An Install On Air alternative for ongoing beta testing
A quick link is enough for one build. When the same people test every week, they need a place to come back to.
Start freeThe short answer
Use Install On Air when you need one free link today and don’t want an account. Use App Dropper when the same testers get build after build, and you want them notified and their feedback in one place.
Install On Air vs App Dropper
| Feature | App Dropper | Install On Air |
|---|---|---|
| IPA and APK install links | Yes | Yes |
| QR code | Yes | Yes |
| Install counts | Yes | Yes |
| One link across versions | Yes | No |
| Tester list per app | Yes | No |
| Push alerts to testers | Yes | No |
| Feedback on each build | Yes | No |
| Tester app | Android | No |
| Documented API | Yes | No |
What your testers get
Install On Air
- A link by email or chat
- A new link for each build
- Link ends after 3 or 7 days unless you pay
App Dropper
- One invite, one link for good
- Email and push on every build
- Feedback from the Android app
What it costs
Install On Air is free and charges once per build for extras. App Dropper is free up to its plan limits, then a subscription. Which is cheaper depends on how you ship.
| If you need | Install On Air | App Dropper |
|---|---|---|
| One quick share | Free, no account | Free, with an account |
| A build a week to the same testers | Free, a new link each week | Free, same link, testers alerted |
| One build kept up for a year | $9.99 once | Pin it on Pro, $9/mo |
Install On Air also takes free uploads up to 200 MB, against 150 MB on our free plan.
Upload from CI, not a web page
Install On Air is built around its upload page. App Dropper has a CLI, a GitHub Action, a Fastlane plugin and a public API. Builds from CI notify testers just like a manual upload.
npx appdropper upload build/app-release.apk --notes "Fixes the login crash"Common questions
Is Install On Air free?
Yes. Uploading, sharing and installing are free there, and the site carries ads. You pay once per build to keep a link up longer, from $1.89 for a month to $9.99 for a year, or $2 for one upload of up to 1 GB.
What does App Dropper add?
A tester list for each app. Testers accept an invite once, then get an email and a push for every new build, and they all use the same link. They can send feedback with screenshots on the build itself.
How long do App Dropper links last?
7 days on Free, 30 on Pro, 90 on Studio, counted from the upload. The app's link itself never changes, and Pro and Studio can pin a build so it never expires.
Can I upload from CI instead of a web page?
Yes. There's a CLI, an official GitHub Action and Fastlane plugin, and a public REST API. Install On Air doesn't publish an API; the community Fastlane plugin for it was last released in 2022.
Install On Air details from its features and pricing pages, checked October 2026. App Dropper isn’t affiliated with Install On Air.
Upload your first build
Then invite one tester and see what they get.
Drag & drop your build
or browse files — .apk or .ipa, up to 150 MB