Why isn't Gab in the Apple App Store?

Gab was removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store following a campaign of pressure related to content on the platform. Apple and Google have the unilateral ability to remove any app from their stores, and both exercised that power against Gab — a form of deplatforming through gatekeeping control of mobile app distribution.

What happened

Gab was first removed from Google Play in 2017, and Apple removed the Gab app in 2018 following a coordinated deplatforming campaign targeting the platform. Neither Apple nor Google has restored the app to their stores.

Apple and Google together control 100% of smartphone app distribution through their duopoly. This makes app store removal a uniquely powerful deplatforming tool — far more effective than removing a website, since most mobile users only install apps through official stores.

How to install Gab on your phone anyway

iPhone: Install the Progressive Web App (PWA) from Safari — open gab.com, tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen." It works like a native app without needing App Store approval.

Android: Install the PWA from Chrome — open gab.com, tap the menu, then "Add to Home screen" or "Install app."

Why this matters

App store removal is part of a broader pattern of coordinated deplatforming that Gab has faced across payment processors, web hosts, and app stores. Gab's response has been to build infrastructure that doesn't depend on any single gatekeeper — including a full-featured PWA so that no app store can cut off access to the platform.