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Xcode Cloud

Xcode Cloud is a continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) service built into Xcode, designed to automate the building, testing, and distribution of apps for Apple platforms.

What is Xcode Cloud?

Xcode Cloud is a CI/CD service integrated into Xcode, Apple's official IDE. It is tailored for developers building apps for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Xcode Cloud automates key tasks such as building apps in the cloud, running tests on simulated devices, and distributing builds to testers or the App Store. This service simplifies the development workflow by handling the complexities of integration and delivery, allowing teams to focus more on coding and innovation.

xcode cloud dashboard

Top Alternatives to Xcode Cloud

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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

appflow logo

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.

bitrise logo

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 logo

Codemagic

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

jenkins logo

Jenkins

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

FAQs

+What is Xcode Cloud?

+How to Use Xcode Cloud?

+What is the difference between Xcode and Xcode Cloud?

+Do I need a Mac for Xcode Cloud?

+Can I use Xcode Cloud on Windows?

+Is Xcode Cloud compatible with Android?

+Is there a self-hosted option for Xcode Cloud?

+Can I use Xcode Cloud for free?

+How Does Xcode Cloud Compare to Other CI/CD Tools?

Appcircle vs. Xcode Cloud

Compare Appcircle with Xcode Cloud 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
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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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Xcode-Cloud

iOS Builds (Objective-C / Swift) Support

Yes

Yes

Android Builds (Java / Kotlin) Support

Yes

No

React Native Builds Support

Yes

No

Flutter Builds Support

Yes

No

.Net MAUI Builds Support

Yes

No

Xamarin Builds Support

Possible by using custom scripts

No

Unity Builds Support

No

No

Hybrid/Ionic Builds Support

Possible by using custom scripts

No

Apple Silicon Build Machine Support

Yes

Yes

Supported Git Providers

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

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

External Custom Git Repository Support

Yes

Yes

Automated Builds with Git Push

Yes

Yes

Automated Builds with Git Tag

Yes

Yes

Continuous Integration Pipeline

Yes

Yes

Advanced Build Configuration with Workflows

Use workflow steps that are tailored and maintained for mobile development.

Usage between custom pre-action, action, post-action

Workflow Components Marketplace

Yes

No

Build Configuration with YAML/JSON

Yes

No

Custom Script Support

Ruby and Bash

No

Centralized Environment Variables

Yes

Yes

Unit and UI Test Support

Yes

Yes

Unit and UI Testing Report

Yes

No

Selectable Xcode Version

Yes

Yes

Android Multiple Flavor Dimension Support

Yes

No

Insight

In Roadmap

No

Centralized Signing Identity Management

Yes

No

Online iOS Certificate Creation Interface

Yes

Yes

Online Keystore Creation Interface

Yes

No

Ad Hoc Device Registration

Yes

Yes

Apple Device Management

Yes

Yes

App Testing Distribution

Yes

Yes

Testing Group Support

Yes

Only TestFlight internal and external

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

No

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 hosted on Apple's infrastructure, no private cloud or on-premise options.

Team Management

Yes

Yes

Fine-Grained User Roles and Permissions

Yes

Yes

SSO (Single Sign-On) Login

Yes

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

No

Pricing Model

Fixed, Transparent Pricing

Pricing based on compute hours/month

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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