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CI/CD Tools

CI/CD tools automate the processes of Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD), streamlining the building, testing, and deployment of software updates across various platforms and environments.

Top 5 CI/CD Tools

Appcircle

All-in-one mobile CI/CD platform
100+ mobile specific integrations
Continuous testing integration
Centralized Signing Identity management

Supports easy distribution to testers
Supports in-house distribution
Automated, customizable, and secure app release process
Latest build stacks available within 24 hours

Azure DevOps

Limited mobile-specific capabilities
No built-in app distribution to testers
No fully customizable publish-to-store automation

GitHub Actions

Limited mobile-specific capabilities
No centralized signing identities management
Requires manual macOS maintenance

GitLab CI/CD

Limited mobile-specific capabilities
No centralized signing identities management
Lacks in-house distribution support

Jenkins

Limited mobile-specific capabilities
Heavy reliance on plugins for core functionality
Lacks out-of-the-box continuous testing integration

How to choose

your CI/CD Tool ?

End-to-End Platform

Many platforms offer only limited functionality for tasks such as building and publishing to app stores. If you plan to use these features, make sure the platform includes robust, comprehensive modules for Build , Signing Identity Management, Testing Distribution, Enterprise App Store, and Publishing to Stores to fully address your needs.

Modular by Design

Appcircle's modular architecture lets you license only the components you need, from Build and Continuous Testing to Enterprise App Store and Publishing. Each module works independently, optimizing your CI/CD workflows without extra overhead while enabling seamless expansion as your requirements grow.

Intelligent Build Caching

Appcircle's Cache Push and Cache Pull components dramatically reduce build times by automatically saving and reusing build artifacts, dependencies, and compiled data. Pre-configured paths for Android Gradle and iOS CocoaPods provide immediate optimization, while advanced cache sharing between pipelines enables seamless team collaboration.

Continuous Testing Integration

Comprehensive testing capabilities are essential for maintaining app quality throughout the development lifecycle. Appcircle provides integrated continuous testing solutions for iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter applications, enabling automated testing workflows that seamlessly integrate with your CI/CD pipeline. From unit tests to UI testing, ensure your apps meet quality standards before distribution.

CI Integration

Seamless integration with existing CI/CD tools is supported. Appcircle offers ready-to-use plugins for Azure DevOps , GitHub , Fastlane , Jenkins , and more. With API and CLI support, you can easily integrate Appcircle distribution into your existing CI workflows.

Distribution Speed & Security

Multi-region secure CDNs make your app builds globally accessible with optimized performance, even in regions with strict or unique internet regulations. With encryption at rest and in transit, your packages are distributed securely across all environments.

Flexible Deployment Options

Every enterprise is unique and may require different deployment models, such as Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, or on-premise solutions. Appcircle addresses these needs with a portable, container-based architecture that aligns with your specific deployment strategy. Whether you choose to deploy on GCP Public Cloud, on-premise, or through private listings on the AWS and Microsoft Azure Marketplaces, Appcircle is designed to meet your requirements.

IAM/SSO Integration

Appcircle delivers comprehensive security with built-in IAM and SSO integration, supporting leading identity providers such as Okta, Azure AD, and OneLogin, along with authentication protocols like LDAP, OpenID, and SAML. Role mapping through LDAP and SSO allows seamless role and permission assignments based on identity provider groups, ensuring consistent and secure access control.

Appcircle

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Gitlab CI/CD

Jenkins

Out-of-the-box Support for Mobile Platforms

Ready-to-use pipelines for iOS (Obj-C / Swift), Android (Java / Kotlin), React Native, Flutter, .Net MAUI, Ionic

Needs to connect to each provider through plugins

Templates for iOS (Swift), Android, Xamarin

Templates for iOS (Swift), Android, Flutter

No out-of-the-box support; everything must be manually set up using open-source plugins

Latest Stack Availability

New Xcode versions available within 24h, selectable from a dropdown

No promise

Must be handled manually

Clean Build Architecture

Product designed to use clean build architecture for every build, every time

Must be set up manually

Advanced Build Caching

Cache Push and Cache Pull components for advanced caching and file sharing between pipelines

Caching can be configured

Must be handled manually

Natively Supported Git Providers

GitHub, Github Enterprise, Bitbucket, Bitbucket (Self-Hosted), GitLab, GitLab (Self-Managed), Azure Cloud, Azure Self-hosted, SSH

GitHub, Github Enterprise, Bitbucket Cloud, Bitbucket Server, Azure Cloud, Azure Self-hosted, SSH

GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, SSH

GitLab, GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Bitbucket Cloud, Bitbucket Server, FogBugz, Gitea, SSH

GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, Gitea, Tuleap via plugins, SSH

Webhooks (Event-Driven Automation)

Webhooks can be set for events such as code pushes, pull requests, and tag creations. In addition, webhook connections are handled automatically for certain Git providers

Webhooks can be set for events such as repo creation, pull requests, service connections and more, but should be set up manually

Triggers on events like code pushes, pull requests, GitHub Pages builds, or adding a team member, but should be set up manually

Can be set for events such as push, tag, comment, pipeline, and more, but should be set up manually

All webhooks must be set up manually

Triggering Options (Manual, On Commit, Scheduled, API)

Automatic triggers on commits, PRs, and tags, plus scheduled triggers via plugins

Automatic triggers on single or multiple events, scheduled plugins, and triggers when a file path changes

Automatic on single/multiple events, scheduled via cron, manual, or from another workflow

Supports multiple trigger options but triggers must be set up via API calls

Must be set up manually

Environment Setup

Can create different workflows and configurations for each environment

Define environments and reference them in your pipeline, hard to distinguish between environment configurations and manage them effectively

Via environment dashboard plugin or directly in Jenkinsfile, hard to distinguish between environment configurations and manage them effectively

YAML/No YAML

Supports both YAML and no-YAML with drag-and-drop pipeline configuration

Supports both YAML and no-YAML with Classic Editor

Supports YAML only

Supports pipeline-as-code only; requires a Jenkinsfile

Build Pipeline Configuration

Manage builds using GUI drag-and-drop interface

Define builds via YAML files or GUI

Defined via custom or template .yml files

Use your own .yml file or select a template

Defined via Jenkinsfile

Ready-to-Use Mobile Development Steps

100+ workflow steps tailored for mobile app build, distribution, and publishing, including code signing and versioning

Fewer than 20 tasks directly related to mobile app build, distribution, and publishing to stores

320+ actions for mobile development

Components not focused on mobile app build, distribution, or publishing

40+ plugins for mobile development

Custom Script Support

Ruby and Bash support

Any language supported, but pipeline integration must be handled by the developer

Write custom Docker container actions or JavaScript actions

Any language supported, as long as the necessary runners are available on the runner

Write scripts and include them in Jenkinsfile

Security & Vulnerability Scanning

Yes, via ready-to-use workflow steps or custom scripts

Available via tasks

Via third-party tools or custom workflow scripts

Built-in support

Via plugins

Code Coverage Reporting

Yes, via unit and UI test workflow steps

Yes, via tasks

Via third-party tools or custom workflow scripts

Available by adding to pipeline configurations

Via plugins

Support for Various Testing Frameworks

Ready-to-use plugins for mobile development tests; any test framework via custom scripts

Supports testing using built-in tasks or custom scripts

Yes, via Actions

Ready-to-use components in the catalog

Yes, via plugins

Ability to Run Tests on Different Environments/Devices

Via integrations; can send to TestFlight via Publish module, etc.

Uses matrix strategy by setting up different configurations

Yes, via Actions

Use matrix strategy by setting up different configurations

Yes, via plugins

Signing Identities Management

Centralized management for Apple certificates, Apple profiles, and keystores

No centralized management; code signing limited to uploading certificates/keystores

No centralized management; code signing only available using plugins

Automatic Versioning

Versioning handled automatically via workflow steps and customizable based on strategy

Basic versioning is supported, but advanced versioning must be handled by developers

No out-of-the-box support; but available via actions

No out-of-the-box support; versioning automation must be handled by developers, which can be a tedious process

App Distribution to Testers

Appcircle has its own testing distribution module; can also connect to external third-party delivery systems like Firebase App Distribution, etc.

Can connect to external third-party delivery systems like Firebase App Distribution, etc.

Testing Group Support

Yes; offers a module covering all needs for distributing apps to testers, including a UI-friendly portal, SSO/LDAP integration, re-signing, versioning, etc.

Branded App Store for In-House App Distribution

Yes, offers a branded app store for in-house app distribution

Automated Delivery

Yes; can create pipelines with both YAML and UI

Via Releases by setting up your own pipeline; does not support YAML

Available but must be manually set up in .yml

Yes, but must be manually set up in Jenkinsfile

Publish to App Store Automation

Yes; fully customizable publish-to-store pipeline

Yes; via tasks

Yes; pipeline must be set up using actions related to publishing

Yes; pipeline must be set up accordingly

Access Control

Offers various login options, including SAML and OpenID SSO; Two-Factor Authentication also available for increased security

Via Microsoft Entra ID; requires learning another tool

Fine-grained access control

Offers various login options, including SAML and OpenID SSO; Two-Factor Authentication also available for increased security

Yes, via plugins

LDAP Group/Role Mapping

Supports LDAP group/role mapping for seamless integration with your organization's directory services, enabling effective and automated tester group management

Via Microsoft Entra ID; requires learning another tool

Not natively supported

Supports LDAP group/role mapping

Yes, via plugins

SSO Login

OpenID & SAML

Uses Microsoft Entra ID; requires learning another tool

OpenID & SAML

OpenID & SAML via plugins

Deployment Options

Public Cloud, Private Cloud, On-premise, Self-hosted

Cloud and self-hosted

Cloud and self-hosted runners

Cloud, GitLab Self-Managed, GitLab Dedicated

Self-hosted

Industry Certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)

SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR

Not applicable; open-source downloadable software

Pricing Model

Free tier or tailored pricing

Pay-as-you-go pricing

Multiple tiers from Free to Enterprise

Free, Premium, Ultimate tiers

Free

License

Closed Source License; Open-source Workflow Steps

Closed Source License; some Open-source Tasks

Closed source Platform; Open-source CI/CD actions

Closed Source License; Open-source CI/CD components

Open-source

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FAQs

+What is a CI/CD Platform?

+What is a DevOps Platform?

+How does a DevOps platform differ from CI/CD?

+What is the difference between Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery?

+Can CI/CD be used for mobile app development?

+What are the benefits of CI/CD for mobile development?

+What are the challenges of mobile CI/CD?

+What are CI/CD best practices?

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