# Apple App Store Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-app-store/ 39 people recommended Apple App Store in Hacker News comments, 28 had mixed feelings and 461 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 12 months, in 29 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Criticized more than recommended: critics say the commission and app review are the main caveats; those who recommend it cite vetted apps, easy installs and simple subscription management. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. ## What people warn about - 30% commission seen as excessive (6 comments in the sample): "You cannot tell me with a straight face that if the only difference was I subscribed on my phone to someone who charges me $10/mo…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46811401)) "Apple needs to catch up with the changing requirements, so digital goods delivered by the developer’s infrastructure shouldn’t have a commission." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49365101)) "They should get 30% for installing paid apps that they are vetting and hosting, but nothing for things third parties are hosting and vetting" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46815307)) - Apple controls which apps get listed (4 comments in the sample): "you can't get apps onto their phones without Apple and Google signing the app and letting you into their store" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47648174)) "If Apple denies you, iPhone users can't get your app, and if you go sign up at a competitor or buy your own servers…" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45982892)) "Giving them exclusive control to police speech - legal speech - without an opt out that doesn't involve thousands of dollars of loss" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45981883)) - Inconsistent review and slow support (1 comment in the sample): "Apple reviewers falsely accuse an app of being astrology when absolutely nothing proves it and double down when shown they are wrong." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49216992)) ## Why people recommend it - Vetted apps reduce scams and malware (2 comments in the sample): "I’ve been installing apps from the App Store for more than a decade and have never ever accidentally downloaded spam or malware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47747906)) "I have the reasonable assumption that whatever I install from the app store is not going to brick my phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50191293)) - Easy subscription management and cancellation (1 comment in the sample): "I like the fact that when deleting an app, it reminds you about existing subscriptions related to that app" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46850442)) - Created a usable mobile app market (1 comment in the sample): "break the stranglehold cellphone carriers had on cellphone software, and we should kiss their butts every single week for that" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46212329)) ## Other app stores people recommend - [F-Droid](https://hackerapproved.com/p/f-droid/): 180 recommend, 41 mixed, 80 criticize - [Aurora Store](https://hackerapproved.com/p/aurora-store/): 43 recommend, 15 mixed, 16 criticize - [Obtainium](https://hackerapproved.com/p/obtainium/): 34 recommend, 2 mixed, 5 criticize - [Google Play](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-play-store/): 29 recommend, 22 mixed, 335 criticize ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.apple.com/app-store/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Apple App Store", https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-app-store/ (39 recommend, 28 mixed, 461 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 3 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.