Top 100+ iOS App Development Companies in 2025

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List of the Best iOS App Development Companies

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Frequently Asked Questions

iOS app development includes design, coding, and launching of apps for iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Native iOS apps are developed using Apple technologies, such as Swift or Objective-C. Hybrid iOS apps are developed with JavaScript to achieve a web-like app design, while cross-platform apps are a good choice when both iOS and Android apps are needed.

The primary factor affecting the cost is the project's complexity and scope, which encompasses the specific app's features and requirements. Other factors include development company location, team size, integrations, and design. The average price falls into a range of $20–49 per hour, and a project duration of 4–6 months. The largest number of projects is completed for a budget under $5,000. Based on data from over 1,200 companies listed on Techreviewer, here's a breakdown of hourly rates:

Price range Percent from total
<$20 / hr 14.6%
$20–$29 / hr 28.4%
$30–$49 / hr 33.1%
$50–$99 / hr 17.0%
$100–$149 / hr 4.6%
$150–$199 / hr 1.5%
>$200 / hr 0.9%

Average development time for apps that are simple and without a complicated backend is around 2–4 months, medium complex apps 4–6 months, while projects for enterprise-level solutions last 6–12 months minimum. Most companies use agile methodology and adapt quickly to new changes, but the project duration depends on the number of features that need to be developed, third-party integrations, approvals, and the number of change requests that may arise in the process.

Three main options are used for iOS app development. Swift is the primary language that has replaced Objective-C, which is still used for maintaining or updating older apps. Flutter and/or React Native are used for apps that require cross-platform functionality.

A well-designed and developed iOS app can help businesses reach a larger customer base, improve user retention, increase conversion rates, and thus sales. With built-in metrics and analytics, the decision-making process is simplified with data-driven decisions.

No, native developed iOS apps don’t use Python; they are developed using Swift or Objective-C. Python may appear in the backend, since some parts of the app may be built using Python, such as backend logic, APIs, scripts, ML models, etc.

The main points of difference between iOS and Android app development can be summarized as follows:

  • Platform and language – iOS apps are built for Apple devices using Swift/Objective-C, while Android apps are built for Android devices using Kotlin/Java and Android Studio.
  • Guidelines – Apple has stricter guidelines for apps, which makes them more polished than Android apps.
  • Deployment – Apple Store has more strict review rules, and the approval process may take longer compared to Android apps.
  • Monetization – iOS app users tend to pay more for in-app purchases, and are more willing to pay for the app itself than Android users.
  • Development cost and reach – development of an Android app can be more costly, but it also has a higher global reach.

Deciding between native and cross-platform iOS development comes down to evaluating whether the stress is on better performance, full-device integration, and better UX (Native), or it’s on shorter development time, lower development costs, and higher global reach.

Yes, starting with the MVP app with a clear plan for scalability and future development is manageable to get a ready-to-launch app, even with tight budgets.


Buyer's guide

What Services Do iOS App Development Companies Provide?

iOS app development companies offer scalable, end-to-end solutions that support clients from the concept phase through planning, design, development, testing, and post-launch support and maintenance. With this all-around approach, iOS app development companies offer a comprehensive solution tailored to meet every business's specific needs.

From initial idea to post-launch maintenance, developers take care of every step of the process, while keeping high UX/UI standards in mind. All apps are rigorously tested before deployment, and post-launch support monitors for every glitch or bug that might appear afterward. As part of their maintenance services, iPhone app development companies ensure the app is always up-to-date and in compliance with the latest standards.

Native iOS App Development

Native iOS app development includes designing and developing apps for the Apple ecosystem, for a perfect and smooth experience across different devices – iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Developers make apps that are responsive and compatible across different devices, ensuring the consistency of features, functionalities, and design elements. Native apps are developed using Swift, which replaced Objective-C (still used for older apps maintenance and updates).

Cross-platform App Development

To achieve a broader reach, businesses decide to develop an app that works on both iOS and Android-powered devices. This includes more complex development planning and a longer development timeline to ensure compatibility and functionality across different devices. A more advanced tech stack is used to develop a cross-platform app with iOS compatibility.

UX/UI Design

User interface (UI) is carefully planned and designed to ensure smooth operations, fast loading, and smooth backend operations, while user experience (UX) is tested for ease of navigation, appealing visual design, and fast checkout process. Designers and developers take care of every step of the process, ensuring that high standards are met without compromising on quality and functionality.

App Testing and QA

Each app undergoes a series of manual and automated tests where developers look for bugs, glitches, and malfunctions. This is an essential step where potential issues are discovered and resolved in an early phase, before the app reaches the customer. Quality assurance testing ensures the app meets high customer expectations.

App Store Optimization and Deployment

Apple Store has a strict app review process that can take a lot of time if the app and the documentation are not prepared well and on time, so as part of the deployment process, the app development team also takes care of this. Once the app is live, developers keep monitoring its performance, collect real-time user feedback, and gather actionable intel for future app improvements and updates.

Post-launch Maintenance and Support

Post-launch support accommodates every request that may arise regarding issues, bugs, glitches, or malware that disrupt user experience, while iOS app maintenance includes planning and executing regular updates and app upgrades to keep it compatible with the latest iOS version and current market trends.

iOS App Consulting and Strategy

Most custom iOS application development companies provide iOS app consulting and strategy services for those who are stuck with their ideas and don’t know what further steps to take. A professional team will estimate the existing data, help finalize the draft of the idea, set goals and expectations, define the core app’s features and functionalities, target market, and draft an execution strategy along with a development plan and a proposed timeline.

Legacy App Modernization and Migration

Outdated apps are modernized with updates that improve the overall app’s performance, functionality, and keep them aligned with the latest OS updates, while migration services allow safe data transfer from one platform to another without data loss, and with minimal to zero downtime.

Benefits of iOS App Development

Having an iOS app that is custom-developed to fit business needs, aligns with their branding, voice, and visuals, can help build credibility, increase customer base, and boost sales.

  • Higher Potential Revenue. Special in-app features, such as paid memberships, subscriptions, and other in-app purchases, allow the business to scale to a new level. The purchases made through the app increase sales, expand the offer, and increase the value the customer gets, thus improving their satisfaction and retention rate.
  • Superior Security. Apps developed for iOS need to comply with Apple’s rigorous safety and security protocols, making them perfect for fintech, healthcare, and government operations that handle large amounts of confidential data and payment transactions.
  • Optimized Performance. iOS apps are optimized for use across all Apple devices, minimizing glitches, increasing loading speeds, and extending battery life, which handles even the most challenging apps. The smooth and optimized experience the customer gets is what keeps the clients engaged.
  • Strong Analytics. Monitoring the performance of an app is easy with Apple’s built-in analytics that share real-time feedback and results, allowing for informed strategy decisions. With actionable intel and real user feedback, it is easy to make data-driven decisions and decide on next steps for the app’s development and upgrades.
  • Apple Ecosystem Integration. iOS apps are easily scalable and adaptable for use across different Apple devices, thus covering iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Furthermore, apps across different devices are easily integrated with other Apple services such as iCloud and Apple Pay.
  • Simplified App Approval. Apple Store approval is more rigorous compared to Android app stores, but it can take less time if all the documentation and the app itself are prepared on time and according to instructions. Developers take care that this pre-launch phase goes without any interruptions.

iOS App Development Process

The custom iOS app development process allows scaling a business and expanding the app across all iOS devices, including smartphones, tablets, wearables, and TVs. Carefully chosen tech stack allows imagination to come to life, all through a process of planning, design, building, testing, and maintenance.

1. Discovery and Planning

The process of iOS mobile app development starts with thorough research of the market, competitors, prices, and available features. This gives actionable intel based on which the strategy is being formed, and the development plan is being made. This is the phase where deliverables, expectations, and deadlines are agreed on and locked in.

2. Design and Prototyping

Once the preliminary planning of iOS app development is finished, a prototype is built and released for testing. This phase allows testing of all features, performance, speed, and shows glitches and areas for improvement. UX/UI testers perform a series of manual and automatic tests to discover glitches in the backend and to test the user experience on the front-end. This phase is crucial for early discovery of potential problems and issues, and their resolution before the app reaches the end user.

3. Development

iOS mobile app development is the most important stage, where the app is actually built in a release-ready form. Once the prototype has passed all UX/UI testing from the previous phase, iOS application developers take over writing the code and implementing all the features into a usable app.

4. Testing and QA

The final stage before release is app quality assurance (QA) testing. This is the last line of defense in terms of finding problems with the app’s performance and usability. The IOS mobile app is tested for loading speed, crashes, recovery time, bugs, usability, and cross-platform compatibility. Security and data protection are also tested in this stage, to ensure all the customer and app data are protected from malicious intent.

5. Deployment and Launch

Deployment and launch of the app is the final stage in the iPhone app development process, where the app is released to the App Store and made available to the public. The launch strategy and marketing plan for the launch and first few months are carefully planned and crafted to ensure a successful completion of the project.

6. Post-launch Support and Iterations

The after-sales support team provides support after the release and follows up with our clients on all app-related matters. The support team also resolves small issues and bugs affecting the app’s performance as they appear. Always staying up to date with all the current iOS updates and market trends, suggest adding or removing features, as well as improvements in design, data management, and other areas.

7. Performance Monitoring and Analytics

The app is being regularly monitored for peaks and declines in performance, while analytics show the KPIs – bounce rate, abandoned checkout rate, loading speed, time spent on a page, etc. Careful analysis of all this data provides strategic intel for future steps and allows the maintenance team to react on time, before the issues reach the customers.

How Does iOS App Development Help Businesses Grow?

Custom iOS app development can play a central role in scaling a business when done right from day one. The process of finding the perfect app development company can be stressful when one doesn’t know where to look, and here are the major points to consider when choosing the right iOS development partner.

Global Level Scalability

iOS has the majority share when looking globally, so expanding the offer to the iOS market can help scale a business to a global level. Apple’s ecosystem allows easy access to a vast number of users and new markets to exploit opportunities for business growth. All iOS applications have solid backend support that allows growth without compromising performance.

Premium User Engagement

iOS architecture allows professional iOS developers to deliver an exceptional user interface that keeps users engaged with interactive experiences, personalization tools, and real-time notifications. This keeps the users locked in with the app, builds strong brand identity and awareness, and increases usage time and overall user satisfaction.

Strong Brand Image

Having a well-designed, top-performing, and high-scoring iOS app signals to customers the professionalism, stability, and trustworthiness of the company, and indirectly increases user engagement, conversion rates, and sales.

Customer Loyalty

iOS apps are highly customizable, meaning the customers can experience full app personalization, from the visual looks to special accounts, memberships, and loyalty programs. This increases customer satisfaction, increases the retention rate, and builds a strong customer base, thus creating a steady source of income.

Data-driven Decisions

Strong analytics and data-driven information allow businesses to make decisions that are informed and backed up with real customer feedback. This allows making strategic decisions about further steps and strategy, carefully planning new updates and upgrades, and identifying gaps in the market that make the perfect business opportunity.

Business Process Automation

Custom-developed iOS applications can solve some real business problems and bring simple solutions to complex issues, such as simplifying the operations flow, order management, customer onboarding, work approvals, etc. This reduces the human error factor, increases productivity and efficiency, allowing employees to focus on other important aspects of business.

In-App Purchases

Apple’s security protocols allow the safe implementation of in-app purchase features, with secure checkout and data handling. This allows adding monetization features such as subscriptions, loyalty clubs, one-click payments, digital goods, etc.

Advanced Customer Service

Enhance the app with advanced customer service offering live chats, custom-developed interactive chatbots, in-app ticketing systems, and elevated customer experience.

How to Choose an iOS App Development Company

The most important step in the iOS app development process, besides the development itself, is choosing the right partner for the job. It is crucial to carefully choose the right partner that can support and accommodate all requests in order to create a scalable, customer-oriented application.

  1. Portfolio Check. The first step is checking the company’s portfolio, previous works, to check whether that aligns with the new app’s vision. The advice is to look for companies that already have experience of developing iOS applications for similar industries and at a similar complexity level.
  2. Client Testimonials and Reviews. Real clients’ experience and feedback are strong points to take into consideration when choosing an iOS app development company. Having a strong base of loyal customers who have left positive reviews is a signal of the trustworthiness of a company.
  3. Technical Expertise. The tech stack a company uses will showcase its expertise in the matter. A serious iOS application development company should have experience of dealing with Swift, Objective-C, and iOS frameworks. Besides that, the company should have expertise in creating a scalable app architecture, third-party integrations, API integrations, and cloud services integration.
  4. Development Methodology. Agile methodology in the app development process signals the company is highly adaptable to new changes and requests, and quickly responds to additional requirements that may arise once the project development starts. Traditional project management is not able to support such requests in a timely manner without disrupting the flow and moving the deadlines.
  5. Post-launch Support. A company that offers post-launch support and maintenance services can be a reliable partner who will stay long after the official launch to provide regular updates and to keep an eye on the app's performance.
  6. Value for Money. The best iOS app development company is not the cheapest one, nor the most expensive one – it is the one that offers the best value for money. Things to look at include deliverables that are included in the offer, transparency regarding communication, process, and development timeline.
  7. Team Size and Availability. Larger teams are able to accommodate complex requests and can spend more time on app development. A professional team needs to have designers, developers, QA testers, and project managers who will lead and own the project development process.
  8. Security and NDA Compliance. Established companies in the iOS app development field will have strong security protocols, strict data protection procedures, and will sign an NDA agreement. These are things one should not compromise about.
  9. App Store Success Rate. A high number of successful apps on the app store shows the company’s ability to pass the Apple review process successfully, meaning the launch can be planned more effectively.