Apple Quietly Blocks Updates for Popular 'Vibe Coding' Apps [Updated]

Apple has quietly blocked AI "vibe coding" apps, such as Replit and Vibecode, from releasing App Store updates unless they make changes, The Information reports.

"Vibe coding" tools allow users with little to no programming experience to build apps or websites using natural language prompts. Their accessibility has driven rapid adoption among both developers and non-technical users.

Apple told The Information that certain vibe coding features breach long-standing ‌App Store‌ rules prohibiting apps from executing code that alters their own functionality or that of other apps. Some of these apps also support building software for Apple devices, which may have contributed to a recent surge in new ‌App Store‌ submissions and, in some cases, slower approval times, according to developers.

An Apple spokesperson said the policy is not targeted specifically at vibe coding apps. However, some people familiar with the matter said Apple was close to approving updates for Replit and Vibecode after the developers agreed to modify how their apps preview generated content or remove certain capabilities altogether, such as creating apps for Apple platforms.

When platforms like Replit generate an app, they typically display it within the original app using an embedded web view. This is something Apple seems to object to. The company now expects approval if it adjusts its app to open generated apps in an external browser rather than an in-app web view.

In Vibecode's case, the review team indicated it would likely approve updates if the app removed the ability to generate software specifically for Apple devices, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Information claims that Apple's intervention risks undermining view coding apps' usability and growth. For example, since its last update in January, Replit's mobile app has fallen from first to third place in Apple's free developer tools rankings, a decline the company attributes in part to its inability to release updates, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Vibe coding apps present a potential concern for Apple because they enable users to build applications that operate outside the ‌App Store‌ ecosystem, while also competing with Xcode. Some developers believe Apple has an incentive to steer them toward its own tools, which could make switching to alternative platforms more difficult.

Update: Apple told GeekWebGuides that it does not have any rules specifically against "vibe coding" apps and that the App Review Guidelines are designed to encourage innovation while preserving safety for users. The company pointed to App Review Guideline 2.5.2:

Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. Such apps must make the source code provided by the app completely viewable and editable by the user.

Likewise, the Developer Program License says that code may be downloaded to an app, but only if it "does not change the primary purpose" of the app by "providing features or functionality that are inconsistent with the intended and advertised purpose" of the app.

When Apple discovers that an app is not complying with ‌App Store‌ rules, it generally explains the violation to developer and seeks to work with it to help bring the app into compliance. In the case mentioned in The Information's report, Apple says it maintained consistent contact with the developer about guideline violations.