QuickPatch is an over-the-air (OTA) code-push platform for Flutter apps. It lets you push Dart code changes - bug fixes, UI tweaks, logic updates - directly to users' Android and iOS devices in seconds, without shipping a new build through the App Store or Google Play review process.

How does Flutter code push work with QuickPatch?

You ship your app to the stores once with the QuickPatch engine bundled in. After that, you change your Dart code, run `quickpatch patch`, and upload a small diff targeting that exact release. Apps fetch the patch on launch and apply it on the next launch - no reinstall and no store review.

Does QuickPatch work on both Android and iOS?

Yes. QuickPatch supports both Android and iOS with a single workflow. The same patch command and dashboard manage over-the-air updates for both platforms.

Is pushing code updates over the air allowed by the App Store?

QuickPatch is designed for pushing Dart code fixes and improvements to your existing app's functionality, which is a common and accepted practice for code-push tools. It does not change your app's core purpose. You should always follow Apple and Google's current developer guidelines for over-the-air updates.

How much does QuickPatch cost?

QuickPatch has a free plan with 4,000 patch installs per month. Paid plans start at $19/month (Pro, 60,000 installs) and $200/month (Business, 1,000,000 installs), with usage-based overage and custom Enterprise pricing. Apps, releases, and patches are unlimited on every plan - you're only metered on patch installs.

Is QuickPatch a Shorebird alternative?

Yes. QuickPatch is a fully-managed Flutter code-push service that offers the same core capability - over-the-air Dart updates for Android and iOS - with simpler usage-based pricing, signed patches with key rotation, and instant rollback.

Can I roll back a bad patch?

Yes. Every patch can be paused or instantly rolled back from the dashboard. You can also stage rollouts - release to 10% of users first, watch install metrics, then ramp to 100% or stop.

Are QuickPatch updates safe?

Patches are cryptographically signed and verified against the exact release they target before they are applied, and signing keys can be rotated. A patch that doesn't verify is never applied, and you can pause or roll back at any time.

All articles

Flutter OTA·Apr 21, 2026·2 min read

What Are Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates for Flutter? A Complete Guide

A plain-English guide to over-the-air (OTA) updates for Flutter: what code push is, how it differs from app-store releases, and when to use it to fix bugs without a review queue.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates let you change your Flutter app's Dart code after it is already installed on a user's device, without shipping a brand-new build through the App Store or Google Play. Instead of waiting days for review, you push a small patch and your users pick it up automatically on the next launch.

OTA updates vs app-store releases

A normal release is a full binary. You bump the version, upload the bundle, wait for review, and users download tens of megabytes. That is the right path for new features and native changes. An OTA update, often called code push, is different: it ships only the compiled Dart code that changed, targeted at one exact release you already published.

Store release: full app binary, store review, large download, used for features and native code.
OTA code push: small Dart diff, no review queue, instant delivery, used for bug fixes and code-level changes.

What you can push over the air

OTA code push targets your Dart layer - the logic and UI written in Flutter. It is ideal for fixing a crash, correcting a calculation, adjusting a screen, or tweaking copy. It does not replace native plugins or change your app's core purpose, so it sits cleanly inside store guidelines for bug fixes and improvements.

Why teams adopt Flutter OTA updates

1.Speed: a critical fix reaches users in minutes instead of waiting on a multi-day review.
2.Lower risk: roll out to a small percentage first, watch the numbers, then ramp or roll back.
3.Less churn: users do not have to manually update from the store to get a fix.
4.Cost: you patch only what changed instead of rebuilding and re-releasing the whole app.

How QuickPatch fits in

QuickPatch is an OTA code-push service built specifically for Flutter. You ship once with the engine bundled in, then run quickpatch patch whenever Dart code changes. We cover the mechanics in detail in How Flutter OTA Updates Work, and the store-policy question in OTA Updates and App Store Guidelines.

Ship your next Flutter fix over the air

QuickPatch is a fully-managed over-the-air code-push service for Flutter. Push Dart bug fixes to Android and iOS in seconds, with staged rollouts, instant rollback, and signed patches. Start on the free plan, read the documentation, or see the apps already shipping with QuickPatch.

Flutter OTACode pushGuide