After App Center: what replaces each part, and where Ertori fits
Visual Studio App Center was Microsoft's all-in-one service for mobile developers: cloud builds, device testing, distribution to testers, CodePush, crash reports and usage analytics. Microsoft retired most of it on March 31, 2025. Analytics and Diagnostics still run, and Microsoft says they stop at the end of March 2027. No single product replaces all of it, so teams split it up. Ertori takes one part: seeing how every app is doing, with App Store and Google Play numbers, reviews and revenue next to your websites.
Stay on App Center until March 2027 if: You rely on its SDK's custom events or crash reports and haven't moved them yet. Analytics and Diagnostics keep working until the end of March 2027, and Microsoft's own path for them is Azure Monitor mobile analytics, in public preview since April 2026.
- Status
- App CenterBuild, Test, Distribute and CodePush retired on March 31, 2025. Analytics and Diagnostics supported until the end of March 2027ErtoriActive, with 16 sources
- Downloads, page views and proceeds
- App CenterNot offered: its analytics came from its own SDK, not from the storesErtoriFrom App Store Connect and Google Play reports for every app, with no SDK to add
- Store ratings and reviews
- App CenterNot offeredErtoriApp Store and Google Play reviews in one feed, with D1 and website feedback
- In-app usage analytics
- App CenterActive users, sessions, devices, countries, versions and custom events from its SDKErtoriNot offered: no SDK, so no in-app events. Microsoft's path is Azure Monitor mobile analytics; Firebase and PostHog also have mobile SDKs
- Crash reports
- App CenterDiagnostics: crashes and errors from its SDKErtoriNot offered. Firebase Crashlytics and Sentry cover crashes
- Builds
- App CenterCloud builds for iOS, Android, React Native and Xamarin apps (retired)ErtoriNot offered. Microsoft recommends Azure Pipelines; Xcode Cloud, GitHub Actions, Bitrise and Codemagic also build mobile apps
- Testers and distribution
- App CenterTester groups and release distribution (retired)ErtoriNot offered. Microsoft recommends TestFlight and Google Play's test tracks; Firebase App Distribution covers both platforms
- Device testing
- App CenterReal-device test cloud (retired)ErtoriNot offered. Microsoft recommends BrowserStack App Automate
- CodePush
- App CenterOver-the-air updates for React Native apps (retired)ErtoriNot offered. Microsoft open-sourced a standalone CodePush server; Expo's EAS Update is another option
- Websites and payments
- App CenterNot offeredErtoriGA4, Search Console, Cloudflare, Plausible, Umami, Fathom, PostHog, Vercel; Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle and RevenueCat
- AI assistant
- App CenterNot offeredErtoriClaude connector on Pro for claude.ai, Desktop, mobile and Claude Code
- Price
- App CenterAnalytics and Diagnostics were free and stay free until they close at the end of March 2027. Build and Test, the paid parts, ended on March 31, 2025.ErtoriFree: 2 projects with every source. Pro: $5/month for unlimited projects and the Claude connector.
| App Center | Ertori | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Build, Test, Distribute and CodePush retired on March 31, 2025. Analytics and Diagnostics supported until the end of March 2027 | Active, with 16 sources |
| Downloads, page views and proceeds | Not offered: its analytics came from its own SDK, not from the stores | From App Store Connect and Google Play reports for every app, with no SDK to add |
| Store ratings and reviews | Not offered | App Store and Google Play reviews in one feed, with D1 and website feedback |
| In-app usage analytics | Active users, sessions, devices, countries, versions and custom events from its SDK | Not offered: no SDK, so no in-app events. Microsoft's path is Azure Monitor mobile analytics; Firebase and PostHog also have mobile SDKs |
| Crash reports | Diagnostics: crashes and errors from its SDK | Not offered. Firebase Crashlytics and Sentry cover crashes |
| Builds | Cloud builds for iOS, Android, React Native and Xamarin apps (retired) | Not offered. Microsoft recommends Azure Pipelines; Xcode Cloud, GitHub Actions, Bitrise and Codemagic also build mobile apps |
| Testers and distribution | Tester groups and release distribution (retired) | Not offered. Microsoft recommends TestFlight and Google Play's test tracks; Firebase App Distribution covers both platforms |
| Device testing | Real-device test cloud (retired) | Not offered. Microsoft recommends BrowserStack App Automate |
| CodePush | Over-the-air updates for React Native apps (retired) | Not offered. Microsoft open-sourced a standalone CodePush server; Expo's EAS Update is another option |
| Websites and payments | Not offered | GA4, Search Console, Cloudflare, Plausible, Umami, Fathom, PostHog, Vercel; Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle and RevenueCat |
| AI assistant | Not offered | Claude connector on Pro for claude.ai, Desktop, mobile and Claude Code |
| Price | Analytics and Diagnostics were free and stay free until they close at the end of March 2027. Build and Test, the paid parts, ended on March 31, 2025. | Free: 2 projects with every source. Pro: $5/month for unlimited projects and the Claude connector. |
App Center details checked on 2026-10-28 at learn.microsoft.com/en-us/appcenter/retirement. Corrections welcome: hello@ertori.com.
Why indies switch
- App Center was the screen you opened to see how your apps were doing. Ertori is that screen again, built from Apple's and Google's own reports, so there's no SDK to add and no app update to ship.
- It shows what App Center never did: downloads, proceeds and store reviews for every iOS and Android app, with the app's website traffic and its Stripe, Paddle or RevenueCat revenue in the same row.
- It isn't a full replacement. Pair it with the tools in the table for builds, testers and crash reports, and with Azure Monitor, Firebase or PostHog for in-app events.