Buildstash is a build-to-release and binary artifact management platform for software teams. This page compares Buildstash to App Center for teams considering alternatives. Buildstash is better for: Replaces beta distribution features for iOS and Android, while also supporting any platform across desktop, XR, embedded, and so on. More extensive collaboration features, and options for distribution. Key differences: App Center was focused on being a comprehensive mobile DevOps platform, whereas Buildstash offers binary and release management for all software platforms, not just mobile. Buildstash offers far more flexible distribution options - supporting distribution groups, but also quick share links, automated team notifications, and branded portals.

Markdown version of this Buildstash vs App Center comparison (for AI and crawlers)

Buildstash vs App Center comparison

Buildstash vs App Center

Microsoft’s Visual Studio App Center was a mobile DevOps platform offering build automation, UI tests on real devices, distribution to beta testers, and crash/analytics monitoring. The service was retired on March 31, 2025.

Buildstash offers a great replacement for App Center's internal and beta distribution capabilities, while offering extensive additional functionality. Beyond mobile, Buildstash widely supports platforms across desktop apps, XR, game consoles, and embedded systems.

Buildstash also has a much stronger focus on collaboration and workflow - teams sharing software builds internally, signing off, and promoting through streams. Build organization capabilities in Buildstash are extensive in comparison.

Microsoft App Center
Dead since
2025
Similar to
HockeyApp, TestFlight, Firebase Distribution
Was known for
Mobile beta distribution and analytics
Was useful to
Mobile teams needing mobile beta distribution, analytics, and diagnostics
Buildstash offers
Replaces beta distribution features for iOS and Android, while also supporting any platform across desktop, XR, embedded, and so on. More extensive collaboration features, and options for distribution.
Try Buildstash free

Key differences

  • App Center was focused on being a comprehensive mobile DevOps platform, whereas Buildstash offers binary and release management for all software platforms, not just mobile.

  • Buildstash offers far more flexible distribution options - supporting distribution groups, but also quick share links, automated team notifications, and branded portals.

  • Buildstash has far more powerful capabilities for archiving and organizing software binaries, and steering builds throgh QA workflows.

  • App Center offered analytics and crash diagnostics features, which Buildstash doesn't yet. It's on the roadmap.

What people liked about App Center

  • App Center's free plan made mobile DevOps accessible to many teams.

  • Integrated CI, beta distribution, on-device testing, and analytics.

  • Good support for integrations.

What people didn't like about App Center

  • Very mobile focused, with limited macOS and UWP support. Other teams needed other tools.

  • Focused on creating releases for testing. Missing extensive artifact management capabilities of Buildstash.

  • Simplicity made it accessible to smaller teams, but too limited for more complex needs.

Feature comparison

Feature comparison: Buildstash vs App Center. Each row shows a feature and whether Buildstash and App Center support it (✓, Partially, or ✕).
Feature
Buildstash
App Center
Summary
Universal software binary management
✓
✕
App Center limited to iOS, Android, macOS, UWP
Extensive CI/CD integrations
✓
✓
App Center did have good community-built CI/CD support
QA & sign-off workflows
✓
✕
App Center had no real concept had approval flows
Agnosic distribution targets
✓
✕
App Center was mobile-focused
Artifact promotion workflows
✓
✕
App Center only had distribution groups
Metadata management
✓
Partially
App Center had build metadata; Buildstash far more flexible
Retention policies
✓
✕
App Center didn't have retention policies
Share links
✓
Partially
App Center had install links but required account sign up
Branded download portals
✓
✕
Buildstash offers custom branded portals
Distribution groups
✓
✓
Both worked similarly here, though App Center required an account
iOS & Android beta distribution
✓
✓
Well supported in both
Connect your own storage
✓
Limited
App Center allowed individual external downloads - very manual
iOS & Android beta distribution
✓
✓
Well supported in both
CI/CD
✕
✓
App Center offered a limited integrated mobile build tool
Analytics and diagnostics
✕
✓
This is on our roadmap
Powerful API
✓
✓
Good support in both
Webhooks
✓
✓
Both had webhooks
Automations
✓
Partially
Buildstash has automation pipelines; App Center had limited automation
Enterprise SSO
✓
✓
App Center also supported SSO

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