Test swap: find testers for Google Play by testing other developers’ apps

What a test swap is

It is a group of developers in the same situation as you: everyone brings an app and opts in as a tester to everyone else’s apps. Nobody pays: in exchange for testers you spend a little time on the others’ apps.

It works because everyone has the same interest: staying opted in for the whole test and really using the apps, otherwise nobody gets to publish.

How many members you need

In a swap group each app is tested by all the other members. That is why Android groups have 13 people, for 14 days: your app gets the 12 testers Google Play asks for.

iOS groups have 5 people, for 7 days, and only include iOS users: Apple does not ask for a minimum number of testers, so they are there to collect real feedback before publishing.

How to join a group

You don’t create or choose a group: TestersSeeker assigns it. You need an account and your app, with its Google Play closed test link or TestFlight link. Then:

1. From “Add your app” fill in the form and choose Android, iOS or both.
2. On Android add the closed test link and your Google Play email: it is the one the others add to their app’s tester list. On iOS the TestFlight link is enough, but for external testers the first build needs Apple’s approval.
3. Save: you join the open group right away. If you choose both platforms you join two groups, one for each.
4. When the group is full you get an email and another group opens right away for whoever comes next.

If you don’t have an app

With “I’ll be a tester” you choose the phone you use and join the open group: you test the apps of all the other members, but nobody tests an app of yours. On Android also add your Google Play email, so the others can add you to their tester list.

Like anyone who brings an app, until the group is full you can withdraw with “Leave the group”, with no penalty.

When the group is full

The group moves to “My tests”, with the app links and the group chat; on Android there is also the mailing list.

Anyone who stalls on a step they could already do gets a reminder after 24 hours. After 48 hours they leave the group, it counts as an abandoned test and the spot goes to the next person who signs up; anyone who wants to try again rejoins the open group from Home. If you are only waiting for the others you risk nothing. When someone new joins, on Android everyone with an app adds their email to the tester list and presses “I added the emails” again.

The steps, in order:

1. On Android copy the mailing list into your app’s tester list in the Play Console and press “I added the emails”. Skip this step if you are on iOS or taking part as a tester.
2. For each of the others’ apps press “Become a tester” to opt in to the test, then “Download the app”. On Android the links become active once that person has added you to their tester list; on iOS you install the app with TestFlight.
3. When you finish the procedure for an app, press “I did it” on its row: you confirm that you opted in and downloaded it.
4. The “Who did your app” box shows who opted in to yours and who is still pending.
5. When everyone has completed the procedure for every app, the test countdown starts.

During the test

Really use the others’ apps and stay opted in until the countdown ends: for Google anyone who leaves before 14 days doesn’t count, and if they come back their days start over.

In the group chat you can report problems, ask what to try and collect feedback on your app: you will need it to answer Google’s questions for production access.

Once the countdown starts the group no longer changes: nobody gets replaced, so anyone who leaves the closed test leaves the others one tester short.

At the end of the test

When the countdown ends everyone leaves feedback on the apps they tested, with a rating and a comment, and rates the developers. The completed test counts towards the profile’s reputation and level.

At that point, if your app has had at least 12 testers for 14 days in a row, you can apply to Google for production access.

Tips for a swap that works

Do your part right away: as long as even one procedure is missing, the countdown doesn’t start for anyone.

Anyone who misbehaves can be reported to the moderators and blocked.

Update your app during the test and reply to whoever reports problems: it is exactly what Google wants to see.