TestFlight, Apple’s own platform for distributing beta software, is now officially available on Mac for the first time. It gives developers the opportunity to invite up to 10,000 people to test early versions of their apps ahead of their release.
Apple first confirmed TestFlight would be coming to Mac back in June at WWDC. It was previously only available on iPhone and iPad.
TestFlight now available on Mac
TestFlight was founded way back in 2010, in the early days of the App Store’s inception, as a simple way to distribute beta apps on Android and iOS. It was acquired from its original creators just two years later by Burstly.
Apple snapped up Burstly to get it hands on TestFlight in February 2014 before it quickly ditched Android support. Since then, TestFlight has gone from strength to strength, becoming an even more integral tool for app-makers.
Now, for the first time ever, TestFlight has landed on macOS. You can download it from the Mac App Store before signing up to test early versions of Mac apps. It supports up to 10,000 testers per app, just like the iOS and iPadOS version.
You need an invite
Sadly, TestFlight doesn’t give users the ability to sign up for any beta they wish to try out. Before you can add an app to TestFlight, you need an invite from its developer. Sometimes these are shared publicly, but now always.
There’s one other caveat: Apple says that TestFlight requires a Mac running its latest operating system, macOS Monterey.
