App Signing Works

A signing certificate is a digital key from Apple that lets apps run on your iPhone. Normally only the App Store has these keys. BuildStore uses developer certificates to sign apps for you — so you can install apps Apple doesn't allow. No jailbreak, no technical skills required.

Apple locks down iOS — every app must be digitally signed. On Android, you can install any APK file. On iPhone, you need a signing service like BuildStore to sign the app for your device. That's what your plan pays for: a valid certificate linked to your device.

Three steps: (1) Choose a plan and pay. (2) Install a configuration profile — takes 30 seconds, we guide you through it. (3) About 60% of devices go through 1–3 day Apple processing. After that, browse our catalog and install any app. Premium members get a free week added to cover any processing delay.

Yes — but it comes with tradeoffs. Free methods typically require a computer for every install, apps expire and need reinstalling every 7 days, and you need technical knowledge to manage certificates and provisioning profiles. Some use enterprise certificates, but if those get revoked, you'll need a full factory reset to sideload again. Many free methods also require a VPN to protect the certificate. The more advanced the method, the more technical skill it demands.

With BuildStore, you tap and install from your phone — no computer, no weekly reinstalls, no VPN. Plans start at $7/year. Try it and see if the convenience is worth it.

A "revoke" is when Apple disables a developer certificate. All apps signed with it stop opening. Apple does this because sideloading uses developer certificates in a way they didn't originally intend. It can happen to any sideloading service — it's a known risk, not a bug.

Your apps stop opening until you get a new certificate. What happens next depends on your plan:

Premium ($4.59/mo): We move you to a new certificate immediately, add a free month, and cover the entire Apple cooldown. You never lose a paid day.
Light ($20/year): Same low-risk certificates as Premium (30 devices), but no automatic recovery or compensation. You come back for a new certificate yourself.
Budget ($7/year): Shared certificates with no device limit — higher revoke risk, no recovery or compensation.

No. A revoke only disables the app — your saved data, game progress, and settings stay on your device. Once you reinstall with a new certificate, everything is still there. Think of it like an app update — the data stays, only the signature changes.

After a revoke, Apple places your device in a cooldown — a waiting period before a new certificate becomes active. The first time it's about 14 days, after that it can be up to 30 days. This is the biggest real consequence of a revoke, and there's no way around it — you simply wait it out on the new certificate. No other negative effects: your Apple ID is safe, your device is fine, your data stays. You just need patience. Premium subscribers get every cooldown day compensated with free subscription time.

All three give you access to the full app catalog. The difference is certificate quality and protection:

Budget ($7/year) — shared certificates, no device limit. Highest revoke risk. No recovery, no compensation. Cheapest way in.
Light ($20/year) — same premium certificates as Premium, limited to 30 devices. Much lower revoke risk. But no automatic recovery or compensation — you handle it yourself.
Premium ($4.59/mo) — same low-risk certificates as Light, plus full protection: automatic revoke recovery, free month added after every revoke, and downtime compensation for every missed day.

With Premium, revoke recovery is automatic. We detect the revoke, move you to a new certificate, and add a free month to your subscription. You don't need to contact support or buy anything extra. Just reinstall your apps — usually within the same day. Light and Budget users need to request a new certificate manually.

We add free time to your Premium subscription for every minute your apps are unavailable — whether due to a revoke, Apple processing, or any other issue. You never lose a day you paid for. This is Premium-only; Light and Budget don't include compensation.

Sideloading is legal. You're using Apple's own developer certificate system to install apps on a device you own. BuildStore has been operating since 2013 — over 12 years. We don't modify iOS, don't require a jailbreak, and don't bypass any device security.

No. BuildStore works on stock iOS — no jailbreak, no computer needed. You install a lightweight configuration profile from your iPhone, and that's it. Your device stays fully secure with all Apple protections in place.

No. BuildStore uses developer certificates, not your Apple ID. Your Apple ID is never shared with us or used for signing. There is no risk to your Apple account, purchases, or iCloud data.