Apple Under Fire for Erratic App Store Rules on Vibe Coding Apps

Apple is catching heat from startups over how it handles vibe coding apps in the iOS App Store. Companies including Replit and Anything are complaining that rules are applied erratically, creating an unpredictable environment for developers building with AI-assisted coding tools.

The iPhone maker has flagged security risks as a wave of new software floods its review process. Vibe coding — where developers use AI to help generate applications — has exploded in popularity, and Apple's review pipeline is feeling the pressure.

The core grievance: inconsistency. Startups say the same rules get enforced differently depending on the app, making it nearly impossible to predict what will pass review. For companies betting their businesses on these tools, that unpredictability is a serious problem.

Apple hasn't publicly addressed the specific complaints. The tension highlights a growing friction between rapid AI-assisted development and traditional app gatekeeping.