AppCenter Is Gone: Why Developers Are Switching to Appisto for Distribution
Microsoft's Visual Studio App Center officially shut down on March 31, 2025, leaving many mobile development teams scrambling to find suitable alternatives. While Microsoft provided some migration recommendations for most App Center features, their guidance for the crucial Distribution component was notably limited—directing developers only to official app store channels like TestFlight and Google Play.
If you relied on App Center for internal app distribution, you're likely facing a significant gap in your development workflow. Let's explore the best AppCenter alternatives available today, with a special focus on app distribution solutions that truly replace what App Center Distribute offered.
The App Distribution Challenge After AppCenter
App Center Distribute was beloved by development teams for several key capabilities:
- Cross-platform distribution across different platforms
- A complete install portal for beta testing
- Simple collaborator management and distribution group creation
- Automated notifications to testers about new builds
- Streamlined iOS device provisioning and UDID collection
Microsoft's official recommendation to simply transition to TestFlight and Google Play falls short of meeting developers' actual needs. These official channels introduce unnecessary friction through approval processes and delays, preventing teams from getting immediate feedback on builds.
They also fail to provide the unified cross-platform experience that App Center users valued, instead forcing teams to manage separate workflows for each platform.
For internal testing scenarios, these official channels lack the flexibility that development teams require for rapid iteration. Perhaps most critically for iOS developers, they offer no elegant solution to the UDID collection challenge that App Center had effectively solved.
This is where dedicated AppCenter alternatives like Appisto come in.
Appisto: The Most Complete AppCenter Distribution Alternative
Appisto has emerged as the leading AppCenter alternative for app distribution, offering a platform specifically designed to fill the gap left by App Center Distribute.
Key Features That Make Appisto the Best AppCenter Alternative
1. Direct Distribution Without App Store Approval
Just like App Center, Appisto lets you distribute builds directly to your team and clients without waiting for Apple or Google review processes. This dramatically speeds up your feedback cycle.
2. Cross-Platform Support
Appisto supports both iOS and Android apps, providing a unified distribution experience similar to what App Center users were accustomed to.
3. Automated UDID Collection
One of the biggest headaches for iOS distribution is collecting and managing device UDIDs. Appisto simplifies this process by enabling users to register their devices themselves—a feature App Center users will recognize and appreciate.
4. REST API for CI/CD Integration
Appisto provides a comprehensive REST API that lets you integrate app distribution directly into your CI/CD pipeline, making it easy to automatically upload new builds as part of your workflow.
Comparing AppCenter Alternatives for Distribution
While several services offer partial replacements for App Center's functionality, most fall short in providing a complete distribution alternative:
| Feature | App Center (Now Closed) | Appisto | TestFlight | Google Play | Other Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform distribution | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (iOS only) | ❌ (Android only) | Varies |
| No approval wait times | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Varies |
| UDID collection | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | N/A | Rarely |
| REST API | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | Limited | Varies |
| Developer-focused UX | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Varies |
Other AppCenter Alternatives to Consider
While Appisto excellently covers the distribution aspect, you may need alternatives for other App Center features:
- For Builds: Azure Pipelines (Microsoft's recommended alternative)
- For Testing: BrowserStack App Automate
- For Analytics: Several options like Datadog, Dynatrace, or New Relic
- For CodePush: A self-hosted version is available
How to Migrate from AppCenter to Appisto
Migrating your app distribution workflow from App Center to Appisto is straightforward:
- Sign up for Appisto - Create an account and choose a plan that fits your needs
- Set up your app - Add your application through the Appisto dashboard
- Transfer your team - Invite your team members
- Update your build pipeline - Replace App Center API calls with Appisto API calls
- Upload your first build - Distribute your app to your team through Appisto
The entire process typically takes less than half a day, ensuring minimal disruption to your development workflow.
Why Teams Are Choosing Appisto as Their AppCenter Alternative
- Purpose-built replacement - Designed specifically to fill the gap left by App Center Distribute
- Developer-first approach - Created by developers who understood exactly what was lost with App Center
- Straightforward pricing - Clear, transparent pricing without unexpected costs
- Reliability - Built on modern cloud infrastructure for dependable performance
- Active development - Continuously improved with new features and capabilities
Conclusion: Moving Forward After AppCenter
While Microsoft's decision to retire App Center has disrupted many development workflows, solutions like Appisto provide a clear path forward for teams that relied on App Center's distribution capabilities.
By choosing the right AppCenter alternatives for each component of your workflow, you can not only recover the functionality you've lost but potentially improve upon it with more modern, focused tools designed for today's development needs.
For teams primarily concerned with replacing App Center Distribute, Appisto stands out as the most complete and direct alternative available today.
Ready to streamline your internal app distribution?
Start sharing your app builds with your team and clients today.
No app store reviews, no waiting times.