iOS app development that brings your iPhone app idea to life
From concept to the App Store: we design, build, test and launch iPhone and iPad apps that feel native, perform smoothly and are prepared for Apple's review before they are submitted.
- Swift
- SwiftUI
- App Store
- iPhone and iPad
Swift, SwiftUI and the Apple toolchain
iOS apps are written in Swift using Xcode, Apple's development tool, which runs only on a Mac. Interfaces are built in SwiftUI, with UIKit used where a screen needs finer control or an older iOS version has to be supported. Designs follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, so navigation, gestures, Dynamic Type and Dark Mode behave as iPhone users expect.
Apple controls both the hardware and the operating system, and most users update to a new iOS version soon after release. That means fewer device variations to test than on other platforms, but stricter rules: every app and every update is checked by App Review before it reaches the store.
Watch: from app idea to app store
iOS development services
iPhone and iPad apps
Native Swift and SwiftUI apps, or Flutter when you need iOS and Android together.
Feature-rich builds
Apple Pay, maps, push notifications through APNs, camera, offline storage, Face ID and Touch ID sign-in.
Design for iOS
Interfaces that follow the Human Interface Guidelines, with layouts adapted for each iPhone size and for iPad.
Testing and quality assurance
Testing on physical iPhones and iPads, plus TestFlight builds for your team before launch.
App Store submission
Listing, screenshots, privacy details and review notes prepared and submitted from your Apple developer account.
Maintenance
Updates for each new iOS release and new device sizes, bug fixes and new features.
Native Swift or Flutter for your iPhone app?
Flutter can produce an iOS app from the same code as an Android app. Whether that is the right trade depends on how much of the app relies on things only Apple's own frameworks provide.
| Question | Native Swift and SwiftUI | Flutter |
|---|---|---|
| Is iOS your only or main platform? | The natural choice | Little benefit unless Android will follow |
| Home Screen widgets, Live Activities, App Clips, Apple Watch | Built directly with Apple's frameworks | These parts still have to be written in Swift |
| New iOS features each year | Usable from the day Apple releases them | Usable once plugins catch up, or through native code |
| Apple Pay, HealthKit, Siri, CarPlay | Direct access | Through plugins or custom native bridges |
| Interface feel | Uses the system's own controls, animations and accessibility | Drawn by Flutter to resemble iOS controls |
| Building the app | Needs a Mac and Xcode | Also needs a Mac and Xcode for the iOS build |
| Cost of adding Android later | A second app in Kotlin | Mostly shared with the existing code |
Apple developer account and App Store Connect
Apple Developer Program
Publishing on the App Store requires a paid membership that Apple renews yearly. We recommend that you enrol, so the app belongs to you.
Individual or organisation
An individual account shows the person's name as the seller. An organisation account shows the company name and requires a D-U-N-S number and a legal entity.
App Store Connect
Apple's portal for the app record, bundle ID, builds, pricing, screenshots, privacy details, sales reports and user roles.
Certificates and profiles
Signing certificates, provisioning profiles and push notification keys are created under your account and documented at handover.
Access for our team
You add us as a user with a developer or app manager role. Access can be removed at any time, and an app can also be transferred between accounts if needed.
Testing with TestFlight
TestFlight is Apple's own system for distributing test builds. Testers install the TestFlight app, accept an invitation and receive each new build with our notes on what changed.
Internal testers
Members of your App Store Connect team get new builds as soon as Apple finishes processing them.
External testers
A wider group joins by email invitation or a public link. The first build for external testers goes through a short beta review by Apple.
Feedback
Testers send screenshots and comments from inside TestFlight, and crash reports arrive in Xcode and App Store Connect.
Release candidate
The build that passed testing is the same one submitted for App Review, so nothing changes between testing and release.
App Review guidelines: what gets apps rejected
Apple reviews apps against its App Review Guidelines, which cover safety, performance, business, design and legal requirements. We check each build against the common causes of rejection before submitting.
- Crashes, broken links or placeholder content found during review
- No demo account or instructions for the reviewer when the app requires sign-in
- Missing or vague permission messages for camera, location, photos, contacts or tracking
- Privacy details in App Store Connect that do not match the data the app and its SDKs collect
- Account creation offered without a way to delete the account from inside the app
- Third-party social login offered without Sign in with Apple or an equivalent privacy-focused option
- Digital content sold through an outside payment method where in-app purchase is required
- An app that is only a wrapped website with little native functionality
- Screenshots or descriptions that do not reflect the real app
In-app purchase rules on iOS
What you sell decides how you are allowed to charge for it. Getting this wrong is a common reason for rejection, so we settle it at the design stage. Rules for linking to outside payment differ in some regions and change over time, so we check Apple's current guidelines for your storefronts.
| What the app sells | How payment is taken | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Digital content or features used inside the app | Apple In-App Purchase through StoreKit | Premium features, game items, courses viewed in the app |
| Subscriptions to digital content | Auto-renewable subscriptions through In-App Purchase | Streaming, premium membership, paid content plans |
| Physical goods | Apple Pay or a card payment gateway | E-commerce orders, food delivery |
| Services delivered outside the app | Apple Pay or a card payment gateway | Flight and hotel bookings, taxi rides, appointments, repairs |
Our iOS delivery process
Scope
Features, user journeys and required Apple capabilities are written down, and the in-app purchase question is answered early.
Interface design
Screens are designed to the Human Interface Guidelines and reviewed as a prototype on a real iPhone.
Development
The app is built in Swift, with a new TestFlight build delivered at each milestone.
Device testing
Each release is tested on current and older supported iPhones, on iPad where relevant, and on the latest iOS version.
App Store submission
Metadata, screenshots, privacy details, age rating and review notes are submitted. If Apple asks questions or rejects a build, we reply and resubmit.
Release and support
The app goes live manually or by phased release, followed by monitoring of crashes and reviews and planned updates.
How we work on iOS projects
- A clear scope and fixed quote before development starts
- Builds you can try on your own iPhone during development
- You own the code, the app and the App Store listing
- Support after launch, not just until launch
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an iOS app?
The timeline depends on the number of screens, integrations and whether a backend has to be built as well. A focused first version with a handful of core features is normally measured in weeks, while apps with payments, live tracking or several user roles take longer. Time for App Review and any resubmission should be added. You receive a milestone timeline with the quote.
Do I need my own Apple developer account to publish an app?
Yes, and we recommend it. Enrolling in the Apple Developer Program in your own or your company's name means the app, its reviews and its revenue belong to you. Companies need a D-U-N-S number to enrol as an organisation, which can take some days to obtain, so start early. You then add our team as users in App Store Connect.
What is TestFlight and how will I test my app?
TestFlight is Apple's beta testing service. You install the TestFlight app from the App Store, open our invitation and install the test build on your iPhone or iPad. Each new build appears there as an update, with notes on what to test. Feedback and screenshots can be sent from inside TestFlight. Builds expire after a set period, so testers always move to newer versions.
How long does App Store review take and what if the app is rejected?
Most submissions are reviewed within a few days, though the time varies. If a build is rejected, Apple names the guideline and describes the problem in App Store Connect. We fix the issue or reply with clarification through the Resolution Center and resubmit. Rejections for missing demo logins or privacy details are usually resolved quickly, since no code change is needed.
Does my iOS app have to use Apple in-app purchase?
Only for digital goods and services used inside the app, such as premium features, digital subscriptions or in-app content. Apps that sell physical products or services delivered outside the app, such as bookings, rides or deliveries, use Apple Pay or a regular payment gateway instead. Some regions have their own exceptions, so the rule is checked against Apple's current guidelines for your case.
Should I choose Swift or Flutter for an iPhone app?
Choose Swift when iOS is your main platform or the app needs widgets, Live Activities, Apple Watch, HealthKit or other Apple-only features. Choose Flutter when an Android app is needed at the same time and the features are mostly standard screens and API calls. A Flutter app is still compiled in Xcode and submitted through App Store Connect like any other.
Can you build for iOS and Android together?
Yes. With Flutter one codebase is released on both the App Store and Google Play, with small platform-specific parts where needed. The alternative is two native apps, Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, sharing the same backend and API. We work from Kota, Rajasthan, India, and recommend one route after seeing your feature list.
Will my app work on iPad as well as iPhone?
It can. An app can be built as iPhone-only or as a universal app that also adapts to iPad screens. Universal apps need layouts designed for the larger display, such as split views and wider grids, and Apple expects iPad screenshots in the listing. We decide this at the design stage because it affects the design and testing effort.
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