[tajen]

Interesting question. According to https://developer.apple.com/support/certificates/:

>> If your membership expires, users can still download, install, and run your Developer ID–signed applications. However, once your Developer ID certificate expires, you must be an Apple Developer Program member to get new Developer ID certificates to sign updates and new applications.

What I understand is that codesigning costs $99 a year, which open-source projects may want to skip, but this harms their credibility if their downloads are compromised.

[SyneRyder]

I really thought Apple had added a free option (maybe even specifically for open source projects?), but I can't find it anywhere. Can anyone else find that info, or am I misremembering?

[Mtinie]

I believe you are misremembering the details. There is a free account option, but code signing isn't available.

https://developer.apple.com/support/compare-memberships/

What's not clear to me, however, is if the educational option allows for free developer-level memberships.

[SyneRyder]

Thank you! I'd confused it with recent changes to the iOS program allowing people to self-sign so they can test on their own iOS devices.

It looks like Educational memberships are Sign-In With Apple ID only, which doesn't provide a Developer ID (which is required for code signing, as far as I can tell).