The original (now discontinued) was popular for:
AltStore is a secure sideloading platform that uses your own Apple ID to sign apps. It requires a computer for the initial setup.
Not fully. The nearest no-sideload options are: youtube vanced ipa file
This is where the "Vanced IPA" story gets interesting. It wasn't just a download; it was a ritual.
Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer. Click the AltServer icon, hover over "Install AltStore," and select your connected iPhone. You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID email and password—this is used to generate a developer certificate to sign the app. AltStore will then be installed on your iPhone. The original (now discontinued) was popular for: AltStore
What about Google banning your account for using a modified YouTube client? According to discussions on Reddit and various tech forums, this remains unlikely. Google would lose too much money from banning accounts, as a banned account generates no revenue at all. YouTube typically responds by issuing DMCA takedowns against the modified apps themselves or breaking their functionality through updates, rather than banning individual users. Users have been using modified versions on both Android and iOS for years without experiencing account bans, though theoretically, using a tweaked app does violate YouTube's Terms of Service.
Modified apps often use YouTube's proprietary code, infringing on Google's software rights. The nearest no-sideload options are: This is where
A list of alternatives after the shutdown of Vanced - GitHub Gist
While the original Vanced team was eventually forced to shut down due to legal pressure from Google, their influence remains. The "YouTube Vanced IPA" might be a myth, but the tools it inspired—like uBlock Origin and various iOS injection mods—continue to give users the control they first saw on Android years ago.
Sideloading—installing IPA files without using the official App Store—has evolved significantly, especially following EU regulations. However, the reality is still far from the freedom Android users enjoy.