Ladybird finally meets Apple's criteria for being recognized as an alternative browser engine on iOS
In the European Union, Apple allows web browser apps and in-app browsing experiences for iOS and iPadOS to use alternative browser engines other than WebKit , which is primarily developed by Apple. It has now been revealed that the open web browser ' Ladybird ' has finally met the criteria for being eligible for this alternative browser engine.
Ladybird
https://ladybird.org/
Apple has been forcing web browsers running on iOS and iPadOS to use the WebKit standard, which Apple uses in Safari, a move that has drawn criticism from third-party browser app developers, including Microsoft.
'Apple's WebKit enforcement on iOS is crippling the future of web browsers' - GIGAZINE
by iphonedigital
However, in January 2024, Apple announced that it would allow alternative browser engines other than WebKit in response to the implementation of the EU's Digital Markets Act . Apple stated that 'alternative browser engines will only be approved for use if they meet certain criteria and commit to ongoing compliance with privacy and security requirements, including timely security updates to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.'
Apple finally allows full versions of Chrome and Firefox to run on iPhone - GIGAZINE
Ladybird is an open web browser being developed with the aim of being adopted as such an alternative browser engine. Ladybird is being developed by The Ladybird Browser Initiative, a non-profit organization founded by Chris Wanstrath , founder of GitHub, and Andreas Kling , developer of the open source PC operating system SerenityOS .
Ladybird, a truly open web browser free from all constraints, which does not receive money from Google and develops its own browser engine from scratch, raises over 160 million yen from the founder of GitHub - GIGAZINE
On October 5, 2025, Kling updated his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing, 'Yay! Ladybird has passed the 90% threshold in the web-platform-tests (WPT)! This is an optional standard that must be achieved in order for Apple to recognize it as an 'alternative browser engine for iOS.' I'm very proud of the progress the team has made.' WPT is a test that verifies whether web standards such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and APIs 'work as expected' in browsers.
Hooray! @ladybirdbrowser has passed the 90% threshold on web-platform-tests! 📈🎉
— Andreas Kling (@awesomekling) October 5, 2025
This is the arbitrary limit Apple says we must reach to be considered an eligible alternative browser engine on iOS. (+ other requirements)
So proud of the team for getting us this far 💜 pic.twitter.com/BQrpeZ9txk
Kling also explained that Ladybird's performance in the WPT hasn't suddenly improved, saying, 'Here's what it's been like over the past 365 days. It's not a sudden 'hockey stick' doubling of numbers! It's been a slow and steady improvement, with even a few nasty setbacks.'
Since it wasn't obvious to many people, the graph is very zoomed in! 📈🔍
— Andreas Kling (@awesomekling) October 6, 2025
Here's how it looked like over the last 365 days. We didn't suddenly 'hockey stick' over the line with some huge 2x improvement! It's been a slow and steady grind (with a couple of nasty regressions 😅) pic.twitter.com/oTpG4c7gtg
Kling also noted that even if Ladybird is recognized as an alternative browser engine to WebKit, 'I speculate that this means that it can only obtain alternative browser engine rights for variants of apps that are only available in the EU.'
I (perhaps charitably) assume it means you can only get this entitlement for a *variant* of your app that only ships in the EU.
— Andreas Kling (@awesomekling) October 5, 2025
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