With Microsoft's decision to shut down Visual Studio App Center on March 31, 2025, you won't be able to log in to App Center and access API.
Does it mean you can't push app updates in real time?
Absolutely not.
If you are a mobile developer and require instant app updates, you must find a replacement and migrate to it before the shutdown to continue pushing them.
Here, we'll compare them based on:
1. Ease of migration
2. Features it comes with
3. SDK support
4. Cost
Top CodePush Services
There are 3 popular solutions.
- Open Source CodePush Server (Self-hosted solution)
- Expo EAS Updates (Managed service by Expo)
- AppsOnAir (Our Own Service)
Now, let's explore them in depth.
1. Open Source Server
Microsoft has released CodePush's source code, allowing developers to self-host and manage their own update server.
While this ensures full control, it also introduces infrastructure challenges.
Pros
Full control over the server
No third-party dependency
Cons
Requires server setup, maintenance, and DevOps expertise
High cloud costs for storage and bandwidth
No guaranteed long-term support
Cost Estimation (200,000 users, 5 updates per month)
Server Costs: ~$300/month (Azure/AWS)
Bandwidth: ~$400/month (4.76 TB data transfer)
Total Estimated Cost: $600–$800 per month (excluding DevOps costs)
2. Expo EAS Updates
Expo EAS Updates is a managed OTA update service by Expo, offering a stable and feature-rich substitute.
However, migrating from standard React Native CLI may require significant project restructuring.
Pros
Fully managed service with a strong support community
Seamless updates with Expo's ecosystem
Cons
Requires project restructuring if not already using Expo
Higher cost, especially for large-scale apps
Cost Estimation (200,000 users, 5 updates per month)
On-Demand Plan: $1,200/month (including bandwidth overages)
Production Plan: ~$1,049/month
3. AppsOnAir
Reasons to Choose AppsOnAir Over Any Other Alternative
- No Learning Curve – Works exactly like CodePush, so there is no unnecessary rework.
- Instant Updates – Push new versions without app store approvals.
- Full Control & Insights – Track deployments, rollbacks, and performance from a single dashboard.
- Built for Developers – Lightweight SDK with open-source flexibility.
Benefits of Both OTA App Sharing & Real-time Updates
Unlike other platforms available in the current market, AppsOnAir offers both.
With OTA app sharing, developers can easily distribute apps to testers and stakeholders without a complex setup & push app updates.
This combination makes you do faster deployments, a smoother user experience, and complete control over app updates, all from a single platform.
AppsOnAir Pricing
Extra Bundles (Download Counts)
AppsOnAir CodePush allows you to extend your download capacity!
If your current bundle limit isn't enough, simply purchase additional CodePush bundles as add-ons.
When evaluating these alternatives, consider factors such as ease of migration, feature set, future React Native SDK support, and cost of use.
Each solution offers unique advantages, so aligning them with your project's specific needs and constraints is crucial for a successful transition.
Now, let’s talk about other alternatives as well.
Other Alternatives
In addition to these triad, there exist supplementary platforms, namely AppZung, NextPush, Revopush, and BytePush, that purport to address analogous distributional needs.
Nevertheless, AppsOnAir occupies a singular position within this landscape by virtue of consolidating both service modalities into one integrated environment
Summarizing: Which One to Choose?
Here are three options:
Open-Source CodePush Server – Ideal for teams with DevOps expertise who want complete control, but comes with high maintenance and infrastructure costs.
Expo EAS Updates – A well-supported solution with fast updates, but expensive and requires significant project restructuring.
AppsOnAir – The best balance of price, features, and ease of migration. No learning curve, low cost, and instant updates with full control over deployments.
