Apple has today launched subscriptions for Xcode Cloud, the new integration and delivery cloud service for developers to build, test, and deliver apps to testers and the App Store, with prices starting at $14.99 per month with an entry-level free 25 compute hours per month plan available at no cost until the end of 2023.
Built into Xcode 13, Xcode Cloud offers a fast way for developers to build and test apps. Xcode Cloud can automatically build apps in the cloud to free up developers’ Macs for other tasks. Parallel testing in the cloud means developers can test on a simulated version of every current Apple device, then deploy a build of the app for internal testing, or deliver to external beta testers through TestFlight for instant feedback.
Xcode Cloud subscriptions comprise of four levels including 25 compute hours for $14.99 per month, 100 compute hours for $49.99 per month, 250 compute hours for $99.99 per month, and 1000 compute hours for $399.99 per month.
Apple explains that a compute hour is an hour of time used to execute a specific task in the cloud, such as building an app or running automated tests. For example, running 5 tests of 12 minutes each equals one compute hour. Xcode Cloud runs tests in parallel with other actions, such as analyzing, archiving, and building, so that developers get results quickly.
