Quick answer
Both iOS 27 betas are free with any Apple Account. The developer beta gets each new build first and suits people testing apps or a spare iPhone. The public beta follows once Apple is happier with a build, so it is the better pick for an everyday iPhone. Features are the same; timing and stability differ.
Developer beta vs public beta at a glance
| Developer beta | Public beta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| How to join | Sign in once in the free Apple Developer app | Enroll at beta.apple.com |
| Where to turn it on | Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates | The same menu |
| New builds | First | After the developer beta |
| Stability | Rougher, especially early in a cycle | Usually a little more settled |
| Features | Same release being tested | Same release being tested |
| Developer tools | Access to beta versions of tools such as Xcode | Not included |
| Feedback Assistant | Included | Included |
| Configuration profile | None needed | None needed |
| Best for | App developers and spare devices | Curious users who still want a usable phone |
Older guides, including the first version of this one, said the developer beta needs a $99 Apple Developer Program membership. That stopped being true in 2023. The paid membership is for things like distributing apps through the App Store, not for installing betas.
Where the iOS 27 betas stand today
The beta you can install now is iOS 27.2. Apple announced iOS 27 at WWDC on 8 June 2026, ran eight developer betas of iOS 27.0 over the summer and released iOS 27.0 to everyone on 14 September 2026. Testing then moved on to iOS 27.2.
| Platform | Latest beta | Latest public release |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), 13 October 2026 | 27.0.1 (24A446), 28 September 2026 |
| iPadOS | 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), 13 October 2026 | 27.0.1 (24A446), 28 September 2026 |
| macOS | 27.2 beta 4 (26B5112a), 13 October 2026 | 27.0.1 (26A434), 28 September 2026 |
| watchOS | 27.2 beta 4 (24S5112a), 13 October 2026 | 27.0.1 (24R365), 28 September 2026 |
| tvOS | 27.2 beta 3 (24K5103f), 5 October 2026 | 27.0 (24J361), 14 September 2026 |
| visionOS | 27.2 beta 4 (24N5114a), 13 October 2026 | 27.0.1 (24M372), 28 September 2026 |
The same Apple Account enrollment covers betas on all of these devices. Each one has its own Beta Updates setting.
Who should pick the developer beta
- App developers who need to test their apps against the next release as early as possible.
- People with a spare iPhone who want each build the day it lands and do not mind bugs.
- Anyone who needs beta developer tools, such as a beta of Xcode on a Mac.
Our iOS 27 developer beta guide covers the Apple Developer app sign-in and what changes for developers.
Who should pick the public beta
- Most people who want to see what is coming without risking a broken phone every week.
- Anyone installing on their only iPhone, after a proper backup.
- People who just want to help by reporting bugs with Feedback Assistant.
Enrolling takes a couple of minutes; our guide to joining the Apple Beta Software Program shows each screen.
The beta vs the public release of iOS 27
If your real question is whether to run a beta at all, compare it with the public release rather than the other beta.
| iOS 27.2 beta | iOS 27.0.1 public release | |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 24B5110a (beta 4) | 24A446 |
| Status | Still being tested | Finished and supported |
| What you get | Whatever Apple is testing for 27.2, before everyone else | iOS 27 as shipped, plus fixes |
| Risks | Bugs, app crashes, battery and heat issues | Normal for a public release |
| Updates | Frequent beta builds | Regular public updates |
| Who it suits | Testers and spare devices | Everyone else |
Every iPhone that supports iOS 27, from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, can run either. If you are weighing the risk for a particular device, our beta risk matrix for each device type helps you decide.
How to install either beta
- Make a computer backup and archive it, because a backup made on the beta will not restore onto iOS 26. Our guide to backing up before the iOS 27 beta explains how.
- Join the program you want: the Apple Developer app for the developer beta, or beta.apple.com for the public beta.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. - Choose iOS 27 Developer Beta or iOS 27 Public Beta.
- Go back and tap Update Now or Download and Install.
Our step-by-step iOS 27 beta install guide covers each screen and what to do if the download stalls.
Switching tracks or leaving the beta
- Developer to public: choose iOS 27 Public Beta in Beta Updates. You keep your build and receive the next public beta that is newer than it.
- Public to developer: sign in to the Apple Developer app, then choose iOS 27 Developer Beta in the same menu.
- Leave the beta and keep your data: set Beta Updates to Off. The iPhone stays on its current build until the next public release with a higher version number, the public iOS 27.2 in this case. Our guide to unenrolling without losing data covers the details.
- Go back to iOS 26 now: restore iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82), which Apple is currently signing for iPhones, from a Mac or PC. This erases the iPhone, so restore your pre-beta backup afterwards.
What to do next
If you have decided, start with the backup, then join the program and install from Settings. If you hit a bug once you are on the beta, file it with Feedback Assistant so Apple can fix it before the final iOS 27.2.
Frequently asked questions
Does the iOS 27 developer beta cost $99?
No. The developer beta has been free with any Apple Account since 2023. You sign in once in the free Apple Developer app, then choose iOS 27 Developer Beta under Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. The paid Apple Developer Program is only needed for things like publishing apps on the App Store, not for installing beta software on your own iPhone.
Can I switch from the developer beta to the public beta?
Yes, from the same menu. Open Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates and choose iOS 27 Public Beta instead of iOS 27 Developer Beta. Nothing is erased. Your iPhone stays on its current build and installs the next public beta that is newer than what you have, so you may wait a little before your first public beta update arrives.
Do the developer beta and public beta have the same features?
The features are the same, because both programs test the same release. The difference is timing and polish. Developer beta builds arrive first, and a public beta usually follows once Apple is happier with a build, so public beta testers may skip a rough build that developers saw. Developers also get beta versions of Apple's tools, such as Xcode, which most people never need.
Is the beta less stable than the public release of iOS 27?
Yes. iOS 27.0.1 (24A446) is the finished public version, while iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a) is still being tested and can have bugs, app crashes and worse battery life. That is why the beta is best on a spare device. If you rely on one iPhone for work, banking or medical apps, stay on the public release or wait for the final iOS 27.2.
How do I leave the iOS 27 beta?
Turn off Beta Updates in Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. Your iPhone keeps the beta it has and moves to the next public release with a higher version number, which on iOS 27.2 beta 4 means the public iOS 27.2. To leave straight away you must restore an older version with a Mac or PC, which erases the iPhone.
Can I go back to iOS 26 from either beta?
Yes, from both, while Apple keeps signing it. Apple is currently signing iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones. You restore it from a Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app, which erases the iPhone, then restore the backup you made before installing the beta. A backup made while on iOS 27 cannot be restored onto iOS 26.