Developers Say 'Vibe‑Coded' Apps Are Clogging the iOS App Store Review Process

Developers are warning that a large number of AI-generated apps are slowing Apple's App Store review process. So-called "vibe-coded" apps can be shipped quickly because they're generated by AI platforms that let users enter commands in natural language rather than actual code. This trend has driven a sharp jump in new iOS app submissions, with data pointing to the fastest growth in new releases in about four years, per Business Insider.

Indie developers, industry analysts, and self-proclaimed vibe coders told Insider (and Reddit) that review queues are now the primary bottleneck in the review process, with some of their own apps or updates waiting several days or even a few weeks for approval. Even Elon Musk has complained about iOS app review timelines in the past couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Apple claims that around 90% of apps get approved within 48 hours, and the overall processing rate is high. However, the company hasn't gone into detail regarding cases that take much longer to review.

At the same time, Apple seems to have quietly blocked updates for some popular vibe‑coding tools over concerns that they download or run code in ways that violate App Store rules. Apple says it is enforcing these restrictions across the board, rather than introducing a new policy against coding with AI support.

All of this means that developers now work in a busier market with mounting quality demands and less predictable review times. Many want and expect Apple to lean more on automated checks to filter low‑quality content (also known as AI slop) than on human reviewers for higher‑risk submissions.