Apple blocks vibe coding apps, sparking clash with AI startups over outdated App Store rules

Apple Cracks Down on Vibe Coding Apps

Apple is blocking vibe coding apps from its App Store, igniting a heated dispute with AI startups that claim the tech giant's enforcement of App Store rules is erratic and outdated1

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. Replit, a company valued at $9bn and backed by Andreessen Horowitz, said Apple blocked updates to its iPhone app, while startup Anything reported its app was repeatedly blocked and removed twice despite initial approval1

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. The conflict centers on App Store Guideline 2.5.2, which prohibits apps from downloading, installing, or executing code that changes their functionality—a restriction Apple maintains protects users' privacy and security2

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Vibe coding startups argue this rule clashes fundamentally with AI-powered software development tools designed to let users generate and test software with AI almost instantly. "We're in the dark," Anything founder Dhruv Amin told the Financial Times. "Either they should stop enforcing the rules in this weird way, or they should update the guideline to let this use case emerge"1

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Inconsistent Enforcement Frustrates Developers

Communications reviewed by the Financial Times reveal Apple's inconsistent enforcement of App Store guidelines. Apple repeatedly told Anything that features allowing users to preview apps built with AI to generate and test software breached the prohibition against downloading external code1

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. When Anything removed the preview feature and resubmitted, Apple rejected the app again, this time citing "minimum functionality"1

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. In early April, Apple briefly restored Anything to the App Store before removing it within a day, citing the original code-downloading restriction1

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. When contacted, Apple did not explain the reversal or clarify why the app had been approved initially.

Replit expressed being "surprised and disappointed" at the move to block updates, "given that we have been on the platform for years abiding by their rules"1

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. The company said it was "in discussions with Apple" and hoped to resolve the issue. Another app, Vibecode, has also experienced delays with updates1

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. Other prominent AI coding apps like Lovable and Cursor have yet to launch on iOS, as Apple polices its mobile store more strictly than apps for Mac computers1

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The Surge in AI-Generated Apps

According to Sensor Tower, the number of iOS apps released globally in 2025 rose 30 per cent year on year, a sharp acceleration compared with 20241

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. Anastasios Angelopoulos, chief executive of Arena, an open platform for evaluating AI models, noted there had been a "big upsurge in vibe coding" driven by AI agents that can write and run code. "The barrier to entry for building an app is getting extremely low," he said1

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. This explosion could pose challenges for Apple if the trend floods the App Store with lower-quality apps3

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Innovation Versus Security Concerns

Andreessen Horowitz partner David George said moves to "pump the brakes" on some vibe-coding apps "under the banner of security" risked stifling innovation and competition. "More surgical enforcement of [the App Store's] terms should be the priority," he said1

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. Yet Apple's concerns about security aren't unfounded. AI tools that can produce volumes of code on demand may backfire unexpectedly or be exploited for nefarious purposes2

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Ironically, Apple is embracing similar technology elsewhere in its ecosystem. In February, the company updated its developer toolkit, Xcode, to include AI coding agents from groups including Anthropic and OpenAI1

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. This has led some to speculate that vibe coding tools could represent competition for Apple's own developer offerings. For now, developers remain frustrated as they navigate what they see as mixed signals from Apple, waiting to see whether the company will modernize its App Store guidelines to accommodate the reality of AI-powered software development.