ESign Discontinued - Best Alternatives in 2026 (Feather, KSign, Scarlet)
ESign stopped working in April 2025. Here are the 6 best ESign replacements: Feather, KSign, Scarlet, GBox, AltStore, and SideStore — with setup guides and comparison.
ESign was the dominant on-device IPA signer for years. In April 2025, it was officially discontinued — no more updates, no more downloads from official sources. If you're still getting "ESign not working" errors, that's why.
The good news: 2026 has better alternatives. Here's everything you need to migrate.
Why Did ESign Stop Working?
ESign relied heavily on enterprise certificates that were shared broadly across its user base. As Apple's revocation enforcement became more aggressive in early 2025, ESign's certificate infrastructure became increasingly unstable. Combined with the app's closure of official distribution in April 2025, the tool is effectively dead.
The result: Millions of iOS users who relied on ESign are now searching for replacements. If you're one of them, you're in the right place.
The 6 Best ESign Alternatives in 2026
1. Feather IPA Installer — Best Overall (Open Source)
Why it's the top choice: Feather is open-source, actively maintained, and works on iOS 15 through iOS 26. Unlike ESign, you can verify exactly what it does — there's no hidden telemetry or unexpected certificate behaviour.
Key differences from ESign:
- Requires you to provide your own P12 certificate (ESign used shared enterprise certs)
- More stable — no surprise revocations affecting all users at once
- Cleaner, more modern iOS UI
- Supports iOS 26 fully
Setup:
- Download Feather IPA from GitHub releases
- Sideload it using Sideloadly or AltStore
- Trust the certificate in Settings → General → VPN & Device Management
- Import your P12 certificate and mobileprovision from your Apple Developer account
- Add IPA files and sign them on-device
iOS support: iOS 15 – iOS 26 ✅
Cost: Free, open source
2. KSign — Best Feature Parity with ESign
Why it's the top choice for ESign migrants: KSign was explicitly built to replace ESign's feature set. It supports the same enterprise certificates ESign used, has a similar interface, and even supports background operation (a feature many missed after ESign).
Key differences from ESign:
- Runs in background — can download and install IPAs while you use other apps
- Built-in logs tab for debugging
- Slightly different UI but familiar workflow
- iOS 26.2 is the current maximum supported version (update expected)
Setup:
- Download KSign from the official ksign-ios.com website
- Install using Sideloadly or AltStore
- Import your certificate (enterprise or personal developer)
- Browse for IPA files and sign them on-device
iOS support: iOS 14 – iOS 26.2 ✅
Cost: Free
3. Scarlet — Best for Non-Technical Users
Why it's recommended for beginners: Scarlet combines an app store browser with on-device signing, so you don't need to find IPA files yourself. Browse, tap, install. The workflow is as simple as the App Store.
Key differences from ESign:
- Built-in repo browser — find tweaked apps without hunting for IPA files
- More beginner-friendly interface
- Slightly less control over signing details
iOS support: iOS 15 – iOS 26 ✅
Cost: Free
4. GBox — Best for iOS 26 Compatibility
Why it's recommended for iOS 26 users: GBox has excellent iOS 26 support and is frequently updated to keep pace with Apple's latest security changes. It's the tool several r/sideloaded members recommend for iOS 26.3+.
iOS support: iOS 15 – iOS 26 ✅
Cost: Free
5. SideStore — Best if You Want Auto-Refresh
Why it's recommended for stability: If you were using ESign to avoid the 7-day certificate problem, SideStore with a personal developer certificate is a better long-term solution. Apps auto-refresh in the background, no computer needed.
Different from ESign: This is an AltStore-based tool, not an on-device signer in the same way. But it solves the core problem (no expiry headaches) more elegantly.
iOS support: iOS 14 – iOS 26 ✅
6. AltStore Classic — Best for Safety
Why it's recommended for cautious users: If you used ESign primarily for convenience and don't need enterprise cert capabilities, AltStore with a free Apple ID is the safest migration path. No risk of device blacklisting, no revocation issues.
Comparison: ESign vs Its Best Replacements
| Feature | ESign (RIP) | Feather | KSign | Scarlet | SideStore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | ❌ Dead | ✅ Active | ✅ Active | ✅ Active | ✅ Active |
| On-device signing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Open source | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| iOS 26 | ❌ (dead) | ✅ | ✅ (26.2) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enterprise cert support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Personal dev cert | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto-refresh | ❌ | ✅ (dev cert) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Background operation | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Built-in repo | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Computer needed | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Once |
How to Migrate from ESign
If you have apps currently signed with ESign that are now showing as invalid or expired, here's the migration path:
- Download Feather or KSign and sideload it using Sideloadly (requires computer once)
- Get a new certificate — either from your own Apple Developer account or import a fresh P12 cert
- Re-sign your IPA files — if you still have the original IPAs, open them in your new tool and re-sign
- For apps you no longer have IPA files for: Search our IPA library for verified downloads
FAQ
Q: Can I still find and use the old ESign app?Old ESign IPA files circulate online but the app is unmaintained. Certificate management will not work properly. Use a maintained alternative.
Q: Do the ESign alternatives work with my old certificates?If you have a P12 file and mobileprovision from a certificate you purchased, both Feather and KSign can import them directly. The certificate mechanism is identical.
Q: Which alternative is most like ESign?KSign is the most direct ESign replacement in terms of interface and workflow, especially for enterprise certificate users.
Q: Are these alternatives safe?Feather (open source, auditable) and SideStore/AltStore (trusted developer teams) are the safest. KSign and Scarlet are closed-source but widely trusted in the community.