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TestFlight Alternatives for Android [closed]
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Solved androidiostestflightover-the-air
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Does anyone have suggestions for alternatives for TestFlight that works on Android or iOS? This became more important since TestFlight announced it is dropping support for Android.

Namtar answered 1/11, 2012 at 14:35 Comment(7)
u ment to just share ur android build through url or u are looking for a analytics system for android? – Shellbark
Just curious: what is wrong with TestFlight? – Kirkuk
@Kirkuk it is dropping support for Android – Siobhansion
Oh, really? Any reference for that? – Kirkuk
help.testflightapp.com/customer/portal/articles/1450414 – Dispeople
I think this should not be closed, it is ON topic, and relevant in regards to the announcement referenced here (and I modified the question to be more relevant). I don't know how to vote 'on-topic' – Cauliflower
Similar to #15408408 – Beltz
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You don't need something like test flight for Android, as there is nothing special required to install an Android app on multiple devices. There is no concept of provisioning, etc.

You can install any Android App (packaged as an APK) on basically any Android device or emulator by copying it onto the device, and running the install command on it.

So, instead of TestFlight, you just need to provide a location to download your APK (basically from anywhere). You could make it available in a Dropbox folder, on a website (either something you create, or maybe the output page of your Jenkins\CI Server), via thumb drive, or even email the APK.

Bottom line, because Android does not have the same packaging restrictions as iOS, it is much easier to distribute test builds, so TestFlight (or equivalent), is not really necessary.

Cauliflower answered 1/11, 2012 at 14:41 Comment(5)
Or just putting it on any web server with the correct "Content-Type" and open it from Android browser. – Hygrophilous
That would work, or putting it on a thumb drive, or I put my APKs in Dropbox and install it from there, or.... I love the openness of Android (can't image dealing with all that provisioning BS from iOS). – Cauliflower
While Android APKs indeed can be distributed in whatever way, a service like TestFlight can still be extemely useful as a hassle-free approach to distribution. Also, using the SDK, you get simple analytics and automated crash reporting which I have found very valuable as well. – Kirkuk
FYI, after TestFlight was bought by Apple, they announced they won't be supporting Android going forward. We use AppInstall at work , and have luck with it. – Cauliflower
The advantage of apps like TestFlight for larger apps is that it manages subscriptions of users, feedback notifications/downloads of new releases. For smaller apps, your friends, early startups, just maintaining an email list / dropbox deep link is usually enough. – Beltz
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HockeyApp is one well-known TestFlight alternative.

No first-hand experience, but I will be evaluating HockeyApp now that TestFlight is officially dropping Android support (by 21 March 2014).

Update: I've since used HockeyApp for beta version distribution, and it works fine as TestFlight replacement. (Haven't tried the Android SDK for fancier features though.)

Some related blog resources:

TestFairy is another interesting tool that came up in a Twitter conversation about TestFlight's Android discontinuation.

Kirkuk answered 22/2, 2014 at 11:52 Comment(2)
HockeyApp (acquired by MSFT) works pretty well for OS X apps. Haven't tried it for Android apps. – Beltz
Yeah, my answer was out of date; later I've used HockeyApp for Android apps and yep, it's decent. – Kirkuk
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3

You don't need something like test flight for Android, as there is nothing special required to install an Android app on multiple devices. There is no concept of provisioning, etc.

You can install any Android App (packaged as an APK) on basically any Android device or emulator by copying it onto the device, and running the install command on it.

So, instead of TestFlight, you just need to provide a location to download your APK (basically from anywhere). You could make it available in a Dropbox folder, on a website (either something you create, or maybe the output page of your Jenkins\CI Server), via thumb drive, or even email the APK.

Bottom line, because Android does not have the same packaging restrictions as iOS, it is much easier to distribute test builds, so TestFlight (or equivalent), is not really necessary.

Cauliflower answered 1/11, 2012 at 14:41 Comment(5)
Or just putting it on any web server with the correct "Content-Type" and open it from Android browser. – Hygrophilous
That would work, or putting it on a thumb drive, or I put my APKs in Dropbox and install it from there, or.... I love the openness of Android (can't image dealing with all that provisioning BS from iOS). – Cauliflower
While Android APKs indeed can be distributed in whatever way, a service like TestFlight can still be extemely useful as a hassle-free approach to distribution. Also, using the SDK, you get simple analytics and automated crash reporting which I have found very valuable as well. – Kirkuk
FYI, after TestFlight was bought by Apple, they announced they won't be supporting Android going forward. We use AppInstall at work , and have luck with it. – Cauliflower
The advantage of apps like TestFlight for larger apps is that it manages subscriptions of users, feedback notifications/downloads of new releases. For smaller apps, your friends, early startups, just maintaining an email list / dropbox deep link is usually enough. – Beltz
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You can use Appaloosa-Store for all Platforms

Especially,

Android    
iOS     
Windows Phone

See the details here

enter image description here

Kooima answered 1/11, 2012 at 15:57 Comment(0)

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