Apple is taking a tough stance on vibe-coding apps as the business is blocking updates or removing those apps from the App Store. Affected apps include Replit, Vibecode, and Anything. While Replit and Vibecode’s updates were paused, Anything’s app was removed twice. The enterprise is now looking for novel ways, like offering a desktop version of its service, to let users build apps for mobile devices. This also touches on aspects of mobile apps.

Anything’s co-founder, Dhruv Amin, noted in a conversation with TechCrunch that Apple removed its app on March 26. Since then, the enterprise has been unable to get its app approved, despite a period where there was a brief reinstatement.

“It’s been a long saga. We built a mobile app primarily to let our users who are building iOS apps preview their own app on their own device while developing it. [We] had no problems through December. Post December, we and everyone else in the category started getting our updates blocked,” Amin told TechCrunch.

Amin noted that Apple told the organization that the app was restricted or removed because of its developer agreement clause 2.5.2, which prevents apps from downloading, installing, or executing code.

“The app markets itself as a mobile app builder for iPhone and advertises making native iOS apps with features like 1-tap App Store submissions, code export, and full source code editing,” Apple told the corporation, according to a screenshot of an email shared by Anything on X.

Guideline 2.5.2 – Gatekeeping – Vibes denied

we haven’t talked about this publicly

for months we tried to resolve it privately with emails, calls, appeals, and four technical rewrites to comply with whatever Apple wanted

here’s our truth, unfiltered

Amin remarked that when the firm managed to get on a call with Apple, the iPhone maker told them that the vibe-coding app was removed because of the potential it could be used to download malicious code. In addition, Apple noted that a user could build a harmful app, sideload it on their phone, and then claim that it passed Apple’s App Review process.

Anything’s app was restored on April 3, but it was swiftly removed as Apple told the organization that it couldn’t industry itself as an app maker.

TechCrunch reached out to Apple for a comment on these removals, and we will update the story if we hear back.

Following the battle with Apple, Anything’s maker is looking for other ways to allow the public to build mobile apps. Earlier this month, the enterprise launched a feature that let users build apps using the iMessage platform. The enterprise mentioned it will also build a desktop companion app that lets users vibe code mobile apps on their computer.

In addition, Amin noted that the business may instead look at Google’s Android operating system for building its apps, as the platform is more open than iOS.

Besides vibe-coding app makers, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has been vocal about Apple’s tactics.

In a reply to Replit’s Amjad Masad on X, Sweeny mentioned that Apple needs to “stop blocking development tools apps ASAP.”

Apple needs to stop blocking development tools apps ASAP. This practice is abhorrent to the founding principles of Apple as expressed by Steve Wozniak, in which every Apple ][ computer booted to a programming language prompt and treated using and making software equally.

Earlier this month, The Information reported that thanks to AI-powered coding tools, Apple saw an 84% jump in app submissions in a single quarter. This could force Apple to change its human-led review processes.

Plus, as AI-powered coding takes off, consumers might demand that platforms like Apple allow them to create apps for themselves.

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