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appflow logo

Appflow

Appflow is a mobile CI/CD platform built for Ionic and hybrid app development teams. It helps developers automate builds and publish apps more efficiently across platforms.

What is Appflow?

Appflow is a cloud-based CI/CD platform designed specifically for Ionic development teams building with Cordova, Capacitor, or React Native. It enables faster and more efficient app delivery by automating native builds, providing Live Updates without app store resubmissions, and streamlining deployment to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Whether you're starting from scratch or integrating with an existing CI/CD pipeline.

appflow dashboard

Top Alternatives to Appflow

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Appcircle logo

Appcircle

  • Enterprise-grade all-in-one mobile CI/CD platform.
  • Supports both self-hosted and cloud deployment options.
  • Includes Testing Distribution and Enterprise App Store modules.
  • Ideal for enterprises with complex security and mobile CI/CD requirements.
  • IAM & SSO integration (OpenID & SAML) for secure access control.
  • Advanced Build Configuration with customizable workflows.
  • Offers multi-tenancy for better workspace organization.
  • Advanced Signing Identities management.
  • Provides enterprise-grade logs and detailed reporting.

Others

bitrise

Bitrise

Bitrise offers a limited publishing flow, lacks a self-hosted deployment option, and does not include signing identity management, which might impact flexibility and control for some teams.

Codemagic

Codemagic

Codemagic offers more limited customization options, does not support self-hosted deployment, and provides only basic testing distribution capabilities.

jenkins

Jenkins

Jenkins requires technical expertise for its complex setup, has higher maintenance and hardware requirements, and can be challenging for beginners to learn.

Xcode Cloud

Xcode Cloud

Xcode Cloud supports only iOS development, offers a more limited selection of pre-built workflow steps compared to other platforms, and does not provide a self-hosted deployment option.

FAQs

+Is Ionic Appflow being deprecated?

+What is Ionic Appflow and how does it work?

+What are the best alternatives to Ionic Appflow?

+Does Appflow support React Native or only Ionic apps?

+What is the Live Updates feature in Ionic Appflow?

+Can I use Appflow with a private Git repository?

+Can I build iOS apps without a Mac using Appflow?

+How does Appflow handle app signing and provisioning profiles?

+Can I publish my app to the App Store or Google Play from Appflow?

+Does Appflow support self-hosting or on-premise builds?

Appcircle vs. Appflow

Compare Appcircle with Appflow as Mobile CI/CD and DevOps tools and discover how Appcircle stands out.

flexible deployment

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 and helps prevent cloud vendor lock-in. Whether you choose to deploy on GCP Public Cloud, on-premise, or privately through the AWS Marketplace, Appcircle is built to meet your needs.

appcenter

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.

appcenter

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

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.

appcenterbi-directional arrowsappflow logo
appcenter

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.

resigning binaries

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

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

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.

iconheader

Appcircle

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Appflow

Obj-C/Swift iOS Builds

Yes

Yes

Java/Kotlin Android Builds

Yes

Yes

React Native Builds

Yes

Yes

Flutter Builds

Yes

No

.Net MAUI Builds

Yes

No

Xamarin Builds

Possible by using custom scripts

Yes

Unity Builds

No

No

Hybrid/Ionic Builds

Possible by using custom scripts

Yes

Apple Silicon M2 Chip support

Yes

No

Git Providers Supported

Azure DevOps Services Cloud, Azure DevOps Server, GitHub, Bitbucket, Bitbucket (Self-Hosted), GitLab, GitLab (Self-Hosted)

Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Bitbucket, Bitbucket Server, GitLab, GitLab Self-Managed

External Custom Git Repository Support

Yes

Yes

Automated Builds with Git Push

Yes

Yes

Automated Builds with Git Tag

Yes

No

Advanced Build Configuration with Workflows

Yes

No

Workflow Components Marketplace

Yes

No

Build Configuration with YAML/JSON

Yes

Via CLI only

Custom Build Scripts

Ruby and Bash

No

CodePush Support

Appcircle CodePush

Live Updates

Centralized Environment Variables

Yes

Yes

Unit and UI Test Support

Yes

No built-in support

Unit and UI Testing Report

Yes

No built-in support

Selectable Xcode Version

Yes

No

Android Multiple Flavor Dimension Support

Yes

No

Continuous Integration Pipeline

Yes

Yes

Insight

In Roadmap

No

Signing Identities Management

Yes

Limited to uploading certificates and keystores

Online iOS Certificate Creation Interface

Yes

No

Online Keystore Creation Interface

Yes

No

Ad Hoc Device Registration

Advanced

No

Apple Device Management

Yes

No

App Testing Distribution

Yes

No

Testing Group Support

Yes

No

Tester Authentication with Email

Yes

No

Tester Authentication with Static Credentials

Yes

No

Tester Authentication with Enterprise Identity

Yes

No

Publish to Apple App Store and TestFlight

Yes

Yes

Publish to Google Play

Yes

Yes

Publish to Huawei AppGallery

Yes

No

Publish Flow Customization

Yes

No

Publish In-House with Enterprise App Store

Yes

No

Deployment Options

Public Cloud, Private Cloud,
On-premise, AWS (Amazon Web Services), GCP (Google Cloud Platform), Azure

Public Cloud

Team Management

Yes

Yes

Fine-Grained User Roles and Permissions

Yes

No

SSO (Single Sign-On) Login

SAML and OpenID

No

LDAP Group/Role Mapping

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

No

2FA Support

Yes

Yes

Enterprise-Grade Logs/Reports

Yes

Yes

Pricing Model

Fixed, Transparent Pricing

Free-tier available with limitations, enterprise sales discountinued

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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Switching to another CI/CD tool 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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We're here to discuss how Appcircle can enhance your mobile development workflow. Feel free to reach out! We usually respond within a business day.

This information was last updated in Q1 2024

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