buildtree vs TestFlight, Firebase App Distribution, Diawi and EAS
All of these get a pre-release build onto a tester's phone. They differ in which platforms they cover, what testers have to do, and whether they are tied to a build service. This page compares them as of September 2026; check each vendor's documentation for current details.
At a glance
| buildtree | TestFlight | Firebase App Distribution | Diawi | Expo EAS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Android and iOS | Apple platforms only | Android and iOS | Android and iOS | Android and iOS |
| Works with any build tool | Yes, upload any .apk or .ipa | Uploads come from Xcode or App Store Connect tooling | Yes | Yes | Built for Expo projects and EAS Build |
| How testers install | Link or QR code in the browser | TestFlight app | Invitation email, then the tester app or web | Link or QR code | Link or QR code from the build page |
| Tester account needed | No on public projects; email check on private ones | Apple Account | Invitation per tester | No | No for internal links |
| Review before testers can install | No | Beta App Review for external testers | No | No | No |
| iOS devices | Ad-hoc, with UDID collection built in | Any device, no UDIDs | Ad-hoc, UDIDs registered by you | Ad-hoc, UDIDs registered by you | Ad-hoc, with device registration |
| Builds organized by branch and environment | Yes | No | No | No | By build profile |
| Tester feedback with screenshots | Yes, from the install page | Yes, in the TestFlight app | Yes, through the SDK on Android | No | No |
| Use from an AI coding agent | Yes, MCP server | No | No | No | No |
Microsoft App Center, which many teams used for this, was retired on March 31, 2025.
When buildtree is the better fit
- You ship Android and iOS and want one link per build for both.
- You build locally or in your own CI and do not want to buy into a build service to share a file.
- QA needs the latest build per branch without asking for a link every time.
- You want testers to report bugs with screenshots without installing an SDK.
When to use something else
- TestFlight if you need thousands of external iOS testers without collecting device IDs, or a public beta link. It is free with an Apple Developer Program membership.
- Firebase App Distribution if your app already runs on Firebase and you want distribution next to Crashlytics.
- Expo EAS if you already build in the Expo cloud and want distribution in the same place.
- Diawi for a one-off link when you do not need history, organization or feedback.
Many teams combine them: TestFlight for a wide iOS beta, buildtree for day-to-day QA builds on every branch.
Moving over
Last updated