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Mobile Development · head to head

Fastlane vs Frappe

Fastlane logo

Fastlane

Mobile Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Frappe logo

Frappe

Developer Tools

The Python web framework behind ERPNext, sold as managed hosting through Frappe Cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Fastlane requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.; Frappe the framework is strongly opinionated: its own ORM, templating and job queue mean general Python and Django experience transfers only partly, and onboarding a new developer takes weeks rather than days.
  • They diverge on capability: Fastlane covers Screenshot automation, Frappe covers DocType modelling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fastlane and Frappe actually diverge.

Attributes where Fastlane and Frappe differ
AttributeFastlaneFrappe
Pricing modelopen-sourcePer month by site or server
Platformsios, androidWeb, Linux, Docker
CategoryMobile DevelopmentDeveloper Tools

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

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 Fastlane

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

Only in Frappe

  • DocType modelling
  • Role and field permissions
  • Built-in REST API
  • Background jobs
  • Bench CLI
  • Frappe Cloud hosting
  • App marketplace
  • Multi-tenancy

What people use each for

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

Fastlane

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

Frappe

  • A team building an internal business application that needs permissions, audit trail and an API on day one rather than in month threenot Fastlane
  • An ERPNext user who wants managed hosting, automatic updates and offsite backups without hiring a systems administratornot Fastlane
  • An Indian or emerging-market business that wants to pay for application hosting in local currency at local price pointsnot Fastlane
  • A consultancy shipping custom vertical apps to clients on a shared framework with per-client site isolationnot Fastlane

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Frappe

  • The framework is strongly opinionated: its own ORM, templating and job queue mean general Python and Django experience transfers only partly, and onboarding a new developer takes weeks rather than days.
  • The developer pool is small and heavily concentrated in India, so hiring Frappe experience elsewhere is slow and expensive relative to mainstream stacks.
  • Documentation is uneven in depth and lags behind releases in places, so real answers often come from reading the source or the community forum.
  • Major version upgrades of the framework have historically broken custom apps that reach past the DocType layer, so bespoke code carries a recurring maintenance cost at each upgrade.
  • Frappe Cloud recommends against its cheapest Hetzner-backed option for mission-critical production, so the headline $5 entry price is not the price of a production-grade deployment.

Pricing, plan by plan

Fastlane

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fastlane review.

Frappe

Free
  • Framework, self-hostedFree
    • MIT licensed, no licence fee
    • Install with bench on your own Linux servers
    • You carry updates, backups and security patching
  • Frappe Cloud Sites$5/month
    • Also listed at ₹410 per month
    • Shared servers with 150+ installable apps
    • Automatic updates and offsite backups
  • Frappe Cloud Servers$40/month
    • Also listed at ₹3,600 per month
    • Dedicated or shared virtual machines
    • Unlimited sites on your server

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Frappe if

  • You need doctype modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Docker.
  • You also want role and field permissions.
Frappe review

Questions people ask

Is Fastlane or Frappe better?
Neither clearly leads. Fastlane starts at Free and Frappe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fastlane or Frappe?
Fastlane starts at Free and Frappe at Free.
Does Fastlane or Frappe run on more platforms?
Fastlane runs on ios, android. Frappe runs on Web, Linux, Docker.
Can I use Fastlane for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Fastlane best used for?
Fastlane is most often used for automating ios and android release pipelines, generating localized app store screenshots, distributing beta builds to testers, managing code signing across a team. Of those, automating ios and android release pipelines and generating localized app store screenshots are not what Frappe is typically brought in for.
What can Fastlane do that Frappe cannot?
Fastlane covers Screenshot automation, Beta distribution, App store publishing, Code signing management. Frappe covers DocType modelling, Role and field permissions, Built-in REST API, Background jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Frappe: Is Frappe the same as ERPNext?

No. Frappe is the framework; ERPNext is the ERP application written on it. You can run Frappe without ERPNext to build your own applications.

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
Frappe: What licence is the framework under?

MIT, which is permissive and imposes no obligation to publish your changes, unlike the AGPL used by several open source ERP rivals.

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
Frappe: Can I pay in rupees?

Yes. Frappe Cloud publishes the same plans in Indian rupees, ₹410 a month for sites and ₹3,600 for servers, rather than converting a dollar price at checkout.

Frappe: Do I have to use Frappe Cloud?

No, self-hosting with bench or Docker is fully supported and free. Frappe Cloud is a convenience purchase, and it funds the open source work.

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