Both Production and Beta versions in Google Play

Question

I have published an app in Google Play in Production mode. Now, I have a new version which I want to be release in Beta mode for my limited number of private beta users. Is it possible to have them both? i.e. version 1.0 in production mode and version 1.1 in beta mode? Or should I maintain a different app for beta (which is not convenient, as I need to change package names).

Answer 1

Is it possible to have them both?

Yes. It is possible to have them both.

However,

i.e. version 1.0 in production mode and version 1.1 in beta mode?

It prioritizes the larger version code. So if your version code in Production is 1.0 and 1.1 in Beta, what you will see in Play Store is the one in Beta. Regardless whether it is Open Beta Testing or Communities. Haven't tried the Closed Beta Testing

Or should I maintain a different app for beta (which is not convenient, as I need to change package names)

In my case, I already have an app in Production until I decided to add in-app products, so I uploaded the in-app version in Beta. It turns out that it has the same package name appearing in Play Store. What I did was to deactivate first the product and disable Beta. When the app is ready, then upload it to Production and have the product activated.

As an additional thought on versionCode, let me share this answer

Answer 2

Yes, you can have both. Google play do not restrict

Answer 3

you can have both, technically you can have 4 apks available to users and depending on other requirements can have even more than that.

Alpha - alpha testers who opt in can test it

Beta - beta testers who opt in can test, can be different from alpha

Staged Rollout - percentage of users can download

Production - all users, or latest version

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3131213?hl=en