# fr0stbyte

> Native macOS IPA analyzer. Inspect, diff, and install iOS apps from your Mac. No Terminal, no Xcode, no developer profiles.

fr0stbyte is a SwiftUI macOS application that analyzes iOS `.ipa` files. It surfaces frameworks, signing, Info.plist, fonts, plugins, animations, audio, databases, strings, images, nibs, and SKAdNetwork attribution metadata. Version comparison spans 12 dimensions with a narrative engine that summarizes every shift. Installed-size estimation covers 21+ iOS device models with multi-dimensional asset thinning. One-click device install ships any analyzed IPA over USB or WiFi to a paired iPhone or iPad, no iTunes or developer profiles required.

## Primary capabilities

- IPA inspection across 12+ tabs: Info.plist, frameworks, plugins, signing, fonts, animations, audio, databases, strings, images, nibs, SKAdNetwork
- N-way version diff across 12 dimensions: files, frameworks, binaries, sizes, entitlements, strings, plugins, Info.plist, tech stack, and four more
- Automatic stack detection: React Native, Flutter, Unity, Capacitor, SwiftUI, UIKit, Objective-C, CocoaPods, SPM, Firebase, Lottie, Rive, Flare, plus dozens more SDKs detected from the binary
- Installed-size estimation across 21+ iOS device models with arch, scale, display gamut, and Metal tier thinning
- One-click device install over USB or WiFi via libimobiledevice. FairPlay-protected apps install through Apple's own installation system using just-in-time sinf handling
- PDF export with five report profiles, from executive brief to full engineering atlas
- AES-GCM-256 encrypted .fbt archive format bound to Apple ID via Firebase UID, with HKDF-SHA256 key derivation

## Primary use cases

- Competitive intelligence on iOS apps (which frameworks, third-party SDKs, ad networks, entitlement changes)
- Mobile security and entitlement auditing
- App size and asset auditing across device models
- Mobile QA install workflows without provisioning profile renewal
- Reverse engineering iOS app structure (read-only inspection)

## System requirements

- macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later
- Universal binary, native on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs

## Pricing model

- Free tier: unlimited local IPA analysis, 100 download credits for App Store pulls
- Pro tier: one-time purchase with lifetime access, N-way comparison across 12 dimensions, PDF export with five report profiles, 1,000 welcome download credits

## What replaces it

A typical IPA inspection workflow needs `otool`, `class-dump`, `ipatool`, manual unzip + grep through binaries, Xcode for install, and custom shell scripts for comparison. fr0stbyte collapses that toolchain into one native macOS app with a structured UI.

## Quick links

- Homepage: https://fr0stbyte.app
- FAQ: https://fr0stbyte.app#faq

## Related queries this site answers

- IPA analyzer
- IPA inspection
- Analyze IPA file
- iOS app analyzer
- macOS IPA tool
- Diff iOS app versions
- N-way IPA comparison
- Install IPA without Xcode
- Install IPA over WiFi
- Inspect iOS app binary
- iOS competitive intelligence tool
- iOS security audit tool
- macOS alternative to otool, class-dump, ipatool