iPhone App Minus App Store?

Question

If I create an application on my Mac, is there any way I can get it to run on an iPhone without going through the app store?

It doesn't matter if the iPhone has to be jailbroken, as long as I can still run an application created using the official SDK. For reasons I won't get into, I can't have this program going through the app store.

Answer 1

After copying the the app to the iPhone in the way described by @Jason Weathered, make sure to "chmod +x" of the app, otherwise it won't run.

Answer 2

You can use AppBox, A mac application that uses your dropbox account to distribute you ad-hoc and enterprise apps, if you want to install form any other browser.

https://github.com/vineetchoudhary/AppBox-iOSAppsWirelessInstallation/releases

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Options

Archive and Upload IPA

• Just Select Project/Workspace to archive -> make ipa -> upload ipa -> send mail -> and shutdown mac

Upload IPA Only

• Just select IPA file to upload ipa -> send mail -> and shutdown mac

Feature

• Keep Same Link
  • This feature will keep same short url for all future ipa uploaded with same bundle identifier.
  • If this option is enabled, you can also download the previous build with same url.
• Auto E-Mail App Distribution Link
• Auto Shutdown Mac after Distribution
• Maximum Upload Size => Equal to your Dropbox account storage
• Uploaded App Expiration => Until you delete from your Dropbox
• Installations Per App => Unlimited

• Dashboard*

  * Will be available in future version

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AppBox vs Diawi

Screenshot

Upload IPA

Archive and Upload IPA

Uploading IPA

Give it a try here https://github.com/vineetchoudhary/AppBox-iOSAppsWirelessInstallation/releases

Answer 3

• Build your app
• Upload to a crack site
• (If you app is good enough) the crack version will be posted minutes later and ready for everyone to download ;-)

Answer 4

It's worth noting that if you go the jailbroken route, it's possible (likely?) that an iPhone OS update would kill your ability to run these apps. I'd go the official route and pay the $99 to get authorized. In addition to not having to worry about your apps being clobbered, you also get the opportunity (should you choose) to release your apps on the store.