About BetaDrop
BetaDrop is a free service to distribute iOS and Android beta apps: upload an .ipa or .apk from the web, the CLI, CI or an AI agent and hand testers an OTA install link.
What is BetaDrop
BetaDrop is a free mobile build-distribution service. Instead of setting up TestFlight, the Play Store, or per-tester accounts, you upload an iOS .ipa or Android .apk and get an over-the-air (OTA) install link and QR code you can share with anyone.
Links are short-lived by default: a free build link lasts up to 7 days, and an anonymous guest link expires after 24 hours, so old test builds do not sit around after the round of testing that needed them. When a link has to outlast that, a paid plan keeps it working for as long as the subscription runs.
Who it's for
BetaDrop is for mobile developers, QA testers, and teams who need to share an iOS or Android build quickly without the overhead of official beta programs. It suits indie developers sending a build to a client, teams doing ad-hoc QA, and anyone who wants testers to install straight from a link or QR code.
Because there are no tester accounts to manage, it works well when the people installing your app are outside your organization or when you just need to hand off a single build.
How it works
- Step 1
Upload your .ipa/.apk
Drop in an iOS .ipa or Android .apk build (up to 500 MB). No project setup, no signing dashboards.
- Step 2
Get an OTA install link + QR
BetaDrop generates a shareable over-the-air install link and a QR code for your build.
- Step 3
Testers install from their browser
Testers open the link or scan the QR on their device and install directly — no accounts required.
BetaDrop at a glance
- Free — no card, no trial clock
- iOS .ipa & Android .apk
- Up to 500 MB per build
- Free build links last up to 7 days, guest links 24 hours
- A paid plan keeps a link working for as long as the subscription runs
- No TestFlight, Play Store, or tester accounts
Who builds BetaDrop
Kaushal Rola
Founder, Immersive Mobile Designs
Founder at Immersive Mobile Designs, the company behind BetaDrop. Builds software across mobile, web, AI and backend.
A free alternative to
BetaDrop is a free alternative to the common beta-distribution tools developers already know:
- TestFlight
- Diawi
- Firebase App Distribution
- Microsoft App Center
Developer tools
BetaDrop CLI
Upload and distribute builds from your terminal. Available on npm as @betadrop/cli and installable via betadrop.app/install.sh.
BetaDrop MCP server
Let an AI agent upload and share builds through the Model Context Protocol. Available on npm as @betadrop/mcp.
GitHub Action
Publish from CI so every green build ends in an install link. On the GitHub Marketplace as betadrop-app/upload-action.
Frequently asked questions
Is BetaDrop free?
Yes. Uploading an .ipa or .apk and sharing an OTA install link costs nothing, and the free tier needs no card and has no trial clock. Paid plans add longer-lived links, more storage, and branding controls on the install page.
Do testers need a TestFlight or Play Store account?
No. Testers install directly from their browser using the OTA install link or QR code. No TestFlight, no Play Store, and no tester accounts are required.
What file types and sizes can I upload?
BetaDrop accepts iOS .ipa and Android .apk files up to 500 MB per build.
How long do builds and share links stay available?
On the free tier a build link stays live for up to 7 days, and an anonymous guest link expires after 24 hours. On a paid plan a link keeps working for as long as the subscription runs.
How is BetaDrop different from TestFlight, Diawi, Firebase App Distribution, or App Center?
BetaDrop is a free alternative to those services: upload a build, share an OTA install link or QR code, and testers install from the browser with no accounts. Unlike TestFlight, there is no review wait before a build reaches testers. Unlike Firebase App Distribution and App Center, there is no SDK to integrate and no tester invitations to accept. The trade-off is retention: free build links expire within 7 days, and paid plans extend that.
Does BetaDrop have a CLI or MCP server?
Yes. BetaDrop ships a CLI (npm @betadrop/cli, installable via https://betadrop.app/install.sh) and an MCP server (npm @betadrop/mcp) so you can upload and distribute builds from your terminal or an AI agent.
