TestFlight

Short definition

TestFlight is Apple's official beta testing platform that lets developers distribute pre-release iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS builds to up to 10,000 external testers and unlimited internal team members.

Detailed

TestFlight builds are uploaded through App Store Connect and are gated by either internal-only distribution (team members on your developer account) or external distribution (requires a short Apple-performed 'beta app review' before tester invites go out). Each build expires after 90 days, and testers install a dedicated TestFlight app to receive invites and submit feedback.

Example

An indie developer releasing a new feature invites 25 power users to the beta: they upload a build, add the users' emails under the 'External Testing' group in App Store Connect, Apple beta-reviews the build in a few hours, invited users receive an email with a redeem code, install TestFlight, and begin testing.

Primary sources

• Apple — TestFlight overview →

Related terms

• App Store Connect
  App Store Connect is Apple's web and API console for submitting, managing, and distributing iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS apps on the Apple App Store.
• Sandbox Testing
  Sandbox Testing is Apple's dedicated environment that lets developers test In-App Purchases, auto-renewable subscriptions, and StoreKit flows without using real money.
• App Review
  App Review is the human-plus-automated approval process Apple runs on every iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS submission, and the equivalent (mostly automated) process Google runs on every new or updated Google Play submission.
• In-App Purchase
  In-App Purchase (IAP) is the Apple and Google payment mechanism for selling digital goods, services, or subscriptions from inside a mobile app.
• Auto-Renewable Subscription
  An auto-renewable subscription is an In-App Purchase type that charges the user at a fixed interval (weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.) and renews automatically until the user cancels.