Appcircle Mobile App Distribution Platform

Appcircle Mobile App Distribution Platform provides secure and flexible app distribution for iOS and Android, available as both cloud and self-hosted options. Key features include advanced access control, customizable enterprise app store, SSO integration, detailed installation tracking, and more.

What is Appcircle Mobile App Distribution Platform?

Appcircle App Testing Distribution is a core module of the end-to-end Appcircle Mobile CI/CD platform, enabling seamless distribution of pre-release iOS and Android builds to designated test groups. Available both in the cloud and self-hosted, it offers secure IAM/SSO-based access control, customizable distribution profiles, native integrations with other CI/CD tools, detailed install tracking, binary re-signing, multi-channel delivery, and rich reporting. Appcircle also provides an Enterprise App Store for easy and secure in-house distribution, making it ideal for enterprise needs.

Appcircle Mobile App Testing Distribution Platform

Appcircle Mobile App Distribution

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Top Mobile App Distribution Platform Alternatives

Appcircle

Comprehensive mobile app distribution platform.
Supports self-hosted deployment and cloud options.
Provides Testing Distribution and Enterprise App Store modules.
Ideal for enterprises with complex security and distribution requirements.

IAM & SSO support (OpenID & SAML) for secure access.
In-app updates.
Public links for easy distribution.
Apple Device Registration & Management [Ad Hoc].
Enterprise App Store for in-house app distribution.

Others

Applivery

Applivery is integrated with its own ecosystem, requires an Applivery account for access, and supports in-app and forced updates. However, public link distribution is not available, which may limit flexibility for some teams.

Firebase

Firebase is integrated with the Firebase ecosystem, requires a Google account for access, and includes crash reporting and analytics.However, this integration may constrain teams seeking more flexibility outside the Google environment.

TestFairy

TestFairy provides in-app feedback and bug reporting, integrates SSO for secure access, and features auto-update functionality. However, these capabilities might offer limited customization for teams seeking more tailored solutions.

FAQs

+How does Appcircle handle user management and testing groups?

+Can I use Appcircle Testing Distribution module with self-hosted/on-premise deployments?

+Can I use Appcircle Testing Distribution module with my existing CI tool?

+Does Appcircle support resigning binaries?

+Can testers install apps without an email invitation?

+Does Appcircle provide Signing Identities Management?

+Does Appcircle provide an internal app store for in-house app distribution?

+Are there limitations on the number of testers or apps?

Appcircle Mobile App Distribution Platform

Looking for the right mobile app distribution platform? Discover why Appcircle is the leading choice for secure and reliable app distribution.

Build

Appcircle’s robust infrastructure and clean build architecture deliver consistently fast, reliable builds. Advanced caching and up-to-date stack management significantly reduce build times and save developer hours. With customizable workflows, 100+ ready integrations and seamless Git connections, teams accelerate mobile app delivery with no YAML complexity.

Learn more about Build

Signing Identities

Centralize all app signing identity management in one secure dashboard with no need to switch to the Apple Developer Portal. Easily generate, renew, and track Certificates, Identifiers, Profiles, Keystores, and Apple device registrations automatically. Proactive expiration alerts, auto renewal, and detailed activity logs keep your mobile CI/CD workflows secure and uninterrupted.

Learn more about Signing Identities

Testing Distribution

Effortlessly distribute iOS and Android binaries, manage testers, and automate your entire app test distribution process. It offers native plugins for CI/CD tools like Fastlane, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and Visual Studio, along with CLI and API support. An intuitive tester portal, multi-channel delivery, SSO/LDAP authentication, and detailed reporting ensure a smooth testing experience.

Learn more about Testing Distribution

Re-sign Binary

Appcircle lets you re-sign iOS and Android binaries manually or automatically. You can update your app’s certificate or keystore, change the app name, icon, version info, entitlements, provisioning profiles, and embedded certificates. This keeps your apps secure and up-to-date without a full rebuild, even when transferring app ownership to a new developer account or updating an existing application, while maintaining full traceability and compliance.

Learn more about Re-sign Binary

Publish to Stores

Automate app store releases and manage submissions to App Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Microsoft Intune, and TestFlight from a single dashboard—no need to switch between different store platforms like App Store Connect or Google Play Console. Customize publish flows with drag-and-drop design and custom script support. Automate metadata updates and re-signing, keeping everything transparent with detailed activity logs and access controls.

Learn more about Publish to Stores

CodePush

Deliver secure, seamless OTA updates for your React Native apps with Appcircle CodePush. Integrate with your CI/CD pipeline, push real-time changes to users without requiring app store resubmission, manage controlled rollouts, instantly roll back updates, and enhance security with code signing, package diff, code obfuscation, self-hosted options, and enterprise-grade reporting.

Learn more about CodePush

Enterprise App Store

Distribute internal iOS and Android apps securely through your own branded store, without MDM. Support in-app (over-the-air) updates for seamless user experiences. Integrate natively with CI/CD tools like Fastlane, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and Visual Studio. Manage access with SSO/LDAP, use custom domains, and track installs with detailed reports for a secure app delivery experience.

Learn more about Enterprise App Store

Publish to Microsoft Intune

Easily publish your mobile applications directly to Microsoft Intune within your automated release workflow. Register your app with the Microsoft Identity Platform and provide your credentials for secure publishing. Keep your business apps up-to-date by submitting new builds and updating app metadata on Intune, all managed seamlessly through Appcircle’s Publish module.

Learn more about Intune integration

Multi-tenancy

Segment teams into independent sub-organizations to improve security and operational efficiency. Advanced role management lets you assign module-specific permissions to every user, making it easy to control access, manage responsibilities, and maintain security across multiple teams and projects, even as your organization scales.

Learn more about Multi-tenancy

SSO/LDAP Support

Appcircle offers enterprise-grade security with seamless integration to identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and OneLogin using standard protocols such as OpenID Connect, SAML, and LDAP. The platform enables dynamic role and permission assignments based on identity provider groups, supporting fine-grained access control through role mapping via SSO and LDAP.

Learn more about SSO/LDAP Support

Deployment Options

Every enterprise has unique needs. Appcircle supports Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid, and on-premise deployments. Its portable, container-based architecture lets you deploy on GCP, AWS, Azure, or within your own Kubernetes, OpenShift, Podman, or Docker environment. Choose the deployment setup that best fits your business requirements.

Learn more about Self-Hosted Appcircle

Ready to use CI Plugins

Seamless integration with your existing DevOps tools is easy with Appcircle. Take advantage of ready-to-use plugins for Azure DevOps, GitHub, Fastlane, Jenkins, and more. With full API and CLI support, you can easily connect Appcircle’s distribution modules to your workflows, automate the entire process, and ensure reliable, scalable app delivery.

Learn more about CI Plugins

Activity Log & Reports

Track every action across all modules with detailed activity logs and enterprise-grade reporting. Appcircle provides full visibility into build, signing, testing, enterprise distribution, and publishing operations, helping you meet security and compliance requirements. Keep your workflows secure, auditable, and fully transparent at every stage.

Appcircle Mobile App Distribution Platform

Testing Distribution Support

Upload Binary

Manuel, API, CLI, Ready to use CI Tools Integrations

Changelog Customization

Yes

Group-Based Tester Management

Yes

Auto-send New Builds to Testers

Yes

QR Code and Link Sharing

Yes

User-Friendly Testing Portal

Yes

Tester Authentication Options

SSO, LDAP, Static, None

Public / Private Access Control

Yes

Issue Tracking Integrations

Jira, MS Azure Boards

Enterprise App Store Support

Binary Comparison

Yes

Beta & Live Channel Management

Yes

Customizable Enterprise Portal

Yes

Custom Domain Support

Yes

Enterprise Portal Authentication Options

SSO, LDAP, Static, None

In-App Update Support

Yes

CI Tool Integrations

Fastlane, Jenkins, Github Actions, MS Azure DevOps

Binary Re-signing Support

Manual or Automatic Re-signing

Yes

Re-sign Binary Metadata

Update app name, icon, description, etc.

Re-sign Binary Version Info

Yes

Re-sign Binary Entitlements (iOS)

Yes

Re-sign iOS Provisioning Profile

Yes

Re-sign Android Keystore & Sign Config

Re-sign APK/AAB using a new keystore

Re-sign Bundle Identifier (iOS)

Yes

Re-sign Package Name (Android)

Yes

Re-sign Build Number / Version Code

Yes

Re-sign Embedded Certificates (iOS)

Replace embedded signing certificates

Converting AAB to APK

Yes

Enterprise-Grade Features

Notification System Support

Email, Slack, MS Teams and Custom Hooks

SSO & LDAP Authentication Support

OpenID, SAML

LDAP Group and Role Mapping

Yes

Fine-Grained Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Yes

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Support

Yes

Enterprise-Grade Logging and Reporting

Yes

API & CLI Access Support

Yes

Multiple Deployment Options

Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid, On-premise (Openshift, Kubernetes, Podman, Docker)

Private Cloud Deployment Support

AWS Marketplace, Azure Marketplace

SLA-Based Enterprise Support

Ticket Center Access, Online

AI Assistant Integration (OpenAI-based)

Yes

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of the authors. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors is of their opinion and are not intended to malign any organization, company, individual or anyone or anything. This comparison is based on their review of the product for market research purposes

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This information was last updated in Q1 2024

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