App Center alternative: moving build distribution to AppForShare
Visual Studio App Center was retired on March 31, 2025. Sign in and API calls stopped on that date. Only Analytics and Diagnostics got an extension, now to the end of March 2027.
Microsoft points App Center users to TestFlight and Google Play Console testing for test releases, and to Azure Pipelines to push builds there. That works for store builds, but there is no direct Microsoft replacement for the quick install link that App Center Distribute gave to testers.
AppForShare fills that gap: upload an Ad Hoc .ipa or an .apk, from the dashboard or from CI, and testers install from a link or QR code.
Pick AppForShare if
- You used App Center to send Ad Hoc iOS builds and APKs to testers by link.
- You want uploads from your pipeline through a CLI, GitHub Action or Fastlane.
- You want install analytics and webhooks to Slack, Discord or your own endpoint.
Pick App Center if
- If you mainly need store betas, Microsoft's path to TestFlight and Play Console testing is the official route.
- If you need crash and analytics data from inside the app, look at Azure Monitor or another SDK. AppForShare has no in-app SDK.
Side by side
- Status
- AppForShare
Active
- App Center
Retired March 31, 2025 (Analytics and Diagnostics extended to March 2027)
- Platforms
- AppForShare
iOS (.ipa) and Android (.apk)
- App Center
Was iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
- Price
- AppForShare
Free, Pro $12/month, Team $39/month (5 seats). Yearly = 10 months.
- App Center
No longer available
- Testers
- AppForShare
Open the link on the phone and install. No tester account, no extra app.
- App Center
Was tester groups with sign in
- CI uploads
- AppForShare
CLI, GitHub Action and Fastlane (Pro and Team)
- App Center
API calls stopped at retirement
- Install analytics
- AppForShare
Installs by device, OS version, model and country (Pro and Team)
- App Center
Distribution analytics ended with Distribute
- Branding
- AppForShare
Custom domain and white label install page (Team)
- App Center
No
App Center details checked on October 2026 from its public pages (App Center retirement). Plans change; tell us at contact if something here is out of date.
Moving over
Create a Pro or Team account, make an upload token under Integrations, and replace the App Center upload step in your pipeline with the AppForShare CLI, GitHub Action or Fastlane plugin. Steps are on /docs/ci. Webhooks on /docs/webhooks can post each new build to the channel your team already watches.
Tester groups map to Team private projects: invite testers by email, they get a mail on each new build, and you can see who installed.
Questions
- Is App Center still working?
- No. Microsoft retired it on March 31, 2025. Only Analytics and Diagnostics were extended, now to the end of March 2027.
- Can AppForShare import my App Center history?
- No. App Center sign in has ended, so upload the builds you still need again.
- What did Microsoft recommend instead?
- TestFlight for iOS test releases and Google Play Console testing for Android, with Azure Pipelines to push builds. Neither gives a plain install link for Ad Hoc builds, which is what AppForShare does.
Try it with your next build
No account needed for a first upload. Free accounts keep links for longer.