Codemagic
CI/CD for Flutter, React Native, native iOS, Android, and more.
Best for
- Mobile CI/CD
- Flutter builds
- App Store deployment
Not good for
- Teams that only deploy static websites
Pros and cons
Pros
- The free 500 macOS minutes per month let a solo developer run real iOS builds and TestFlight uploads at no cost.
- Pay-as-you-go billing ties spend to how often you build, so an app with a slow release cadence does not pay for idle capacity.
- Configuration lives in a codemagic.yaml file in your repository, so the pipeline is version-controlled alongside the app.
- It can call fastlane lanes, so existing local automation carries into CI without a rewrite.
Cons
- macOS build minutes are billed at a real per-minute rate, so slow or frequent builds add up quickly.
- Each extra concurrent build costs $49, so running pipelines in parallel raises the price meaningfully.
- Fixed-price and enterprise plans start in the thousands per year, which only makes sense at a heavy build volume.
- iOS code signing on hosted machines takes deliberate setup before the first green build.
Codemagic is hosted mobile CI/CD. It runs your builds, tests, code signing, and store uploads on managed macOS and Linux machines, so you do not maintain a build server or keep a Mac awake for releases. For a solo iOS developer, the appeal is renting a Mac in the cloud for builds and TestFlight uploads, configured in YAML or a workflow editor, with a free monthly allowance to start.
It fits when local builds and manual uploads start eating time, or when you want a build on every push without babysitting a machine. It does not fit if you release rarely and a local fastlane run is already enough, because hosted CI is then overhead you do not need. Bitrise is the closest alternative to weigh against it.
Pricing
Codemagic combines a free tier with usage-based and fixed plans.
Codemagic plans (checked July 19, 2026)
| Plan | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 macOS M2 build minutes per month, 1 concurrency, and 1 team member |
| Pay as you go | Usage-based, from $0.045 per minute on Linux and $0.095 per minute on the M2 Mac | Unlimited minutes billed per minute, unlimited team members, and extra concurrency at $49 each |
| Fixed price | From $3,990 per year for the M2 machine | Unlimited minutes, 3 concurrent builds, and unlimited team members for a set annual fee |
| Enterprise | From $12,000 per year | Custom machines, support, and configuration for high-volume teams |
For a solo developer the free 500 minutes cover a light release cadence, and pay as you go keeps cost tied to how often you build. Pricing last checked July 19, 2026; confirm current numbers on the official pricing page.
Setup and integration
Codemagic supports native iOS and Android, Flutter, React Native, and Unity. You connect a Git repository and define builds in a codemagic.yaml file or the workflow editor; the iOS path covers signing with an App Store Connect API key, building the archive, and uploading to TestFlight or the App Store. Expect a moderate first setup, roughly an afternoon for a working iOS pipeline.
Two gotchas are worth planning for. iOS code signing is the usual stumbling block, so set up the App Store Connect API key and certificates early. Build minutes on macOS machines are real money, so cache dependencies and avoid rebuilding on every trivial commit.
Frequently asked questions
How is Codemagic different from Bitrise?
Both are hosted mobile CI/CD with macOS machines and store deployment. Bitrise uses a step-based visual workflow and a credit system on fixed monthly plans, while Codemagic centers on a YAML config with a free monthly minute allowance and pay-as-you-go billing. Codemagic is often the lighter starting point for a solo developer, while Bitrise leans toward a large step library.
Do I still need fastlane with Codemagic?
Not necessarily, but they pair well. Codemagic can sign, build, and upload on its own, yet many pipelines call fastlane lanes for finer control over metadata, screenshots, or signing. Running the same lanes locally and in CI keeps behavior consistent.
Is the free tier enough for one app?
For a light cadence, yes. The free plan includes 500 macOS build minutes per month (checked July 19, 2026), which covers occasional releases and TestFlight builds. Frequent builds, or a need for parallel runs, is where pay as you go or a fixed plan starts to matter.
Alternatives
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