Free IPA Hosting: Every Option, Every Hidden Limit
"Free" in this space always comes with a wall — a file-size cap, a 24-hour link, a required account, or a 90-day expiry. Here's the honest rundown.
The free options, compared
| Service | Truly free? | The catch | Install method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Installer | Yes | iOS IPAs only; links live until you remove the build | OTA install link + QR |
| Diawi | Yes | 20 MB anonymous / 50 MB account, links expire in 24 h | OTA install link |
| TestFlight | With $99/yr account | 90-day build expiry, Beta App Review for external testers | TestFlight app |
| Firebase App Distribution | Yes (Spark plan) | Google account, 150-day expiry, ~2 GB cap | Tester web app |
| GitHub Releases | Yes | No OTA install — testers download the IPA and can't install it directly on iOS | Manual |
Diawi limits per diawi.com/features-services; Firebase per firebase.google.com/docs/app-distribution/troubleshooting; TestFlight per developer.apple.com.
The trap: "free" that expires mid-beta
The classic failure: a beta starts Monday, and Wednesday the Diawi link is dead (24-hour expiry) or the build crossed 50 MB and never uploaded. Everyone on the team re-downloads, re-installs, re-tests. Twice.
The question isn't "is it free" — it's "will the link still work when the tester opens it." If the build is under 20 MB and you only need it today, any option works. If it's real, or large, or long-running, pick the one without a ticking clock: Build Installer.
DIY free hosting: the hidden costs
Hosting the IPA yourself (S3 + a manifest file) is free-ish: object storage is pennies, and the itms-services manifest is a 20-line plist. What you pay is time: generating the manifest per build, keeping bundle IDs in sync, serving HTTPS correctly, and debugging "Unable to Download App" at 6pm before a demo. The protocol details are exactly where things go wrong.
Upload free, install free, no clock
Upload your IPAFAQ
Where can I host an IPA for free?
For OTA installs: Build Installer (no size cap, no expiry) or Diawi (20–50 MB, 24 h). For plain file storage: GitHub Releases, S3/Cloudflare R2 free tiers — but those don't produce installable links on iOS.
Is TestFlight really free?
The service itself is free, but you need a $99/year Apple Developer account, and builds stop working after 90 days.
How do I share an IPA with someone?
Upload it and send the install link — the recipient opens it in Safari on their iPhone and taps Install. Their device must be in the provisioning profile (ad-hoc) or the app must be enterprise-signed.