Extending the Testing Period for Your App with AppForShare
By Jamal Uddin · · 4 min read
A longer testing period gives testers time to use your app the way real users will: across days, networks, OS versions and devices, not just in a single afternoon. On AppForShare, how long a test build stays installable depends on your plan: 3 days for guest uploads, 7 days on the Free plan, and for as long as your subscription is active on Pro and Team. If your beta runs for weeks, a paid plan keeps the same install link working for the whole period.
This guide covers why extended testing is worth planning for, what tends to slip through short test windows, and how to run a longer test cycle with AppForShare.
Why longer testing periods matter
Many bugs only appear with time and variety. A tester who installs a build once and taps through the main screens will rarely find them. Problems that need a longer window include:
- Data that builds up over days: caches that grow, local databases that need migrating, sessions and tokens that expire.
- Scheduled behavior: notifications, reminders, background refresh and anything tied to dates or time zones.
- Device and OS spread: the more testers you add over time, the more device models and OS versions you cover.
- Real network conditions: commuting, weak signal, switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Upgrade paths: installing a new build over an older one and checking that saved data and settings survive.
Common oversights in short test phases
- Testing only on the developer's own phone and simulator.
- Skipping the upgrade path because every tester did a fresh install.
- Missing battery, memory and performance problems that only show up after extended use.
- Launching before feedback from slower or less technical testers has arrived.
How AppForShare supports a longer test cycle
AppForShare shares mobile builds for testing. You upload an Android .apk or an iOS .ipa, get an install link and a QR code, and testers install the app over the air from their phone browser. There is no app store review step.
| Plan | How long a link stays live | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Guest (no account) | 3 days | A quick one-off share |
| Free | 7 days | Short test rounds |
| Pro | While subscribed | Betas that run for weeks or months |
| Team | While subscribed | Teams with several developers and invited testers |
Other details that matter for long test cycles:
- Every upload is a new build with its own link inside the same project, so testers can move from build to build while older links keep working on paid plans.
- Release notes (Pro and Team) tell testers what changed and what to check in each build.
- Install analytics (Pro and Team) show which devices, OS versions, models and countries your build reached, so you can see gaps in coverage.
- Tester management (Team) lets you keep a project private to invited testers and email them when a new build is ready.
- Bandwidth is what testers download, not what you upload. Free includes 10 GB per month, Pro 40 GB and Team 150 GB. A 50 MB build installed 20 times uses about 1 GB.
AppForShare does not collect crash reports or in-app feedback. Pair it with your own crash reporting tool and a simple feedback channel such as a form, email or chat group.
Strategies for testing mobile apps over a longer period
Set clear objectives for each round
Decide what each build is meant to prove: a new feature, a fix, performance on older devices. Write it in the release notes so testers know what to focus on.
Simulate real-world scenarios
Ask testers to use the app in their normal routine: on the move, with poor signal, with low battery, with notifications on and off. Our guide to offline mode testing covers network edge cases in more detail.
Keep the feedback loop short
Collect reports in one place and ship fixes as new builds. Each new upload gets its own link, and on Team testers are emailed when it is ready.
Cover the upgrade path
Have some testers install each new build over the previous one instead of deleting the app first. This is where data migration bugs appear.
Use data to decide when you are done
Install analytics on Pro and Team show whether a build reached the device models and OS versions you care about. Combine that with your crash reports and tester feedback before you release.
Getting started
- Upload a build on the home page or create a free account at /signup.
- Share the link or QR code with testers. iOS builds must be signed Ad Hoc, Enterprise or Development, and Ad Hoc builds must include each tester's UDID. The free UDID finder helps testers send theirs.
- Android testers allow installs from unknown sources for their browser once. See how to enable unknown sources on Android.
- If your beta will run longer than 7 days, compare plans on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an AppForShare test link stay active?
Guest uploads stay live for 3 days and Free plan links for 7 days. On Pro and Team, links stay live for as long as the subscription is active.
Can testers keep using an old build when I upload a new one?
Yes. Every upload is a separate build with its own link. Older links keep working as long as they are within their plan's link life and the build has not been deleted.
Does AppForShare collect crash reports or tester feedback?
No. AppForShare has no in-app SDK, so it does not collect crash reports, screenshots or in-app feedback. Use your own crash reporting tool and feedback channel alongside it.
Is there a free trial of the paid plans?
No. The Free plan is the free option, with 7-day links, 150 MB per file and 10 GB of monthly bandwidth. Pro and Team are paid monthly or yearly.
