Appflow is Ionic's Mobile DevOps platform designed to streamline and automate the development and deployment processes of mobile applications, particularly for Capacitor and Cordova apps. By providing a managed mobile build environment, Appflow handles tasks like consistent builds, real-time updates, and app store deployments, freeing development teams from the complexities of setting up and maintaining these environments themselves. Unlike generic CI/CD tools such as Circle CI or GitHub Actions, Appflow offers specialized features for mobile app development, making it a preferred choice for companies like AAA, Burger King/Popeyes, and Shipt. It allows developers to focus on app creation while ensuring reliable builds and reducing deployment risks, thus supporting a culture of frequent shipping and quality assurance. Appflow can complement existing CI/CD tools by managing mobile-specific tasks, and its growing adoption highlights its effectiveness in addressing the challenges of mobile CI/CD pipelines.