iOS app development services: Native iPhone apps built with Swift
Why native iOS development
A native iOS app is designed and built specifically for Apple’s ecosystem—iPhone, iPad, and other iOS devices. When you want your app available exclusively on iOS, or when you need optimal performance and full access to Apple’s latest features, native development delivers results that cross-platform alternatives can’t match.
We have in-house developers experienced in building native iOS apps using Swift (and Objective-C when maintaining legacy projects), plus designers who optimize your app’s UI/UX following Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
Considering both iOS and Android?
Cross-platform development using React Native might be more cost-effective if you need your app on both platforms. See our Android development services here.
Advantages of native iOS development
Platform-optimized performance
Native iOS apps are built with Swift and Apple's SDKs, running directly on the iOS operating system without translation layers. This results in faster execution, smoother animations, and more responsive interfaces that feel natural to iPhone and iPad users.
Full access to Apple ecosystem features
Native development provides immediate access to the latest iOS capabilities: Face ID, Touch ID, Apple Pay, HealthKit, ARKit, Core ML, and other frameworks that define premium iOS experiences. Cross-platform tools often lag behind when Apple releases new features.
Apple-native user experience
iOS users expect apps to follow platform conventions—navigation patterns, gestures, visual design, and interaction behaviors that feel distinctly "iPhone." Native development makes it easier to deliver experiences that meet these expectations and pass App Store review guidelines.
Optimized for Apple hardware
Native iOS development allows fine-tuned optimization for iPhone processors, displays, cameras, and sensors. This matters for apps requiring high performance: photo editing, gaming, AR experiences, or real-time data processing.
Our iOS app development process
Discovery and planning
We start by understanding your business goals, target users, and app requirements. This includes defining features, user flows, technical architecture, and App Store strategy before any code is written.
UI/UX design
Our designers create interfaces following Apple's Human Interface Guidelines while expressing your brand. You receive interactive prototypes in Figma that demonstrate user flows before development begins.
Native iOS development
Developers build your app using Swift and platform-specific iOS frameworks. You receive regular progress updates and working builds to test functionality as features are completed.
Quality assurance and testing
We test across different iPhone and iPad models, iOS versions, and real-world usage scenarios to identify issues before your users encounter them.
App Store launch and support
We handle App Store submission, including compliance with Apple's guidelines, metadata optimization, and addressing review feedback. Post-launch support ensures smooth operation as users adopt your app.
When native iOS development makes sense
You're targeting the premium market
iOS users tend to spend more on apps and in-app purchases. If your business model depends on engaged, paying users, iOS-first or iOS-only strategies often generate better ROI.
Performance is non-negotiable
Apps requiring smooth real-time performance, complex animations, or heavy processing benefit from native optimization: games, photo/video editing, AR experiences, or data visualization tools.
You need latest Apple features quickly
When your competitive advantage depends on adopting new iOS capabilities immediately after Apple announces them, native development eliminates the waiting period for cross-platform tools to catch up.
You're building for a single platform
If your users are exclusively on iPhone and iPad, investing in native development makes more sense than compromising for cross-platform compatibility you won't use.
Technologies we use for iOS development
Swift
Apple's modern programming language that powers contemporary iOS applications, offering performance, safety, and maintainability advantages over its predecessor Objective-C.
Objective-C
Still used for maintaining legacy iOS applications and integrating with older codebases. We handle both new Swift development and Objective-C maintenance.
Xcode and iOS SDK
Apple's official development environment and frameworks that provide access to all iOS capabilities, from basic UI components to advanced features like machine learning and augmented reality.
Ready to build your iOS app?
Whether you need a customer-facing iPhone app or an internal tool for iPad, let’s discuss how native iOS development serves your specific business goals.
Commonly asked questions
Should I build a native iOS app or use cross-platform development for iOS and Android?
Build native iOS when you’re targeting premium markets where iOS users dominate and spend more on apps, need immediate access to latest Apple features (Face ID, Apple Pay, ARKit, Core ML), require optimal performance for graphics-intensive or real-time apps, or serve exclusively iPhone/iPad users. Choose cross-platform (React Native or .NET MAUI) when you need both iOS and Android simultaneously, development speed and cost efficiency are priorities, and app functionality is standard without platform-specific feature requirements. Native delivers better iOS optimization; cross-platform saves time and cost for multi-platform launches.
What's the difference between building with Swift versus Objective-C for iOS apps?
Swift is Apple’s modern programming language that powers contemporary iOS applications—offering performance, safety, and maintainability advantages. For new iOS development, we recommend Swift. Objective-C is the legacy language still used in older iOS applications; we maintain Objective-C codebases and handle updates for existing apps that need feature additions, but all new development uses Swift unless there’s a specific technical reason to use Objective-C.
Can you build an iOS app first and add Android later, or should we do both platforms simultaneously?
You can absolutely build iOS first and add Android later. Many businesses launch on their primary platform to validate the concept before investing in the second platform. iOS-first makes sense when your target market is North America or Western Europe where iOS usage is higher, or when targeting premium users who spend more on apps. If your audience uses both platforms equally and you need simultaneous launch, cross-platform development (React Native or .NET MAUI) may be more cost-effective than building native apps sequentially.
Do iOS apps work on both iPhone and iPad, or do you need separate development?
Native iOS development using Swift supports both iPhone and iPad from a single codebase with responsive layouts that adapt to different screen sizes. We design and test for both device types during development. If your app requires significantly different experiences on iPhone vs iPad (like utilizing iPad’s larger screen for multi-column layouts or split-screen features), we implement platform-specific interfaces while sharing the underlying business logic and functionality.
What's included beyond just developing the iOS app—do you handle App Store submission?
We handle complete iOS app development from planning through App Store launch. This includes UI/UX design following Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, native iOS development using Swift, QA testing across iPhone and iPad models and iOS versions, App Store submission including compliance with Apple’s guidelines, metadata and screenshot optimization, addressing review feedback, and post-launch support. You get end-to-end service from concept to users downloading from the App Store.
How long does it take to develop an iOS app and launch it on the App Store?
Timeline depends on app complexity and feature count. Simple apps with standard functionality can launch in 2-3 months from planning to App Store. Complex apps with custom features, backend integrations, or extensive functionality take 4-6+ months. Apple’s App Store review typically takes 1-3 days for initial submission, though can take longer if they request changes. We provide specific timeline estimates during planning after understanding your requirements and feature scope.
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