FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How the platform works, how your data is protected, and how to run it.
Platform
What is Smart Grow?
Smart Grow is a platform for mobile teams. It keeps development variables, signing files, test builds and the values your app reads at runtime in one place, organized by app and environment.
What does each part of the platform do?
Development Variables and Secure Files cover building and signing. App Deployment shares test builds. Secure Variables, Certificates and Feature Flags are read by your app at runtime through the SDK.
Which platforms do the SDKs support?
Android, iOS, macOS, tvOS and Flutter. Development Variables and Secure Files use a CLI that runs in any terminal or CI runner.
Do my apps need a new release when a value changes?
No. Update a secure variable, certificate or feature flag in the dashboard and your apps pick up the change on their next fetch. The SDK caches values on the device between fetches; feature flags are cached for 60 seconds by default, and the cache time is configurable.
Can I use it in CI/CD?
Yes. Create an API token for an app and environment, then run
smart-grow download_variables_with_token and smart-grow download_files_with_token in your pipeline. Builds can be uploaded from CI through the API. Certificates are delivered to apps through the SDK, not to pipelines.Security
Can Smart Grow read my secrets?
Secure variables, development variables and files are encrypted at rest with keys held by the Smart Grow server — your own server if you self-host. The server decrypts values to deliver them to your apps and your team, so Smart Grow is not end-to-end encrypted.
Access is limited with roles per module, app and environment, and every change is recorded in the audit log.
How do apps authenticate?
Each app uses an API token together with its signing fingerprint, so a copied token alone isn't enough. Values travel over an extra post-quantum encrypted channel on top of HTTPS, and the SDK caches them in the Keychain or the Android Keystore.
How is access managed?
Create roles with read, write, update and delete permissions per module, and restrict them to specific apps and environments. Your team signs in with single sign-on (Google, GitHub, GitLab, Azure or Apple), passkeys and two-factor authentication. CLI sessions can be revoked at any time.
Deployment
Can I run it on my own infrastructure?
Yes. Self-hosted runs the whole stack on your servers with our Docker images and install script, using your own database and S3 bucket. It is activated with your license, which the server validates periodically, so it needs outbound internet access.
What does Managed mean?
We run a dedicated Smart Grow instance for your team. Builds still live in your own S3 bucket, and the terms are agreed in your contract.
Where are builds stored?
In an S3 bucket you own, in both self-hosted and managed deployments.
Plans and support
Do I need a paid plan?
Yes. Smart Grow is licensed per plan — Team, Business or Enterprise. Compare plans or talk to our team to pick the one that fits.
What support do you offer?
Email support and documentation on every plan, with priority support included. Business and Enterprise add on-premise infrastructure support, and Enterprise adds dedicated support with SLAs agreed in your contract.
Do you build custom features?
For enterprise customers we can evaluate custom integrations and workflows. Tell us what you need and we'll assess feasibility and timelines.
Still have questions?
Talk to our team — we'll walk you through the platform with your own apps in mind.