An Ad Hoc provisioning profile is the answer when you need to put a signed build on a specific iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Apple Watch outside TestFlight, without going through the App Store. The profile lists each device by UDID, and the resulting IPA only installs on those devices.
The device-class cap
Apple lets each Apple Developer Program team register up to 100 devices per device class per membership year. Device classes are tracked separately for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and Macs. The counter does not reset when you remove a device, only at annual membership renewal.
When to use Ad Hoc
- Sending a build to a client or beta tester whose device cannot be added as a TestFlight internal tester.
- Stress-testing a release candidate on a known device farm before TestFlight gets it.
- Demoing a build at a trade show or customer site where TestFlight is impractical.
When TestFlight is the better answer
- More than 100 testers in a single device class per year.
- Builds with frequent updates, since Ad Hoc requires resigning for every new tester.
- Testers without an Apple ID you can register through your developer account.