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Mobile Development · head to head

Codemagic vs Fastlane

Codemagic logo

Codemagic

Mobile Development

CI/CD built for Flutter and mobile apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Fastlane logo

Fastlane

Mobile Development

Open-source automation for building, testing, and releasing iOS and Android apps.

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Codemagic minute-based pricing opacity: exact costs for concurrent builds become difficult to predict at scale without calculator; Fastlane requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Codemagic and Fastlane actually diverge.

Attributes where Codemagic and Fastlane differ
AttributeCodemagicFastlane
Pricing modelusage-based|subscriptionopen-source
PlatformsWebios, android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mobile Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Codemagic

Nothing recorded that Fastlane does not also cover.

Only in Fastlane

  • Screenshot automation
  • Beta distribution
  • App store publishing
  • Code signing management
  • CI/CD integration
  • Plugin ecosystem

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Codemagic

  • Mobile CI/CD pipelines for iOS and Androidnot Fastlane
  • React Native CodePush over-the-air update distributionnot Fastlane
  • Enterprise multi-team CI/CD at scalenot Fastlane

Fastlane

  • Automating iOS and Android release pipelinesnot Codemagic
  • Generating localized app store screenshotsnot Codemagic
  • Distributing beta builds to testersnot Codemagic
  • Managing code signing across a teamnot Codemagic
  • Integrating mobile releases into CI/CDnot Codemagic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Codemagic

  • Minute-based pricing opacity: exact costs for concurrent builds become difficult to predict at scale without calculator
  • Free tier severely limited to 500 minutes/month with single parallel build vs. competitors offering more generous free allocations
  • M1/M2/M4 pricing variance creates complexity; customers must right-size machine type upfront without clear performance guidance
  • Additional concurrency is expensive at $49/month per concurrent build, potentially costing $588/year per extra slot

Fastlane

  • Requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.
  • No hosted UI or dashboard; it is a local/CI toolkit rather than a managed service.
  • Community-maintained plugins vary in quality and maintenance status.
  • No built-in analytics or crash reporting; it must be paired with other tools for those needs.

Pricing, plan by plan

Codemagic

Free
  • Pay as You Go$undefined/mo
  • M2 Fixed Plan$3990/year
  • M4 Fixed Plan$5400/year
  • M4 Max Fixed Plan$9000/year

Fastlane

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fastlane review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Codemagic if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Fastlane if

  • You need screenshot automation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ios, android.
  • You also want beta distribution.

Questions people ask

Is Codemagic or Fastlane better?
Neither clearly leads. Codemagic starts at Free and Fastlane at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Codemagic or Fastlane?
Codemagic starts at Free and Fastlane at Free.
Does Codemagic or Fastlane run on more platforms?
Codemagic runs on Web. Fastlane runs on ios, android.
Can I use Codemagic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Codemagic best used for?
Codemagic is most often used for mobile ci/cd pipelines for ios and android, react native codepush over-the-air update distribution, enterprise multi-team ci/cd at scale. Of those, mobile ci/cd pipelines for ios and android and react native codepush over-the-air update distribution are not what Fastlane is typically brought in for.
What can Codemagic do that Fastlane cannot?
Fastlane covers Screenshot automation, Beta distribution, App store publishing, Code signing management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Codemagic: How much does it cost to add more parallel builds?

Each additional concurrent build costs $49/month ($588/year). Fixed-plan customers can purchase additional concurrency at $1,500–$3,000/year depending on tier.

Source
Fastlane: Is fastlane a free tool, and what is the licensing model?

Fastlane is open source and free to use. It is an open source platform aimed at simplifying Android and iOS deployment with contributions from over 700 community members.

Source
Codemagic: Does Codemagic offer a free tier?

Yes. The free tier includes 500 free M2 build minutes monthly with 1 parallel build maximum, then paid usage kicks in.

Source
Fastlane: Does fastlane charge for support or commercial use?

The fastlane website does not mention pricing for support, training, or commercial services. Users are directed to documentation for getting started rather than a purchasing process.

Source
Codemagic: What is the difference between monthly billing and annual fixed plans?

Pay-as-you-go charges per minute of build time. Fixed annual plans provide unlimited minutes on a specific machine type (M2, M4, or M4 Max) for one upfront yearly payment plus the option to purchase additional concurrency.

Source
Fastlane: Can fastlane be used in commercial projects?

Yes, fastlane is an open source project. Commercial use is not addressed as a limitation on the website.

Source
Codemagic: Is there a limit to monthly users on React Native CodePush?

Yes. On the fixed-price CodePush plan, users are billed per 100,000 Monthly Active Users (MAU). Overage pricing is $1 per 2,500 installs on pay-as-you-go or a higher per-instance fee on fixed plans.

Source
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