Traditionally, beta testing on iOS meant collecting email addresses, adding them to App Store Connect, and waiting for users to accept invitations one by one. In practice, it was slow.
Enter TestFlight Public Links.
A Public Link allows you to create a unique URL for your app. Anyone with this link can install your beta version just by tapping it—no email invitation required. It effectively turns your closed beta into an Open Beta.
How to Create a Public Link
- Log in to App Store Connect.
- Go to My Apps and select your app.
- Click on the TestFlight tab.
- In the left sidebar, click the (+) icon next to "External Testing" to create a new group (e.g., "Public Beta").
- Add a build to this group. Note: This typically triggers a Beta App Review.
- Once the build is "Approved", go to the group settings.
- Scroll down to Public Link and click Enable Public Link.
You will now see a URL like https://testflight.apple.com/join/xxxxxx. Copy this and share it anywhere!
What a tester actually does
The link only works if the tester has Apple's TestFlight app. The full path on their iPhone is:
- Tap your public link. If TestFlight is not installed, iOS opens the App Store to TestFlight → install it.
- Reopen the link (or open TestFlight and it appears). Tap Accept, then Install.
- Launch the build from the Home Screen or from inside TestFlight.
Every external build carries a 90-day expiry, after which TestFlight shows "This beta has expired" until you ship a new build. If you want testers to skip the TestFlight app entirely, an over-the-air (OTA) install link loads straight from Safari with no extra app.
Best Practices for Public Links
1. Set a Tester Limit
You can cap the number of testers who can join via the link (for example, the first 1,000 users). This is great for creating exclusivity or managing server load. The overall ceiling is still 10,000 external testers per app.
2. Provide Clear Instructions
Don't just paste the link. Tell users:
"Step 1: Install the TestFlight app from the App Store."
"Step 2: Tap this link to join our beta."
3. Monitor Feedback
Since you don't collect emails upfront, you don't know who your testers are. Encourage them to send feedback through the TestFlight app (by taking a screenshot) or include a feedback form inside your app.
Limitations
- Anonymity: You won't see the email addresses of users who join via public link. They appear as "Anonymous" in your tester list.
- Review time: Every new version requires Beta App Review before the public link works for that version, so a same-day fix can still be gated behind the review queue.
- TestFlight required: Testers must install Apple's TestFlight app first; you cannot hand them a plain install button.
- Hard cap: The 10,000-tester limit is fixed. If you outgrow it, you need a different distribution path — see distributing iOS apps without TestFlight.
Skip the review queue with an OTA link
If waiting on Beta App Review slows your release cadence, an over-the-air link is the faster path. BetaDrop is a free TestFlight alternative: upload an .ipa and get an instant OTA install link plus a QR code, with no Apple review, no 10,000-tester cap, and no TestFlight app for your testers to install. Drop a build on the upload IPA page and share the link in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many testers can I invite via a TestFlight public link?
TestFlight public links let you invite up to 10,000 external testers per app. That is a hard ceiling set by Apple, so the link stops accepting new testers once you hit it.
Do public link builds require Apple review?
Yes. Before a public link goes live, that build (or an earlier build of the same version) must pass Apple Beta App Review. Internal testers on your team can install without this review, but external public link testers cannot.
Do my testers need the TestFlight app to use a public link?
Yes. Anyone who taps a TestFlight public link must first install the free TestFlight app from the App Store, then reopen the link to download and run your beta build.
Does every new version need Beta App Review before the public link works?
The first build of each new version must pass Beta App Review before its public link accepts installs. Later builds uploaded under the same version number usually go live without waiting for another full review, unless they add features that require one.
Can I disable the public link later?
Yes, you can disable the public link at any time in App Store Connect. Anyone who already installed the build can keep using it until that build expires, which is 90 days after upload.
What is the difference between a TestFlight public link and a BetaDrop OTA link?
A TestFlight public link routes testers through the TestFlight app and requires Beta App Review, with a 10,000-tester cap. A BetaDrop link is an instant over-the-air install link plus QR code: testers install straight from their phone browser, with no Apple review, no tester cap, and no TestFlight account.
Conclusion
TestFlight Public Links remove a lot of friction from iOS beta testing: you can share your beta on Twitter, Reddit, or your newsletter and let testers self-serve. Just remember the trade-offs — Beta App Review on every version, the 10,000-tester cap, and a required TestFlight install. When those get in the way, an OTA link is the faster route.
