Software & Apps

iOS app development for iPhone and iPad

Gjethe builds iPhone and iPad apps that feel at home on Apple devices: designed to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, built in Swift and SwiftUI or React Native, with Apple-specific features such as Sign in with Apple, Apple Pay, widgets, HealthKit and push notifications, and taken through App Store review under your developer account.

Book a free consultationGet a quote
  • Free first consultation
  • Written quote for your project
  • Flexible payment milestones

At a glance

Devices
iPhone and iPad
Built with
Swift, SwiftUI or React Native
Apple features
Apple Pay, widgets, HealthKit
Launch
App Store submission included

Definition

What is iOS app development?

iOS app development is building applications for Apple's iPhone and iPad operating systems, using Apple's frameworks and following its design and App Store guidelines.

iPhone users expect apps to behave like iPhone apps: familiar navigation, smooth gestures, Dynamic Type for readable text, dark mode and privacy that's respected. Apple's review process also enforces rules on payments, privacy and account management. We design for those expectations from the start, so the app feels native and passes review without surprises.

Who is it for?

  • iOS-first products

    Your audience is mostly on iPhone (common for premium consumer, health and creative products) and you want to launch there first.

  • Health and wellness apps

    Apps that read or write Apple Health data, integrate with Apple Watch or need careful privacy handling.

  • iPad apps for professionals

    Sales tools, field inspections, menus or education apps designed for the larger screen and Apple Pencil.

  • Companies adding an iOS companion app

    Your web product needs an iPhone app for notifications, widgets and quick actions.

What's included, and what you keep

What's included

  • Design to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines
  • iPhone and, if needed, iPad layouts
  • Swift and SwiftUI, or React Native development
  • Sign in with Apple and other login methods
  • Apple Pay and in-app purchases
  • Push notifications via APNs
  • Home screen widgets and Live Activities where useful
  • HealthKit, Core Location or camera features
  • Accessibility: Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, contrast
  • TestFlight beta testing
  • App Store listing and privacy nutrition labels
  • Submission and review handling

What you receive

Handed over at the end. Yours to keep.

  • App published on the App Store under your account
  • Source code in your repository
  • TestFlight set-up for future betas
  • App Store listing assets
  • Privacy and permissions documentation

App Store review requirements we prepare for

The most common reasons first submissions are rejected: handled before we submit.

  • Account deletion available inside the app
  • Accurate privacy nutrition labels
  • Clear explanations for every permission request
  • Digital goods sold through in-app purchase
  • A working demo account for the reviewer
  • No placeholder content or broken links
  • Sign in with Apple when other social logins are offered
  • Complete metadata and screenshots for each device size

SwiftUI or React Native for an iOS app?

SwiftUI is Apple's modern framework and gives the most direct access to new iOS features (widgets, Live Activities, App Intents and the latest design conventions) the moment Apple releases them. It's the right choice when the app is iOS-only or leans heavily on Apple's ecosystem.

React Native makes sense when an Android version is planned. Most of the app is shared between platforms, and native Swift modules handle anything iOS-specific. Many of our iOS projects start in React Native for exactly that reason.

Apple features that make an iOS app feel native

  • Sign in with Apple and Face ID

    Fast, private sign-in and biometric unlock users already trust.

  • Apple Pay

    One-tap payments for physical goods and services, with fewer form fields to fill in.

  • Widgets and Live Activities

    Key information on the home and lock screen: an order on its way, today's workout, a countdown.

  • HealthKit and Apple Watch

    Read and write health data with permission, and extend the app to the wrist.

How iOS app development works, step by step

Every step has a clear output you can review. Timing is agreed in your quote.

  1. 1

    Scope

    Features, Apple capabilities, devices and whether Android follows later.

  2. 2

    Design

    Screens designed to Apple conventions in Figma, including dark mode and larger text sizes.

  3. 3

    Build

    Development with regular TestFlight builds you can install on your own iPhone.

  4. 4

    Beta testing

    Testers invited through TestFlight to find issues before release.

  5. 5

    Review preparation

    Privacy labels, demo account, permission explanations and store assets.

  6. 6

    Submission and launch

    We submit, respond to any reviewer questions and release when approved.

Tools, and what shapes your quote

Pricing is based on your project and agreed in your quote. These are the things that move it.

iOS App Development pricing factors
FactorWhy it matters
iPhone only or iPad tooProper iPad layouts are additional design and development.
Apple frameworks usedHealthKit, widgets, Live Activities and Apple Watch each add work and review considerations.
PaymentsIn-app purchases and subscriptions need StoreKit integration and careful testing.
BackendApps needing their own API, database and admin cost more than those using an existing backend.
Accessibility depthSupporting the full range of text sizes and VoiceOver needs design and testing time.

Common mistakes to avoid

What we see go wrong most often, and how a good project avoids it.

  • Porting an Android design to iOS

    Navigation patterns, back gestures and controls differ. Apps that ignore iOS conventions feel foreign to iPhone users.

  • Fixed text sizes

    Many users enlarge text. Layouts that break with Dynamic Type exclude them and can fail accessibility expectations.

  • External payment links for digital goods

    Selling digital content outside in-app purchase is a common rejection reason; follow Apple's current rules.

  • Skipping TestFlight

    Beta testing on real devices catches crashes and confusing flows before reviewers and users do.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an Apple Developer account?

Yes. The app is published under your own Apple Developer Program membership, which you register for directly with Apple. We help you set it up.

Can you build for iPad as well?

Yes. We can design dedicated iPad layouts, support split-screen multitasking and Apple Pencil where it makes sense.

Will the app support dark mode and larger text?

Yes. We design and test in light and dark mode and across Dynamic Type sizes.

Can you add an Apple Watch app or widgets?

Yes. Widgets, Live Activities and watchOS companion apps can be added where they make the product more useful.

What if Apple rejects the app?

Rejections come with reasons. We fix the issue or respond to the reviewer and resubmit; preparation beforehand makes this rare.

Can we add Android later?

Yes. If Android is likely, we recommend React Native from the start so most of the code is shared.

How do we test the app before launch?

Through TestFlight, which lets you and invited testers install builds on their own iPhones and send feedback.

Do you handle Apple's privacy requirements?

Yes, privacy nutrition labels, App Tracking Transparency prompts where relevant, and data handling that matches what you declare.

Can the app share data with our website or web app?

Yes. The app and the web product use the same backend and accounts, so users see the same data wherever they log in.

How do we get early feedback before launch?

Through TestFlight beta testing. You invite customers or colleagues by email, they install the app on their iPhone and send feedback and crash reports straight to us.

Do you design the App Store screenshots?

Yes. We design screenshots for each required device size and write the listing text, and can optimise them further through App Store optimization.

Can the app use iCloud or sync across a user's devices?

Yes, through iCloud with CloudKit or through your own backend, depending on whether data also needs to be available on the web or Android.

Can you update an existing iOS app for the latest iOS version?

Yes. We update dependencies and the minimum iOS version, fix deprecated APIs, adopt new design conventions where they help and resubmit the app.

Related services

All software & apps services

Further reading

All guides

iOS App Development by industry

Build your iPhone app.

Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.

Book a free consultationGet a quote
  1. What happens next
  2. 1You tell us what you need
  3. 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
  4. 3You get a written quote for your project