Firebase

Farewell App Center: Embracing Firebase App Distribution

With App Center shutting down, migrating to Firebase App Distribution ensures seamless build sharing. Firebase offers easy uploads via Console, CLI, or Gradle and integrates well with Google services. Its robust tester management and real-time feedback make it a reliable choice for app distribution.

Agmo Engineering

• 3 min read

In recent years, Microsoft’s App Center has been a popular choice for developers to manage their app lifecycle, including building, testing, distributing, and monitoring applications. However, Microsoft announced the sunset of App Center, leaving developers to seek alternative solutions for app distribution and management. One of the most robust and widely adopted alternatives is Firebase Distribution, a part of Google’s Firebase platform. This article explores the transition from App Center to Firebase Distribution and highlights the key features of Firebase Distribution that developers can leverage.

The Sunset of App Center

Sunset of AppCenter
Credited to ChatGPT

Microsoft App Center provided a unified platform for developers to streamline their app development processes. However, as of March 31, 2025, App Center will no longer be available. This decision has prompted developers to migrate to other platforms that offer similar or enhanced functionality. While the sunset of App Center may seem like a challenge, it also presents an opportunity to explore more advanced tools like Firebase Distribution.

Why Firebase Distribution?

Firebase Distribution is a powerful tool designed to simplify the process of distributing pre-release apps to testers. It integrates seamlessly with the broader Firebase ecosystem, offering features like crash reporting, analytics, and performance monitoring. Here are some reasons why Firebase Distribution is an excellent replacement for App Center:

  1. Free Tier Availability
    • Firebase App Distribution is free to use with max 500 testers and max 1,000 distributions.
    • No hidden costs for distributing apps during development and testing phases.

2. Simplified Tester Management

    • Easily invite and manage internal or external testers.
    • Organize testers into groups for easier distribution.

2. Quick and Easy Uploads

    • Upload your APK, AAB, or IPA files via the Firebase Console or CI/CD pipelines.
    • Supports direct integration with tools like Gradle, Fastlane, and CLI.

3. Seamless Feedback Loop

    • Collect real-time feedback and issue reports from testers.
    • Automatically capture logs and device information when testers encounter bugs when combined with Crashlytics.

4. Cross-Platform Support

    • Distribute Android and iOS builds from a single platform.

5. CI/CD Integration

    • Works well with popular CI/CD tools like DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and Bitrise for automated distribution.

7. Secure and Controlled Access

    • Restrict access to specific testers and manage app availability securely.
    • Manage your testing teams by organizing them into groups

Besides that, To manage your app distribution effectively, it's essential to understand the platform's limits regarding testers, app sizes, and releases.

Tester Limits:

  • Up to 500 testers can be added per Firebase project.
  • Each App Distribution group supports a maximum of 200 testers.

App Size Limits:

  • The maximum file size for binaries (e.g., APK, AAB, IPA) is 2048 MiB (approximately 2 GB).

Release Limits:

  • Each app release expires after 150 days.
  • A maximum of 1,000 releases is supported per app.

Reference: https://firebase.google.com/docs/app-distribution/add-remove-testers

Conclusion

While the sunsetting of Microsoft App Center signifies the end of a familiar platform, Firebase App Distribution emerges as a superior alternative with advanced features and robust integration capabilities. With free unlimited distributions, streamlined tester management, and compatibility with CI/CD pipelines, it not only replaces App Center but also enhances your development workflow.

As the app development landscape evolves, adopting modern tools like Firebase App Distribution ensures that you stay ahead. Embrace the change, make the switch, and elevate your app distribution process to the next level.

What's Next?

In the next article, we'll cover how to upload builds using manual methods, Firebase CLI, and Gradle, along with a guide on how testers can install your app from Firebase App Distribution.

By Chiong Chien Goh,

Wakino Chien – Medium
Read writing from Wakino Chien on Medium. Mobile Developer | Android | Kotlin | React Native | Firebase | Assistance Team Lead at Agmo Studio. Every day, Wakino Chien and thousands of other voices read, write, and share important stories on Medium.
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Article by Chiong Chien Goh