Migrating from Microsoft App Center to Alternatives, for Android App Distribution
As Microsoft App Center will be retired in March 2025, many developers need to find an alternative platform for distributing Android apps. If you’ve relied on App Center mainly for app distribution, it’s essential to find a solution that provides seamless app updates, controlled access, and ease of installation.
This is especially important for apps intended for less or non-technical users, where ease of installation can be a key factor in user adoption.
We have previously used App Center for distribution of Android apps that would not be approved for the Google Play Store, or not intended to be distributed publicly. For example, an enterprise app intended for use within a single organisation.
Although App Center’s retirement will impact iOS apps as well, our reliance on it for iOS distribution has been minimal, thanks to TestFlight and the Enterprise Developer Program, which adequately cover most of our needs. Therefore, this article will focus exclusively on Android.
Why Migrate from Microsoft App Center?
Microsoft App Center has been widely used for:
• Sharing app builds with testers or clients
• Providing notifications for new versions
• Enabling easy app installations for testers
With its upcoming shutdown, developers need to switch to alternatives that replicate these capabilities while addressing specific requirements, such as ease of installation for non-technical users and restricted access for apps that don’t require user authentication.
Key Criteria for Selecting an Alternative
When migrating from Microsoft App Center, consider these factors:
1. Ease of Distribution and Installation: Especially important if your apps are used by non-technical people. The platform should allow easy distribution and installation via email or direct links, without complicated setups.
2. Automatic Updates: Does the platform allow users to receive and install updates automatically, or do they need manual prompts?
3. Security and Controlled Access: How easily can you restrict access to specific users or testers, ensuring that only invited people can install the app?
App Distribution Alternatives to Microsoft App Center
Firebase App Distribution
Firebase App Distribution is part of the Firebase suite and is designed to help distribute apps to testers quickly and securely.
- Ease of Installation for Non-Technical Users: Firebase requires testers to install the Firebase Tester app for the first download, which may pose a small hurdle for non-technical users. However, once set up, future installations are easier and well-managed.
- Automatic Updates: Firebase does not support automatic updates, but it sends email notifications when a new version is available. Testers must manually install updates by following the links provided.
- Security and Controlled Access: Firebase allows invite-only access, ensuring that only authorised users (invited via email) can install the app. Public links aren’t an option by default, making this a secure method of distributing apps that don’t require user authentication.
Bitrise
- Ease of Installation for Non-Technical Users: Bitrise is simple for nontechnical users to use. You can send direct install links via email, and testers can download the app without needing any additional software. This makes it an excellent option for apps targeted at less technical users.
- Automatic Updates: Bitrise doesn’t offer automatic updates, but users are notified via email or can access a public install page for the latest builds.
- Security and Controlled Access: Bitrise allows both private and public distribution. You can choose to invite only specific users via email or provide a public install link, depending on your security needs. For sensitive apps, the invite-only method provides more control.
Google Play Console – Internal and Closed Testing
Google Play Console’s internal and closed testing tracks provide a familiar way for testers to access apps through the Play Store.
- Ease of Installation for Non-Technical Users: Installing an app through the Google Play Store is the easiest for non-technical users, as they’re already familiar with the process. Testers are invited via email and can install the app as they would any other Play Store app.
- Automatic Updates: Google Play automatically installs updates for testers if their device is set to allow auto-updates.
- Security and Controlled Access: Google Play Console offers highly secure access controls for internal and closed testing tracks. Only users who have been specifically invited or added to a testing group can download the app, ensuring that your app is not publicly available.
Security and Ease of Installation for Less/Non-Technical Users
In situations where your app is designed for less or non-technical users, the ease of installation becomes a critical factor. Platforms like Bitrise allow users to install apps via simple links, without requiring additional software or complex steps, making them ideal for non-technical audiences.
However, if you want to ensure your app is only accessible to invited users, Firebase and Google Play Console offer more secure, invite-only access methods, ensuring the app is not publicly distributed.
Balancing Ease of Use and Security
When distributing apps that don’t require authentication but still need to be restricted to certain people, it’s essential to strike a balance between ease of use and security.
Here are the main options:
Invite-Only Distribution
Platforms like Firebase, Bitrise (with private links), and Google Play Console offer secure invite-only access. This method allows only authorized testers to install the app, making it ideal for sensitive apps that should not be widely distributed.
Public Links
If your app does not have strict security requirements, Bitrise allows you to use public links, which are more convenient for wider distribution but lack the control of invite-only methods. This could be useful for less-sensitive apps where ease of access is the priority.
Kiosk or Single-App Mode Considerations
For apps that run continuously in kiosk mode or single-app mode, updating automatically can be a challenge. In this mode, apps are typically locked to the foreground and rarely enter an idle state, meaning they don’t have a chance to install updates automatically like a regular app.
In these cases, developers usually need to implement custom in-app logic that checks for updates and triggers a prompt or notification to alert users when an update is available. Google Play Console handles this scenario best, as it supports automatic updates through the Play Store, but even in kiosk mode, developers may need to integrate update prompts within the app to guide users through manually updating.
Other platforms, such as Firebase and Bitrise require more manual intervention. These services do not offer automatic updates, meaning you’ll need to create custom notifications within the app to inform users about updates, and manually handling the download and update process, especially for apps running in kiosk mode.
Google Play Console and Kiosk Mode
If your app is distributed via the Google Play Console, testers can benefit from automatic updates as long as their device settings allow for auto-updates. However, even with this feature, apps in kiosk mode will require a custom in-app alert to notify users of an available update, since the app is running continuously and may not check for updates as regularly.
For other platforms, custom notifications and update mechanisms are essential. Firebase and Bitrise allow you to query for the latest version of the app using their APIs, and you can integrate that logic to notify users when an update is available.
Wrapping it Up
Migrating from Microsoft App Center is essential for teams that need to distribute Android apps, especially when the apps are intended for less or non-technical users. It’s crucial to find a solution that balances ease of installation with the security of access controls.
Platforms like Firebase and Google Play offer secure, invite-only access, while Bitrise provides flexible public or private link options, making them ideal for apps that need to be easy for non-technical users to install. For apps running in kiosk mode, Google Play Console offers the smoothest experience with automatic updates
