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Mobile Development · head to head

EAS Build vs Fastlane

EAS Build logo

EAS Build

Mobile Development

Hosted iOS and Android build service for React Native, with signing credentials managed for you

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fastlane logo

Fastlane

Mobile Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: EAS Build iOS builds run on macOS workers charged at a much higher rate than Linux, so the invoice is dominated by the platform you have least ability to move off.; Fastlane requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.
  • They diverge on capability: EAS Build covers Hosted macOS and Linux workers, Fastlane covers Screenshot automation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EAS Build and Fastlane actually diverge.

Attributes where EAS Build and Fastlane differ
AttributeEAS BuildFastlane
Pricing modelPer month plus build usageopen-source

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (iOS, Android), 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 EAS Build

  • Hosted macOS and Linux workers
  • Managed signing credentials
  • Bare React Native support
  • EAS Submit
  • Internal distribution
  • Build profiles

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.

EAS Build

  • A React Native team with no macOS build machine that needs signed iOS buildsnot Fastlane
  • Removing signing credentials from individual laptops and putting them under an auditable servicenot Fastlane
  • Shipping JavaScript only fixes through EAS Update without waiting on store reviewnot Fastlane
  • Distributing internal test builds by link to non technical reviewersnot Fastlane

Fastlane

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

Where each one falls short

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

EAS Build

  • iOS builds run on macOS workers charged at a much higher rate than Linux, so the invoice is dominated by the platform you have least ability to move off.
  • Lower tiers queue behind higher paying customers, which is invisible until a hotfix build waits in a queue while an incident is running.
  • It is specific to React Native and Expo, so a company with a native Swift or Kotlin codebase alongside gets no benefit and needs a second build system anyway.
  • Deep use of managed credentials and over the air updates makes leaving harder than swapping a continuous integration provider, because the release process itself has been built around the service.
  • Build failures happen on infrastructure you cannot inspect, and reproducing an environment specific failure locally is harder than with a self hosted runner you can log into.

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

EAS Build

Free
  • Free$undefined/month
    • Limited monthly builds that queue behind paying customers
    • Sufficient for evaluation and hobby projects, not for a release cadence
  • Paid tiers$undefined/month
    • Monthly subscription buying build concurrency and included minutes, with overage per minute above them
    • macOS minutes cost several times Linux minutes, so iOS pipelines dominate the bill

Fastlane

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fastlane review.

Which should you pick?

Choose EAS Build if

  • You need hosted macos and linux workers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want managed signing credentials.
EAS Build review

Choose Fastlane if

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

Questions people ask

Is EAS Build or Fastlane better?
Neither clearly leads. EAS Build 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, EAS Build or Fastlane?
EAS Build starts at Free and Fastlane at Free.
Does EAS Build or Fastlane run on more platforms?
EAS Build runs on iOS, Android. Fastlane runs on ios, android.
Can I use EAS Build for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is EAS Build best used for?
EAS Build is most often used for a react native team with no macos build machine that needs signed ios builds, removing signing credentials from individual laptops and putting them under an auditable service, shipping javascript only fixes through eas update without waiting on store review, distributing internal test builds by link to non technical reviewers. Of those, a react native team with no macos build machine that needs signed ios builds and removing signing credentials from individual laptops and putting them under an auditable service are not what Fastlane is typically brought in for.
What can EAS Build do that Fastlane cannot?
EAS Build covers Hosted macOS and Linux workers, Managed signing credentials, Bare React Native support, EAS Submit. Fastlane covers Screenshot automation, Beta distribution, App store publishing, Code signing management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

EAS Build: Does it work without the Expo managed workflow?

Yes. Bare React Native projects build fine, which is a common misconception that costs teams an unnecessary evaluation.

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
EAS Build: Why not just use GitHub Actions macOS runners?

You can, and it is often cheaper. You then own credential management and the Xcode version treadmill, which is the work EAS is actually selling.

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
EAS Build: Can JavaScript updates skip App Store review?

Yes through EAS Update, within Apple's rules about not changing the app's purpose. Native changes still require a store submission.

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
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