Apple has quietly blocked AI "vibe coding" apps — including Replit and Vibecode — from releasing updates on the App Store unless they make significant changes, according to a report from The Information.

The Reason: Self-Modifying Code Rules

Apple cited App Store Guideline 2.5.2, which prohibits apps from executing code that "introduces or changes features or functionality" after review. Vibe coding tools let users build and run apps using natural language prompts, which Apple argues constitutes a violation because the generated code runs inside the app, effectively changing what the app does.

An Apple spokesperson told reporters the policy isn't specifically targeted at vibe coding apps — it applies the same longstanding rules against self-modifying code.

Real-World Impact

Replit's mobile app hasn't received an update since January. During that time, it slipped from first to third place in Apple's free developer tools rankings, a decline the company attributes in part to its inability to ship updates.

Apple has indicated it would approve pending updates if developers make adjustments. Replit could comply by opening generated app previews in an external browser instead of an embedded web view. Vibecode was told to drop its ability to generate software specifically for Apple platforms.

The Tension

The crackdown comes at an awkward moment. Apple collected nearly $900 million in App Store commissions from generative AI apps in 2025 — with ChatGPT subscriptions accounting for roughly 75 percent of that. Yet vibe coding tools represent a potential threat: they can generate web apps that run outside the App Store ecosystem, bypassing Apple's 30 percent cut entirely.

Apple has separately embraced AI coding in its own tools, adding agentic coding features to Xcode 26.3 in February.