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Updraft as a Microsoft Visual Studio App Center alternative

Directus Asset
Martin Mattli
July 8, 2024

In 2014, Microsoft surprisingly acquired the Stuttgart-based startup HockeyApp and then fully integrated it into Microsoft Visual Studio App Center, Microsoft’s solution for creating, testing and distributing applications. Since 2019, there hasn't been much development in the Visual Studio App Center. The public roadmap on GitHub informed that the tool has become outdated and no new features are expected. In March, Microsoft announced that they will completely shut down the service of Visual Studio App Center.

Microsoft will discontinue Visual Studio App Center as of March 31, 2025. After this date, it will no longer be possible to log in with your user account or make API requests. Until the deadline, Visual Studio App Center will be supported with patches for critical errors and technical assistance, as stated in a retirement announcement from Microsoft. Microsoft advises to migrate builds from App Center to Azure Pipelines using the "Export App Center Build" feature.

Updraft App Distribution as a Microsoft Visual Studio App Center alternative 

Are you currently still using Microsoft Visual Studio App Center and are now looking for a good alternative tool to support your app distribution process? 
We’ve got you! Updraft offers many of the same features that Microsoft Visual Studio App Center offered. And it’s less expensive!

Distribution of your app

App distribution of your mobile iOS and Android app is a crucial aspect of development. You must ensure that your apps are tested by the right people, the right audience, at the right time and through the right channels. App distribution is one of the key features of Updraft. Upload your iOS and Android apps to Updraft and distribute them effectively. 

CI/CD integration

Updraft can be implemented into any continuous integration and deployment process. Already using your build servers or a cloud service for your app building? No problem, integrate your existing service directly with Updraft. This allows you to seamlessly forward each app build to Updraft upon completion, enabling easy app distribution. In addition to popular CI services, we also support CURL or API upload methods for added flexibility.

iOS resigning 

With Updraft, you can effortlessly sign your iOS binaries with the correct iOS certificates and iOS provisioning profiles. Updraft handles the complex signing process for you, whether it's for your iOS app or your app extensions. With this feature, you can improve and automate your iOS signing process with just a few simple steps and without having to use XCode or DevTools. We wrote in more detail about this in a previous blopost on "How to resign an iOS App".

AAB resigning

As you may know, the Play Store no longer requires .apk files but instead mandates the .aab file format. You need to sign the .aab file with your keystore. Updraft can handle this process for you, correctly signing the .aab file with your keystore and password. All you need to do is add your keystore from your developer account to Updraft and Updraft will take care of the signing.

App store deployment

A game-changing feature that was not available in Microsoft App Center is the automation of the app store submission process. You can link your App Store Connect account or your Play Store service account to Updraft. Then, in the app distribution section, you simply select which app version of which OS platform you want to send to the linked app store account. No coding skills needed - Updraft takes care of it for you!

Additional benefits that Updraft offers and why you should use it as your alternative to the Microsoft App Center

  • Updraft is completely hosted in Switzerland and is subject to Swiss data protection laws and GDPR compliance.

  • Updraft offers the ability to manage all uploaded apps within the app version history and to view all related app information (app size, iOS certificate name, package name, minimum OS version, etc.).

  • Updraft offers the ability to distribute 2 apps from 2 OS platforms simultaneously to your end-testers.

  • Updraft offers a Pay-As-You-Go pricing model, where you only pay for what you actually use plus a percentage fee for the duration of usage within a month.

Updraft is a suitable alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio App Center

Need more convincing of our compelling features? Check out our tool - you can do so for free. We would be delighted to welcome you as our new customer. If you have any further questions regarding switching from Microsoft App Center to Updraft, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are happy to answer your questions.