Install iOS Apps Without the App Store
Upload your IPA and get an instant over-the-air install link for iPhone and iPad — no App Store review, no signing service, no account required. The Diawi alternative built for large builds.
Upload your IPA file
Drag and drop your .ipa here, or click to select. No account needed.
Works with ad-hoc and enterprise-signed builds. Install via itms-services or QR code.
Distributing iOS builds shouldn't be a fight
Getting a build onto a tester's iPhone normally means App Store review, UDID registration, or fighting upload caps. When a build is 300 MB — common with games, media-heavy apps and enterprise apps — most free distribution tools refuse it outright.
Build Installer skips the ceremony: upload the IPA, and the app's metadata (bundle ID, version, name) is extracted automatically, an OTA manifest is generated, and you get a shareable install link plus a QR code in seconds.
Why developers switch from Diawi
- ✓No 20 MB / 50 MB free cap — upload large IPAs without a paid plan (Diawi's limits explained).
- ✓Links don't expire after 24 hours — keep builds available for your whole testing cycle.
- ✓No account, no signup — upload instantly and share the link.
- ✓QR code + install link — testers scan and install on the spot.
- ✓Developer API — POST an IPA and poll for your install URL, fully automated.
Everything you need to ship a build to a tester
Generates the itms-services:// manifest automatically. Testers tap the link or scan the QR code and the app installs over the air.
No artificial size ceiling. If Diawi rejects your build as too large, upload it here instead.
Bundle identifier, version and app name are read straight from the IPA's Info.plist — no manual form filling.
Works with ad-hoc provisioning and enterprise certificates, so any signed build installs on registered devices.
Builds stay downloadable instead of vanishing 24 hours later — safer for week-long beta cycles and client reviews.
CI/CD friendly: POST /api/builds/ with your IPA, poll the status endpoint, get your install URL.
How it works
Upload the IPA
Drag and drop your signed .ipa, or POST it to the API from your build pipeline.
Get the link
Metadata is extracted, the OTA manifest is generated, and your install link plus QR code appear instantly.
Testers install
Share the link or QR. Testers tap and the build installs over the air, no App Store involved.
Build Installer vs the alternatives
See how it compares to Diawi, TestFlight and Firebase App Distribution.
| Capability | Build Installer | Diawi (free) | TestFlight | Firebase App Dist. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max upload size | No hard cap | 20–50 MB | 4 GB | ~2 GB |
| Account required | No | Optional | Apple Developer | Google account |
| Link lifetime | Until you remove it | 24 hours (free) | 90 days | 150 days |
| App Store review | None | None | External testers | None |
Frequently asked questions
How do I install an IPA on my iPhone without the App Store?
Upload the IPA here and open the generated install link (or scan the QR code) on your iPhone. iOS downloads the build over the air using the itms-services protocol. The build must be signed with a provisioning profile that includes your device.
Is Build Installer really a Diawi alternative?
Yes — same job, fewer limits: no 24-hour link expiry on free uploads and no 20–50 MB file cap. See the full Diawi comparison.
Do I need an Apple Developer account?
To sign a build that installs on devices, yes — an Apple Developer account (or an enterprise account) is required by Apple, regardless of which distribution tool you use. Build Installer doesn't sign apps; it distributes what you upload.
Can I automate uploads from CI/CD?
Yes. POST the IPA to /api/builds/, poll the status endpoint, and read back the install URL. No browser required.
What file types are supported?
iOS IPA builds. Android APK distribution isn't supported yet.