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Jenkins

Jenkins is an open-source automation server used in software development for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). It provides basic automation capabilities for building, testing, and deploying code.

What is Jenkins?

Jenkins is an open-source automation server that facilitates continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) in software development. It automates tasks such as building, testing, and deploying code, helping to streamline the development process. Jenkins supports a wide range of plugins, enabling customization to fit various tools, workflows, and platforms.

codemagic

Top Alternatives to Jenkins

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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 support (OpenID & SAML) for secure access control.
  • Advanced build configuration with customizable workflows.
  • Offers multi-tenancy for advanced organization management.
  • Advanced Signing Identities management.
  • Provides enterprise-grade logs and detailed reporting.

Others

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Appflow

Appflow lacks customizable build workflows, does not offer fine-grained access control, and supports only limited deployment options, which may restrict flexibility for larger teams or complex project needs.

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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.

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Codemagic

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

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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

+What is Jenkins and what does it do?

+What is a Jenkins pipeline?

+How do you use Jenkins for Mobile?

+What plugins are available for Jenkins mobile and how do I install them?

+How do I configure iOS CI/CD Process with Jenkins?

+What are the challenges faced in Jenkins for mobile?

+How does Jenkins handle advanced build configurations with workflows?

Appcircle vs. Jenkins

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

appcircle build module

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
appcircle signing identities module

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
appcircle testing distribution module

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
appcircle resign binary feature

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
appcircle logoarrowjenkins logo
appcircle publish module

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
appcircle CodePush feature for React Native apps

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
appcircle enterprise app store module

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

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 for mobile CI/CD

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
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SSO/LDAP Support

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
Appcircle Deployment Options

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 for 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

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.

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Appcircle

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Jenkins

Easy to setup projects

Connect your repository and start building within seconds

Jenkins setup is a tedious process and requires manual input

Supported Cloud Git Providers

GitHub, Bitbucket, Bitbucket (Self-Hosted), GitLab, GitLab (Self-Hosted)

Needs to connect to each provider through plugins.

Simple, Easy-to-Use Build Configuration Interface

Manage what to build using our GUI drag-and-drop interface.

Complicated build configuration interface
Advanced Build Configuration with Workflows

Use workflow steps that are tailored and maintained for mobile development

Jenkins uses plugins and most mobile development tools aren't supported

Out of the box support for native and hybrid platforms

Out of the Box Support for iOS (Obj-C / Swift), Android (Java / Kotlin), React Native, Flutter, .Net MAUI, Smartface

Needs to be maintained by engineers

Latest Xcode Version Available within 24 hrs
Yes

Xcode needs to be manually updated

Support for All Recent Xcode Versions

New versions ready within 24hrs after release. You can choose any Xcode version from most recent to Xcode 10.

Xcode needs to be manually updated. Can't revert back to an older Xcode version.

Switch Between Hardware

Switch between M1 Macs and Intel Hardware.

Needs to be maintained by engineers

Automatic Hardware Maintenance

Yes

Hardware changes and migrations are manually handled by engineers.

Workflow Components Marketplace

Yes

No

Continuous Integration Pipeline

Yes

No

Signing Identities Management

Yes

No

App Testing Distribution

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

Yes

Automated Delivery

Yes

Needs to connect to a delivery system

Testing Group Support

Yes

No

Publish to Store Automation

Yes

No

Branded App Store for Enterprise Distribution

Yes

No

Deployment Options

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

Self Managed, can be manually deployed on AWS, GCP, Azure. No Public Cloud.

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

SSO Login

OpenID & SAML

No

Access Control

Has a variety of login options from SAML and OpenID SSO, Google, GitHub and Bitbucket SSO. Two-Factor Authentication is also available for increased security

Security is single layered. Additional security can be added via plugins.

CodePush support

Appcircle CodePush

No built-in support

On-Premise Version

On-Premise Runner Only

Run anywhere

License

Closed Source License, Open-Source Workflow Steps

Fully Open-Source

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

Click here to view more mobile CI/CD software comparisons.

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.

Discover more!

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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