Guides for planning and running internal app delivery

Practical guides and comparisons for choosing, launching, and operating private business app distribution on Apple devices.

Useful answers before you choose a distribution route

Private app delivery decisions are easier when they start with the real job: who owns the devices, how installation should happen, what Apple route is available, and what evidence the team needs afterward.

Use these guides to compare self-service, Apple Business, managed delivery, and full device management. The comparisons are written to show where AppDeploy fits and where another route may be the better choice.

Resources

Start here

A short path from the distribution question to a practical rollout decision.

Internal app distribution for business apps — Understand the main production delivery routes for private business apps.
Do I Need MDM to Distribute 1–3 Internal Apps? — Decide by device ownership, installation needs, and evidence rather than app count.
Getting started — Set up a workspace, add an app, connect Apple Business, and share a branded portal.

Apple distribution guides

Learn how Apple routes differ before committing to a workflow.

Enterprise iOS app distribution guide — Compare TestFlight, Custom Apps, Unlisted Apps, in-house distribution, and MDM.
Apple Business app distribution — Explore private app delivery through Apple Business and Apps & Books workflows.
How apps reach a device — Separate how an app enters AppDeploy from how it reaches an employee device.
Apple Business setup guide — Follow the token, account, licence, and directory setup path.

Compare the alternatives

See the operating-model differences without reducing the decision to a feature checklist.

Compare AppDeploy alternatives — Start with the common capabilities and the release-operations layer AppDeploy adds.
AppDeploy vs Jamf — Compare portal-first app delivery with a broader device-management approach.
AppDeploy vs SimpleMDM — Compare lightweight Apple device management with app-focused operations.
AppDeploy vs Applivery — Compare app delivery, integrations, and pricing models.
AppDeploy vs Appaloosa — Compare private app operations with a broader cross-platform offering.
AppDeploy and Apple Business — See how release operations fit alongside Apple's built-in management.

Practical operations

Guidance for rollout teams that need clear evidence and fewer surprises.

Private app distribution without MDM — See when a portal-first route fits and where unmanaged devices have limits.
Excel app upload guide — Prepare app access data for a controlled import into a workspace.
Employee workspace preview — See an example of the branded app catalogue employees use.