Enterprise-Grade Mobile CI/CD Platform
Firebase App Distribution
Firebase App Distribution is a mobile app distribution platform that allows developers to distribute pre-release versions of their apps to testers.
What is Firebase App Distribution?
Firebase App Distribution is a mobile app distribution platform that allows developers to distribute pre-release versions of their apps to testers. It provides a user interface for testers to download builds and view app versions. Firebase App Distribution is part of the Firebase suite of app development tools and services, offering integration with other Firebase products such as Crashlytics for crash reporting and analytics.
Top Alternatives to Firebase
- 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 (OpenID & SAML) integration 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.
FAQs
Appcircle vs. Firebase App Distribution
Looking for the right mobile app distribution platform? See how Appcircle compares to Firebase App Distribution and what makes it the leading choice.
Flexible Deployment Options
Every enterprise is unique and may require different deployment options, 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 requirements while also preventing cloud vendor lock-in. Whether you choose to deploy on GCP Public Cloud, on-premise, or privately via the AWS Marketplace, Appcircle meets your requirements.
Distribution Speed & Security
Multi-region secure CDNs ensure your app builds are globally accessible with optimized performance, even in regions with unique internet regulations. With encryption at rest and in transit, your packages are distributed securely.
Built for Purpose
Distribution platforms serve different purposes, such as Testing Distribution or deploying in-house apps to internal users via an Enterprise App Store. Appcircle offers dedicated modules tailored for each of these use cases.
IAM/SSO Integration
Comprehensive security with IAM/SSO integration, including Identity Providers such as Okta, Azure AD, and OneLogin, along with support for authentication protocols like LDAP, OpenID and SAML The platform also supports IAM role mapping (through LDAP and SSO), enabling seamless role and permission assignments based on identity provider groups for enhanced access control.
Apple Ad-Hoc Device Registration
Streamlined UDID registration for Apple devices with configuration profiles. The platform automatically adds device UDIDs to provisioning profiles, simplifying device management for app distribution and testing.
Re-signing Binaries for iOS and Android Apps
Support for re-signing iOS and Android binaries allows developers to re-sign apps with new certificates (iOS) or keystores (Android), ensuring app integrity and security.
CI Integration
Seamless integration with existing CI/CD tools is supported. With ready-to-use plugins for Azure DevOps, GitHub, Fastlane, Jenkins and more, plus API/CLI support, you can easily integrate Appcircle Distribution into your existing CI workflow.
End-to-End Platform
Many distribution tools offer only limited functionality for tasks such as building and publishing to app stores. If you plan to leverage these features, ensure the platform provides robust, comprehensive modules for Build, Signing Identity Management, and Publishing to Stores to fully address your needs.
Appcircle Testing Distribution
Firebase App Distribution
Supports resigning iOS and Android binaries with new certificates or keystores, simplifying the process of updating or publishing under a different developer account.
Streamlined UDID registration with configuration profiles; automatic addition to provisioning profiles.
Separate distribution screen for easy downloading; supports multiple languages, viewing app version details, managing shared app profiles, and providing publisher info, contact email, privacy policy URL, and terms of service URL.
Provides a user-friendly interface for testers to download builds and view app versions.
Easy management of testers and groups, including IAM/SSO (OpenID & SAML) groups; flexible sharing options without email requirements. Provides a feature to create, manage, and group testers based on various criteria like OS versions, features, devices, or organizational needs.
Manage testers via email invitations, groups, and onboarding process, requires Google account. You can create manual groups or import testing groups from Google Play integration.
No email limitations, supports any email address, distribution link sharing with optional username/password protection.
Mandatory Google account for testers.
Supports IAM/SSO (OpenID & SAML) for flexible user authentication.
Mandatory Google account for user management.
Allows sharing app with a distribution link; no account needed for testers to access and test the app.
Requires login with Google account even when using a link to share the app.
Supports both iOS and Android app distributions, with additional features for managing provisioning profiles and UDIDs.
Manage both iOS and Android pre-release distributions from the same place.
Efficient distribution process with easy tester management and auto distribution settings.
Fast onboarding, no SDK required, and instant app delivery.
Roadmap
Enables in-app feedback from testers.
Scalable solution with no stringent limitations on the number of testers; flexible group management for organized testing.
Limited by Firebase's constraints.
Allows seamless re-engagement of unsubscribed users; automatic removal from unsubscribed list upon re-sharing the app, confirmed by a prominent warning message.
Unsubscription can be done through the email settings. To resubscribe, one must return to the same page and opt back in.
It offers the ability to publish applications to marketplaces such as Google Play, App Store, and Huawei App Gallery, while also enabling seamless management of the release process with flexible and customizable publish flows. Additionally, it supports distribution through platforms like TestFlight and Microsoft Intune.
Only Google Play is supported.
Allows creating an Enterprise App Store for internal distribution. Supports custom branding, IAM/SSO (OpenID & SAML) or static login, and In-App Update.
Public Cloud, Private Cloud,
On-premise, AWS (Amazon Web Services), GCP (Google Cloud Platform), Microsoft Azure
Public Cloud (GCP)
Fully integrated with the build module, enabling Auto Distribute settings for seamless uploads to test groups. Supports CLI, Testing and Enterprise portal integrations, GitHub, Fastlane, Jenkins, and Azure.
Distribute builds using the Firebase console, CLI, fastlane, or Gradle. Integrates into CI workflows.
Rich API for downloading artifacts, adding testers to groups, and consuming APIs via command line application.
Limited public API, no easy way to download artifacts or automatically add testers to groups.
Supports IAM/SSO (OpenID & SAML) for flexible user authentication.
Supports LDAP group/role mapping, enabling seamless integration with your organization's directory services for effective and automated tester group management.
Supports custom email templates in on-premise deployments; public cloud support is planned (roadmap).
Works with Crashlytics to get stability insights on test distributions, and supports crash reporting, analytics, push notifications, and A/B testing.
Provides detailed reports, including an App Sharing Report listing app versions sent to testers and the number of testers for each operation, and an App Versions Report containing the list of binaries deployed to a distribution profile, including details for both manual and automatic deployments.
No aggregate report; only indicates who has downloaded the app.
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
Switching to another Mobile App Distribution Platform can be a complex decision. Switching to Appcircle is easy,however we've prepared this comparison to help you decide easier.
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