iOS app development
iOS app development for iPhone and iPad, built to pass App Store review
We design, build and ship iOS apps that feel at home on iPhone and iPad, and we handle the parts that usually stall launches: App Store review, TestFlight, Sign in with Apple and in-app purchases.
- iPhone and iPad layouts from day one
- App Store submission handled for you
- You own the code and IP
An iOS app is more than code that compiles
Getting an app running on an iPhone simulator is the easy part. Getting it approved, installed by real users and kept working through every new iOS release is where most projects lose weeks. Apple has its own review guidelines, signing certificates, provisioning profiles, privacy labels, payment rules and design expectations, and each one can send a build back to the start of the queue.
Loha.dev is a small software studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico, working with clients across the US and abroad. Our iOS app development work covers the whole path: product scoping, interface design for iPhone and iPad, the app itself, the backend it talks to, TestFlight beta testing and the final App Store submission. You work directly with the engineer who builds your app, with no account-manager layer in between.
We build most iOS apps with React Native and Expo in TypeScript, which lets us reuse the same code for Android and the web when you need them. When a feature needs deeper access to the device, we write native Swift modules for that piece. You get the speed of a shared codebase and native behavior where it actually matters.
What you get when we build your iOS app
Built around Apple's review guidelines
We plan for the App Store Review Guidelines from the first sprint: account deletion, privacy disclosures, login options, payment rules and metadata. Fewer surprises means fewer rejected builds.
iPad treated as a real platform
Many apps simply stretch the iPhone layout onto a tablet. We design split views, larger touch targets, landscape mode and keyboard support so the iPad version is something people want to use.
Native where it counts
Camera, Bluetooth, background tasks, widgets, HealthKit or custom audio: when a feature needs native APIs, we write a Swift module instead of fighting a plugin that almost works.
Payments that follow the rules
Subscriptions and digital goods generally have to go through Apple's in-app purchase system. We set up products, receipt validation and restore flows so purchases work and your app stays compliant.
Real testers before launch
Every build goes to TestFlight so you, your team and early users can install it on real devices, report issues and see progress each week.
Room to grow beyond iOS
Because the codebase is cross-platform, adding Android or a web version later is an extension of the same project rather than a rewrite.
What the iOS project includes
A typical iOS engagement covers everything needed to go from idea to a live listing on the App Store. Exact scope depends on your app, and the free app plan spells it out.
iPhone and iPad interface design
Screens designed for both form factors, following Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, with support for Dark Mode, Dynamic Type and VoiceOver.
The app itself
A production iOS app in React Native and Expo with TypeScript, plus native Swift modules for features that need them.
Backend and API
Accounts, data storage, realtime sync, file uploads and push notifications, built on a backend sized to your app.
Sign in with Apple and authentication
Email, passkeys or social login as needed, including Sign in with Apple when the guidelines call for it, plus in-app account deletion.
In-app purchases and subscriptions
Product setup in App Store Connect, purchase and restore flows, and server-side checks of subscription status.
TestFlight beta program
Internal and external TestFlight builds through development, so testers install updates without cables or spreadsheets of device IDs.
App Store submission
Certificates, signing, privacy nutrition labels, screenshots, listing copy and review notes, plus handling any feedback from Apple's reviewers.
Source code and handover
The full source in your own repository, build instructions and documentation, so any developer can pick it up later.
How we take an iOS app from idea to the App Store
A clear sequence with a demo every week, so you always know what is done and what is next.
Step 1: Free app plan
Timeline: 1–3 days
You answer a short questionnaire. We reply with scope, recommended stack and a cost estimate for your iOS app.
Step 2: Scoping and design
Timeline: 1–2 weeks
We agree on the feature list, map user flows, and design key iPhone and iPad screens before writing production code.
Step 3: Build in weekly increments
Timeline: 4–10 weeks
Features ship in small pieces. Each week you get a demo and a fresh TestFlight build on your own device.
Step 4: Beta testing on TestFlight
Timeline: 1–2 weeks
Invite real users, collect crash reports and feedback, and fix what matters before the public launch.
Step 5: App Store submission
Timeline: Several days to 2 weeks
We prepare the listing, privacy labels and review notes, submit the build and respond to any reviewer questions.
Step 6: Launch and iteration
Timeline: Ongoing
We monitor crashes and feedback, ship updates and keep the app working through new iOS versions.
Who our iOS app development is for
Founders launching on iPhone first
You want to validate your idea with iPhone users before investing in every platform, without painting yourself into a corner.
Teams that work on iPads
Field crews, clinics, classrooms, retail floors and stages often run on tablets. We build iPad-first tools that hold up to daily use.
Businesses with a web product
Your customers keep asking for an app. We build an iOS app that shares logic and data with what you already have.
Apps that sell subscriptions or content
You need in-app purchases, paywalls and subscription handling done right the first time.
The tools we use for iOS apps
We pick tools that get your iPhone and iPad app to the App Store quickly without boxing you in later.
- React Native and Expo
- One TypeScript codebase that renders real native iOS components. Expo's build service and over-the-air updates speed up both development and bug fixes.
- Swift native modules
- For features that need direct access to Apple frameworks, such as background audio, Bluetooth, widgets or custom camera work, we write the native part in Swift.
- TypeScript
- Typed code across the app and backend catches whole classes of bugs before a build ever reaches TestFlight.
- Convex for realtime backends
- Live data that syncs across devices instantly, which is useful for collaboration, chat, dashboards and multi-device apps.
- Cloudflare and Postgres
- Fast edge APIs on Cloudflare Workers, and Postgres when your data is relational and needs reporting.
- OpenAI and Anthropic APIs
- When your app needs AI features like summaries, search over your content or assistants, we integrate them with structured output and sensible cost limits.
Not sure which approach fits your iOS app?
Tell us what you want to build. The free app plan recommends a stack, lists the features and estimates cost and timeline.
How much does iOS app development cost?
Cost depends mostly on the number of features, the backend and how many platforms you launch on. These are typical ranges.
Prototype
- Typical cost
- $5,000–$12,000
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- What's included
- A clickable prototype or proof of concept on iPhone or iPad, installed through TestFlight, to test the idea with users or investors.
iOS MVP
- Typical cost
- $15,000–$40,000
- Timeline
- 6–10 weeks
- What's included
- A production iOS app with core features, accounts, backend, and App Store submission. Can be built cross-platform from the start.
Full v1
- Typical cost
- $40,000–$120,000+
- Timeline
- 3–6 months
- What's included
- iPhone, iPad, Android and web, with admin tools, integrations, in-app purchases and AI features.
These are typical ranges, not quotes. Ongoing maintenance and new features typically run $1,500–$6,000 per month. Apple's developer program fee and any in-app purchase commission are paid to Apple separately. Your free app plan gives a specific estimate for your app.
Native Swift or React Native for your iOS app?
Both are good choices. The right one depends on your platforms, budget and how much your app leans on Apple-only features. Here is our honest take.
Swipe sideways to see the full table.
| What matters | React Native + Expo (with Swift modules) | Fully native Swift / SwiftUI |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android and web from one codebase. | iOS only. Android needs a separate Kotlin app. |
| Cost to reach iOS and Android | Lower, since most code and logic is shared. | Higher, roughly two apps to build and maintain. |
| Look and feel | Renders native iOS components. Most users cannot tell the difference. | Fully native, with the newest SwiftUI styles available on day one. |
| Access to Apple features | Nearly everything through Expo modules, and custom Swift modules for the rest. | Direct access to every Apple framework as soon as it ships. |
| Performance | Smooth for typical business, social and content apps. | Best choice for heavy graphics, games, AR and intense audio or video processing. |
| Shipping fixes | Over-the-air updates for JavaScript changes, within Apple's rules. | Every change goes through a new App Store build and review. |
| When we recommend it | Most startups and business apps, especially if Android or web is on the roadmap. | iOS-only products built around Apple-specific capabilities or heavy on-device processing. |
A tablet app we built and run ourselves
We do not just build iOS apps for others. We ship and maintain our own products, so we deal with real users and post-launch updates firsthand.
Star
A setlist and presentation app for worship teams, musicians and speakers. Users build setlists and run slides on the big screen from a tablet, with realtime sync between devices, and a companion web app at app.starapp.io. It is the reason we take iPad layouts seriously.
Visit Star (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an iOS app?
A typical iOS MVP costs $15,000–$40,000, a prototype $5,000–$12,000, and a full v1 across iPhone, iPad, Android and web $40,000–$120,000 or more. The main cost drivers are the number of features, the backend, payments and integrations. Apple also charges a yearly developer program fee. Our free app plan gives you a specific estimate.
How long does it take to develop an iPhone app?
Most iOS MVPs take 6–10 weeks from scoping to App Store submission, and a prototype takes 2–4 weeks. Larger apps with iPad, Android and web versions usually take 3–6 months. Plan for App Store review as well; it often takes a day or two but can take longer if Apple asks for changes.
Should I build my iOS app in Swift or React Native?
For most business and startup apps, React Native with Expo is the better value because the same code runs on Android and the web. Choose fully native Swift if your app is iOS-only and depends on heavy graphics, AR or cutting-edge Apple frameworks. We often combine both, adding Swift modules inside a React Native app.
Do I need separate iOS and Android apps?
Not usually. With React Native, one codebase produces both an iOS app and an Android app, each listed in its own store. You can launch on iPhone first and add Android later without a rewrite. Separate native apps only make sense when each platform needs very different, platform-specific features.
Why do apps get rejected by the App Store?
Common reasons are crashes or broken features during review, missing account deletion, incomplete privacy disclosures, selling digital content outside in-app purchase, missing login options, or vague metadata. We build with Apple's guidelines in mind and write clear review notes, which removes most of these risks before submission.
Do I need Sign in with Apple in my app?
If your app offers login through a third-party service such as Google or Facebook, Apple generally requires an equivalent privacy-focused option, and Sign in with Apple is the usual way to meet that. Apps that only use their own email login or company accounts may not need it. We check your case during scoping.
Can you build an iPad app, not just an iPhone app?
Yes. We design iPad layouts with split views, landscape support and larger touch targets, and we can build iPad-first apps for teams that work on tablets. Our own product Star runs setlists and slides from a tablet, so tablet usability is something we care about firsthand.
Who owns the code and the App Store listing?
You do. On full payment you own the code and IP, the source lives in your repository, and the app is published under your own Apple Developer account. If you do not have one yet, we guide you through setting it up so the listing is never tied to us.
Ready to put your app on the App Store?
Answer a few quick questions and get a free iOS app plan with scope, stack and a cost estimate.
or email matt@loha.devCall (732) 340-8396
Free, no obligation. We reply within one business day.