Announcing Capawesome Cloud Native Builds¶
We're thrilled to announce the launch of Capawesome Cloud Native Builds, a powerful new feature that brings native iOS and Android app building to the cloud. Inspired by Ionic Appflow and Expo Application Services (EAS), we've built a production-ready solution specifically for Capacitor and Ionic apps with first-class support for Capacitor Live Updates, modern architecture for improved performance, and seamless integration with your development workflow. Say goodbye to complex CI/CD configurations and expensive build minutes — Native Builds is here to make your mobile app development faster, more reliable, and more affordable.
Built from the Ground Up for Capacitor¶
Unlike generic CI/CD platforms, Capawesome Cloud Native Builds was designed specifically for Capacitor and Ionic applications. We've built the entire platform from scratch with a focus on delivering the perfect CI/CD experience for mobile app developers. No third-party CI/CD platforms, no workarounds—just a modern architecture optimized for building and deploying Capacitor apps at scale.
How It Works¶
Getting started with Native Builds is straightforward:
- Connect Your Git Repository: Link your GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps repository (including self-hosted instances)
- Configure Signing Certificates and Store Destinations: Upload your signing certificates and optionally configure automatic app store submissions
- Trigger Builds and App Submissions: Start builds manually or automatically via Git integration, then monitor progress with detailed job logs through our web console (accessible from any device, including mobile)
Key Features¶
Native Builds¶
Native Builds provides everything you need to build production-ready iOS and Android apps in the cloud. No more maintaining your own CI/CD runners or struggling with complex YAML configurations. Just connect your repository, configure your build settings, and let Capawesome Cloud handle the rest.
- Optimized Build Stacks: Pre-configured with the latest stable versions of Node.js, Java, and Xcode running on macOS 15 with M4 instances. No more build errors from missing dependencies or incompatible versions.
- Universal Git Integration: Connect GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps—including self-hosted and enterprise instances. Trigger builds automatically or manually.
- Complete Signing & Provisioning: Securely manage Android keystores and iOS certificates. Support for all iOS build types (Simulator, Development, Ad Hoc, App Store with automatic TestFlight upload, and Enterprise) and Android build types.
- Advanced Configuration: Simple
capawesome.config.jsonfile with support for monorepos, custom build commands, and various package managers (npm, Yarn, pnpm). - Easy Debugging: Comprehensive job logs make troubleshooting straightforward. AI-powered debugging assistance coming soon.
Learn more about Native Builds
App Store Publishing¶
Submit your apps directly to TestFlight, App Store, and Google Play Store tracks with ease. Just configure your store destinations once, and every successful build can be deployed with just a single click.
- Automatic Submissions: Submit builds directly to TestFlight, App Store, and Google Play Store tracks without manual uploads.
- One-Time Setup: Configure your store destinations once, then let every successful build deploy automatically.
- Centralized Deployment Tracking: Monitor all app store submissions and deployments in one place with full visibility into your release history.
- Seamless Integration: Works perfectly with Native Builds to create a complete CI/CD pipeline from code to app stores.
Learn more about App Store Publishing
Command Line Interface¶
Build iOS and Android apps from any machine—no macOS, Xcode, or Android Studio required. Our CLI offers powerful automation capabilities that let you trigger builds and deployments directly from the command line, whether you're on Windows, Linux, or macOS. This removes the traditional barriers to mobile app development and speeds up the entire process, making it easier than ever to create awesome mobile apps.
- Build from Anywhere: Use
npx @capawesome/cli apps:builds:createto start builds from any machine, regardless of your operating system. Perfect for teams working across different platforms or developers who don't have access to a Mac. - Automated Artifact Downloads: Add the
--apkor--ipaflag to automatically download build artifacts directly after the build finishes, streamlining your local development workflow without needing Android Studio or Xcode installed. - Easy CI/CD Integration: Integrate seamlessly into your existing CI/CD pipelines or automation scripts, giving you flexibility in how you manage your build and deployment workflow.
Developer Experience¶
We've designed Native Builds with developer experience as a top priority. Forget about complex YAML configuration files—our simple capawesome.config.json keeps your build configuration readable and maintainable. The detailed, readable job logs make debugging a breeze, and with AI-powered debugging assistance coming soon, resolving build issues will be even faster. Best of all, you don't need to maintain your own CI/CD runners or worry about infrastructure management.
Performance That Matters¶
Performance is where Capawesome Cloud Native Builds truly shines. Our runner images are optimized specifically for Capacitor and Ionic projects, running on M4 instances with 4 CPU cores, 14 GB RAM, and 50 GB storage by default. You can choose runner configurations up to 14 CPU cores, 64 GB RAM, and 250 GB storage for more demanding builds. Not only iOS builds but also Android builds use macOS runners to ensure both the fastest builds and a consistent build environment. Compare this to GitHub Actions, which uses M1 instances with just 3 CPU cores, 7 GB RAM, and 14 GB storage by default.
What does this mean for you? Builds that are 3-5x faster than traditional CI/CD platforms. Faster builds mean quicker iterations, faster releases, and happier developers. Plus, with our optimized build environments, you'll spend less time fighting build errors caused by missing dependencies or incompatible versions.
Cost Comparison¶
Let's talk numbers. Here's how our pricing compares to other popular CI/CD platforms:
| Platform | 600 Build Minutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capawesome Cloud | $29/month | macOS M4, Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates included |
| GitHub Actions | $48/month | macOS M1 |
| Codemagic | $57/month | macOS M2 |
| Bitrise | $99/month | macOS M2 |
With Capawesome Cloud, you get more for less: 600 build minutes for $29/month, and that includes Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. Not only are we more affordable, but we're also using the latest M4 machines while other platforms use older M1 or M2 hardware. Since our builds are 3-5x faster, your 600 build minutes go much further—expect around 120+ builds per month. That's significant cost savings combined with superior performance.
Security & Compliance¶
Security is at the core of everything we build. All signing certificates and secrets are encrypted at rest and in transit—handled the same way as in GitHub Actions, Ionic Appflow, or Expo Application Services. Build environments are completely isolated, with no shared runners between customers. We take data privacy seriously and are committed to SOC 2 compliance, with regular security audits to ensure your apps and data remain secure.
Real Results from Real Customers¶
We've helped several customers migrate from GitHub Actions and other CI/CD platforms to Capawesome Cloud Native Builds over the past few weeks. Here's what they've experienced:
snapAddy BusinessCards¶
snapAddy provides AI-powered software solutions that automate the capture and management of business contact data for CRM systems. Their mobile app helps sales teams automatically capture and sync contact information on the go.
Before:
- 17 minutes per build on GitHub Actions
- ~$1,100/month on GitHub Actions
- $100/month for Capawesome Cloud Live Updates
- Total: ~$1,200/month
After:
- 5 minutes per build on Capawesome Cloud
- $299/month on Capawesome Cloud (Faster Builds + More Build Minutes included + Live Updates)
- Total: $299/month
Savings: ~$900/month (75% reduction)
DHBW VS App¶
The Baden-WĂĽrttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) is one of Germany's largest universities with over 33,000 students, combining academic studies with practical work experience. Their DHBW VS app serves the Villingen-Schwenningen campus community with essential student services and information.
Before:
- 7 minutes per build on GitHub Actions
- $29/month for Capawesome Cloud Live Updates
- Complicated signing certificate management via private GitHub repository
After:
- 2 minutes per build on Capawesome Cloud
- $29/month for Capawesome Cloud (Faster Builds + Live Updates)
- Easy signing certificate management via Capawesome Cloud Console
Result: 3x faster builds with simplified workflow at the same price
Pricing¶
Capawesome Cloud Native Builds starts at just $9/month for 1,000 Live Updates and 200 build minutes. That's approximately 40 builds per month, considering that builds on Capawesome Cloud are 3-5x faster than traditional CI/CD platforms. For larger teams and enterprises, our $299/month business plan includes 1,000,000 Live Updates and 5,400 build minutes. Need more? We offer completely custom plans tailored to your needs.
Remember: when you switch to Capawesome Cloud, you're not just getting faster builds—you're also getting Capacitor Live Updates included in the price. That's a complete mobile app deployment solution in one platform.
Limited Time: Launch Week Offer¶
For everyone subscribing this week, we're offering a 20% discount for the first 12 months on all plans. With yearly billing, that brings the starting price down to about $7/month for your first year. Lock in your savings today!
Use the discount code LAUNCHWEEK20 on the checkout page to claim your launch week discount.
Claim Your Launch Week Discount
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Frequently Asked Questions¶
Is my source code permanently stored on Capawesome Cloud servers?
No, we do not permanently store your source code on our servers. Your repository is only cloned at build time into a temporary, isolated virtual machine. Once the build job is finished, the VM and all its contents are immediately destroyed. This works the exact same way as any other CI/CD platform like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins. Additionally, no person ever has access to those files at build time—the build process is fully automated and isolated.
Can I use custom Gradle or Xcode configurations?
Yes! Native Builds supports custom build configurations through your project's existing Gradle and Xcode files. You can also use environment variables to customize build behavior.
How are signing certificates stored securely?
All signing certificates and secrets are encrypted at rest and in transit. They're stored in isolated, secure storage and are never exposed in build logs or accessible to other customers.
Can I trigger builds from my own CI/CD pipeline?
Yes! You can use our CLI or API to trigger builds programmatically from your existing CI/CD workflows.
What happens if a build fails?
You'll receive detailed job logs that help identify the issue quickly. Our optimized build stacks minimize common build failures, and AI-powered debugging assistance is coming soon to help resolve issues even faster.
Can I customize the build environment?
Absolutely. Use reserved environment variables like NODE_VERSION, JAVA_VERSION, and XCODE_VERSION to select specific tool versions. Advanced users can also work with our team to create custom runner images.
How does Native Builds integrate with Live Updates?
Native Builds is designed to work seamlessly with Capacitor Live Updates. Both features are part of the same platform, making it easy to manage your entire mobile app deployment workflow in one place. Direct integration for automatic Live Update deployment after successful builds is coming soon.
Is there a free tier available?
Yes, Capawesome Cloud offers a free tier for Live Updates. Build minutes are not included in the free tier to ensure the best possible performance and shortest queue times for paying customers. You'll need a paid plan to access Native Builds.
Do you offer unlimited build minutes?
Yes, we offer unlimited build minutes in custom billing plans. Contact us at sales@capawesome.io for more information about custom plans tailored to your team's need.
Do you offer custom billing plans?
Yes, we offer custom billing plans tailored to your needs. If you only need build minutes or only live updates, we can create a more affordable plan for you. Contact us at sales@capawesome.io to discuss your requirements.
Can I get even larger build machines?
Yes, we offer very large build machines with up to 14 CPU cores, 64 GB RAM, and 250 GB storage on request for custom billing plans. Contact us at sales@capawesome.io for more information.
We Want Your Feedback¶
Are we missing a feature you need? Have suggestions for improving Native Builds? We'd love to hear from you! Join our Discord community to share your feedback and feature requests.
Schedule a Demo¶
Want to see Native Builds in action or discuss how it can fit into your team's workflow? Our team is here to help. Schedule a demo with our sales team to learn more about how Capawesome Cloud can accelerate your mobile app development.
Ready to build faster, save money, and simplify your mobile app deployment? Get started with Capawesome Cloud Native Builds today and join the teams already building better apps with less hassle.