How to replace App Center and CodePush

In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has announced the impending closure of App Center, a mainstay in the mobile app development community, scheduled to shutter its services on March 31, 2025. Developers that are using App Center for Android/iOS builds, or for updates (with codepush) will need to find a new set of deployment tools.

With Microsoft App Center going away Expo Applications Services (EAS) becomes the logical replacement. With EAS you can run your builds faster and serve your updates faster than was ever possible with App Center.

In this blog, we'll explain what developers need to keep in mind while choosing their next distribution platform, and how Expo Application Services (EAS) not only replaces App Center but also introduces new ways to increase efficiency and innovation.

The closure of App Center leaves a significant void for developers who have relied on its services for building, testing, distributing, and monitoring their mobile applications. Key features like CI/CD pipelines, analytics, diagnostics, and push notifications have been integral to the development process for many.

With the one-year timeline until closure, developers have a window to migrate their projects to alternative platforms. The transition involves not just moving codebases but also adapting to new workflows and new technologies. It's crucial for developers to begin evaluating their options, considering factors such as feature parity, ease of migration, cost, and community support.

In the wake of App Center's retirement, Expo Application Services (EAS) stands out as a highly capable and flexible solution for anyone previously relying on App Center for Android/iOS builds, updates and more. Here's why EAS is a logical choice for those impacted by the closure:

• Universal Compatibility: EAS is designed to work seamlessly with any React Native app, irrespective of the CLI used. This universal compatibility ensures a smooth transition for developers looking for an alternative to App Center.
• Local Builds: Unlike many cloud-based services that require a subscription for builds, EAS offers the ability to run builds locally at no cost. This feature not only saves money but also gives developers more control over their build environment.

• Free Submission: EAS Submit, the service that handles the submission of your apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, is 100% free. This eradicates the cost barrier to app distribution for developers.
• Self-hosted Updates: For those who prefer or require hosting their updates in-house, EAS Updates can be self-hosted, offering flexibility and control over the update process.

• Integrated Error Reporting: The first-class integration with Sentry for error reporting places EAS at the forefront of debugging and diagnostics, ensuring that developers can swiftly identify and address issues in their apps.
• Support for Testing and Automation: The maintenance of the Detox Config Plugin for end-to-end testing with Continuous Native Generation (CNG) and compatibility with Maestro demonstrates EAS's commitment to facilitating comprehensive testing and automation workflows.

Microsoft's decision to discontinue Codepush leaves EAS Update as the most comparable alternative. EAS Update fixes small bugs and pushes quick fixes in between app store submissions, which creates a smooth experience for end users. For those wondering about transitioning from Codepush to EAS Update, Expo has a detailed migration guide. The switch is straightforward and hassle-free.

If you've been using App Center to build your iOS and Android apps, it's easy to switch to EAS Build. EAS Build is a hosted service for building app binaries for your Expo and React Native projects. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to build a ready-to-submit binary of your app for the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Migrating to both EAS Build and EAS Update will give you a better understanding of how your app is doing. With a dashboard that's easy to use, you can keep track of your app updates through any web browser without having to deal with complex text commands.

For example, if you send out an update to fix a bug, you can watch from the dashboard as it reaches users. If problems come up, you can step in right away and fix them. This gives you full control while managing your app and its updates easier from this straightforward dashboard.

If you've been using App Center Crashes for diagnostics, it's easy to move to Sentry. Sentry is a powerful tool that can help you find and fix issues fast. It works great with Expo, and we have a step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

The closure of Microsoft App Center marks the end of an era but also opens the door to new opportunities for innovation and efficiency in app development. As developers navigate this transition, Expo Application Services (EAS) offers a robust and versatile platform that not only addresses the immediate needs left by App Center's absence but also enhances the development, testing, and deployment processes. By leveraging EAS's comprehensive suite of services, developers can continue to build and manage their React Native apps with confidence and ease. Our friends at Infinite Red have also written a post about alternatives to App Center.

Since Microsoft's announcement we’ve been getting a lot of good questions about how to evaluate whether EAS is the right solution for different kinds of applications. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us in our Discord - we have specific channels for eas-build and eas-update and we’d love to hear from you.