AstroFarm 101: Everything You Need to Know About Private Mobile Device Farms

Synopsis

Managing mobile app testing across distributed teams and fragmented Android and iOS ecosystems is no longer feasible with scattered physical devices or shared public clouds. AstroFarm addresses this challenge by enabling organizations to build secure, private mobile device farms using devices they already own. This guide explains what AstroFarm is, who it’s for, how it fits into modern DevOps workflows, and why private device farms are becoming the preferred choice for scalable, secure, real-device testing.

You know the feeling. Your team is racing against deadlines, every release matters, and one undetected bug can ripple across your user base. In this high-stakes environment, traditional test management tools often feel limiting. Physical devices are scattered, testers are remote, and reproducing issues on multiple Android versions can be a nightmare.

This is exactly the challenge AstroFarm from 42Gears was built to solve. Imagine a device farm that gives you access to real mobile devices anytime, anywhere. A platform where automation testing for Android apps runs seamlessly, remote debugging is straightforward, and mobile app performance testing provides clear, actionable insights.

1. What is AstroFarm?

AstroFarm is a private device farm solution that lets you build your own private mobile device farm. You can connect and manage a pool of real devices that stay powered on and accessible remotely. Developers and testers can access these devices via the cloud to build, test, and debug apps from anywhere. At its core, AstroFarm lets you turn your existing devices into a private, always-on mobile device cloud. Instead of plugging phones into someone’s desk or locking them in a lab, you connect them to AstroFarm and make them remotely accessible over the cloud.

Developers and QA engineers can interact with real devices in real time to install builds, debug issues, run automation, and test performance without needing physical access to the hardware.

2. Who needs AstroFarm?

Organizations with distributed QA and development teams, especially those testing mobile apps at scale. Many companies already own test devices, but remote work makes physical access difficult. AstroFarm enables secure, remote device access without shipping devices or relying on public clouds.

3. What makes AstroFarm different from other mobile testing platforms?

AstroFarm allows you to create a private device farm using devices you already own. Most mobile app testing platforms follow a rental model where you pay to use vendor-owned devices. AstroFarm shifts control and ownership back to your organization.

4. Why does device ownership matter in a device farm?

If your organization already owns test devices that sit idle in offices, paying for rented devices means paying twice. AstroFarm helps maximize ROI on existing hardware instead of adding recurring rental costs.

5. How does AstroFarm improve DevOps and CI/CD workflows?

AstroFarm enables 24/7 automation testing, remote source-level debugging, and seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines. This removes location dependency, shortens feedback loops, and improves release velocity for mobile app testing teams.

6. Can AstroFarm work with Appium or other automation testing tools?

Yes. AstroFarm supports popular automation testing tools such as Appium and Selenium, making it suitable for automation testing for Android apps. Teams can integrate their existing frameworks without rewriting test suites.

7. Does a private device farm slow teams down compared to public clouds?

No. In practice, teams report faster test execution because devices are dedicated, not shared. There are no queues, peak-hour delays, or throttling common in public device farms.

8. Is AstroFarm useful if my team is fully remote?

Absolutely. AstroFarm is designed for remote-first teams. Testers and developers can access real devices securely over the cloud, enabling debugging and testing without physical proximity to hardware.

9. How secure is remote debugging on AstroFarm?

All device access happens within your controlled infrastructure. Unlike public device farms, data does not pass through shared, multi-tenant environments, making AstroFarm suitable for sensitive or regulated applications.

10. Can AstroFarm scale from a few devices to hundreds?

Yes. AstroFarm scales horizontally. You can start with a small device pool and grow as needed without facing steep subscription tier jumps or concurrency penalties.

11. What types of devices can I connect to AstroFarm?

You can connect various mobile and non-mobile devices to AstroFarm for testing, primarily Android and iOS/iPadOS smartphones & tablets, including rugged devices, Wear OS watches, Android TVs, and even VR devices; it also works with your Windows, macOS, or Linux machines acting as the host for these devices via USB. 

12. Do managers or QA leads benefit if they don’t test directly?

Yes. The AstroFarm console provides full device inventory, usage analytics, remote device view, and control. Managers can track device and app crash logs, group devices, and also configure user restrictions if they have admin access.

13. Is data secure and compliant when using AstroFarm?

Absolutely, and this is where AstroFarm truly stands out.

Unlike shared testing clouds, AstroFarm runs as a private device farm, meaning your data never mingles with anyone else’s. It meets strict global standards like SOC Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, Cyber Essentials, and HIPAA, and AstroFarm itself does not access your application data. All sensitive information is encrypted end to end, giving teams the confidence to test even the most security-critical apps without compromise.

14. How does AstroFarm support mobile app performance testing?

Because AstroFarm uses real mobile devices, teams can accurately test performance metrics such as CPU usage, memory consumption, and real-world behavior that emulators cannot reliably reproduce.

15. How can I try AstroFarm?

Our sales team will offer you a personalized demo based on your organization’s needs. After validating the proof of concept, you get access to dedicated infrastructure that keeps your data secure 24/7, 365 days a year.