Mobile — MDM & Internal Distribution

Two distinct concerns: internal distribution (getting builds to QA, designers, beta users) and MDM / device management (managing fleets of dev / corp / school iOS and Android devices). For store distribution see iOS and Android.

Internal beta distribution

• ★ TestFlight — Apple's beta channel. Free with Apple Developer Program ($99/yr). Up to 10k external testers; 100 internal testers (App Store Connect users); review-light for internal builds.
• ★ Google Play Console — Internal / Closed / Open testing tracks — Android beta channels; Internal testing distributes to up to 100 testers in minutes.
• ★ Firebase App Distribution — free; cross-platform (iOS + Android); good for distributing builds to non–App-Store-Connect users (designers, off-team QA). The pragmatic default in 2026.
• Diawi — drag-and-drop iOS / Android distribution; free + paid tiers.
• InstallOnAir — similar to Diawi; free tier.
• Microsoft App Center Distribute — App Center sunset March 2025. Migrate.
• HockeyApp — sunset (replaced by App Center, now itself sunset).
• runway.app — release coordination; paid.

Enterprise / in-house distribution

• Apple Developer Enterprise Program — $299/yr; in-house apps only; abuse-monitored.
• Apple Business Manager / Apple School Manager — manage devices and Apps for Enterprise.
• Google Play Private channel — distribute internal Android apps via Play.
• Managed Google Play — enterprise-managed app catalog.
• F-Droid — open-source FOSS distribution.

MDM / device management

Apple-focused

• ★ Jamf — long-running enterprise MDM; expensive; Apple-blessed.
• Kandji — modern Apple MDM; paid.
• Mosyle — Apple-focused; cheap-ish; education and SMB.
• Apple Configurator — free Apple tool for low-volume Apple device setup.
• Apple Business Essentials — Apple's first-party SMB MDM.

Cross-platform

• Microsoft Intune — Windows + iOS + Android + macOS; Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• VMware Workspace ONE (Omnissa) — large-enterprise MDM.
• Hexnode — SMB-friendly cross-platform MDM.
• Scalefusion, Miradore, NinjaOne — competitors.

Android-focused

• Android Enterprise — Google's framework; Knox (Samsung) builds on top.
• Esper — Android device fleet management; paid.

Open-source

• Munki (macOS), AirNotifier, Fleet (cross-platform), MicroMDM — community MDM stacks for Apple.

What gets shipped via MDM

• Apps (managed app config)
• Configurations (Wi-Fi, VPN, proxy)
• Certificates (signing for dev devices, enterprise root CA)
• Restrictions (camera off, App Store off)
• Wipe / lock (remote)
• Apple Configuration Profiles (.mobileconfig)

Shadow IT alternatives for tiny teams

• TestFlight + Play Internal Testing covers most "share with a few testers" needs.
• Firebase App Distribution if you want one cross-platform channel for free.
• Self-host an OTA page with an itms-services:// link + .ipa and an .apk direct download — works but reviewers can't install from random websites due to platform restrictions.

Pick this if…

• Beta distribution to testers, default: TestFlight + Play Internal Testing.
• Cross-platform free beta channel: Firebase App Distribution.
• Apple-only fleet, paid MDM: Mosyle (small) or Jamf (large).
• Cross-platform fleet: Intune or Workspace ONE.
• Open-source / self-host: Fleet, MicroMDM, Munki.
• Internal-only enterprise iOS apps: Apple Enterprise + an MDM.