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Two Distribution Methods

In this post, we will discuss the two distribution methods that DeployGate offers - “Distribution to Members” and “Distribution by Link.”

Choosing the Best Distribution Method

DeployGate offers two ways to share apps.

  • Distribution to Members
  • Distribution by Link

Please select the most appropriate method, which may depend on the development phase or the type of tests you wish to perform.

Distribution to Members

The distribution to members method is designed for internal distributions to a team’s developers and QA testers.

Chart of member distribution

Users must be registered with DeployGate in order to receive distributions.

Features​

The following operations are possible using the distribution to members method.

  • Manage members’ app installation permissions
  • Install previous app versions

Because members must log in to their own DeployGate accounts, apps can be distributed more reliably and securely to specific individuals. When a developer uploads an update, members immediately receive a notification and can install the update.

Notifications vary by device type

Notifications are sent through the app on Android devices, while they are emailed to the registered email address on iOS devices.

Members can download past versions that have been uploaded. This lets QA testers independently troubleshoot errors resulting from app updates, including triaging bugs and validating operations. Please visit here for more information on how to distribute to members.

Limits to add members vary by plan
  • For individual developers (Individual Plan), the maximum number of members is three, regardless of their permissions.
  • For the Enterprise Plan (suitable for large organizations) and the Flexible Plan, the maximum number of members depends on the number of licenses, regardless of their permissions.
  • If you are on a discontinued Corporation & Organization Plan (Startup, Business, or Large Business), please visit here.

The distribution by link method is designed for external use by QA testers, beta testers, and others who are not part of the development team.

Chart of member and link distribution

Features​

The following operations are possible using the link distribution method.

  • Create an installation link for only a specific version of an app
  • Distribute apps to individuals without a DeployGate account

Testers can download an app as long as they have the link or QR code, so no account is needed. Furthermore, you can create multiple links, each with a different version to be distributed. This allows you to create and manage links for different purposes.

Notes

The number of installed devices using the distribution page does not count towards a plan’s “number of Users” limits.

Comparison Table

Distribution to MembersDistribution by Link
Security😃 Only invited users can download😰 Anyone with a link can download
* You can set a password to restrict access
* You can set a limit for the number of devices able to download the app
Visibility😃 Can view and manage download information - users, time/date, device (device ID, OS, etc.)😰 Can manage device information (OS type, OS version, device type) but cannot view or manage users who download
* You can view more detailed information for testers with DeployGate accounts
Version Management😃 Can download past versions😃 Can only download a specific version
Ease of Distribution😰 Relatively high barriers for testers, as all testers must register and have an account😃 Minimal barriers for testers, as they can simply launch the DeployGate app (Android) or use their camera (iOS) to scan a QR code and download
Price💵💵 For Enterprise and Flexible Plans, the number of licenses determines the number of available members💵 No effect on price
*** Depending on the plan, there may be a limit to the number of links that you can create
Ideal Use ScenariosIf developing apps as a team and conducting tests with specific membersIf distributing to people outside the project team, such as for alpha and beta testers