What we build
We build native iOS applications in Swift and SwiftUI, published through the Apple App Store. These are not web pages wrapped in a shell and called an app — they are proper iOS applications that feel like iOS, use iOS features, and pass Apple's review process.
The kinds of apps we build include:
- Professional tools — apps for people who do technical work: calculations, reference data, compliance checks, field reporting
- Utility apps — focused on doing one thing well, with a clean interface and fast performance
- Apps with backends — iOS front-ends that connect to a web API, sync data across devices, and work as part of a larger system
- Apps with in-app purchases — subscription or one-time purchase models, properly integrated with StoreKit and the App Store
- Apps using device features — camera, GPS, push notifications, biometrics, iCloud sync, and other iOS capabilities that make native the right choice
We do not build apps for the sake of it. If your problem could be solved with a well-built website, we will tell you that. But when a native app is genuinely the right answer, we build it properly.
Example: StandbyCalc
StandbyCalc is a battery and UPS calculator we built for electrical engineers and alarm system installers. It handles compliance calculations for BS EN 50131 (intruder alarm systems) and BS 5839-1:2025 (fire detection and alarm systems) — the two main standards that govern standby battery requirements in the UK.
Engineers use it on-site: standing in a plant room, server room, or equipment cupboard, often with no internet connection. They enter the system load and required standby duration, and StandbyCalc tells them exactly what battery capacity they need. They can then generate a professional PDF report directly from the app and share it with the client or retain it for the job file.
StandbyCalc is published on the App Store. It uses iCloud sync to keep calculations in step across devices, in-app purchases for the professional PDF export feature, and it works entirely offline — because that is what the use case requires. A web app would not have worked. A React Native wrapper would have been noticeably worse. The answer was a native Swift app, and that is what we built.
Example: Laylo
Laylo is an egg tracker we built for backyard chicken keepers. It handles daily egg logging, flock management with breed and health records, a 21-day incubation tracker with milestone reminders, and an animated farmyard scene that follows the real sunrise and sunset.
It uses on-device location for sunrise/sunset calculations, SwiftData for local persistence, iCloud sync for Pro users, and StoreKit for a one-time in-app purchase. No backend, no analytics SDKs, no ads — just a clean native app that works offline and respects user privacy.
Native vs cross-platform: an honest comparison
The iOS development market is full of cross-platform options: React Native, Flutter, Expo, and others. These tools let a team write one codebase that compiles to both iOS and Android. There are legitimate reasons to use them, and we are not here to argue against them in every situation.
But we build native because it produces a better result for our clients, and here is the honest breakdown:
When native iOS matters
- Performance — native apps are faster. SwiftUI renders at full frame rate with the GPU doing what it is supposed to do. Cross-platform bridges introduce overhead that shows up in the feel of the app.
- Apple platform features — iCloud sync, StoreKit, Core Data, HealthKit, ARKit, widgets, Live Activities, Shortcuts integration. These either do not exist in cross-platform tooling, or they work partially, with workarounds.
- App Store quality signals — Apple's review team and algorithmic systems favour apps that follow iOS design conventions. An app that behaves like a native app gets better reviews and is less likely to be flagged.
- Longevity — when Apple releases a new iOS version, native apps typically just work. Cross-platform frameworks need their own update cycle before your app can take advantage of new OS features.
- When iOS is the only target — if you only need iPhone and iPad, there is no benefit to a cross-platform approach. You get the overhead without the payoff.
When cross-platform or a web app might be the right answer
- You need both iOS and Android at roughly the same time, with a limited budget, and the app's functionality is straightforward
- The core experience is content consumption or form-based interaction that does not rely on device features
- Your team already has deep React Native or Flutter expertise and is maintaining the codebase themselves
If you are not sure which approach fits your situation, we have written about how to decide. Or just tell us what you are trying to build and we will give you a straight answer.
The App Store process
Getting an app onto the App Store involves more than writing code. We handle the full submission process as part of every iOS project:
- Apple Developer account — you will need one (£99/year). If you do not have one, we walk you through the setup. The account is in your name and stays yours.
- TestFlight beta — before submitting to the App Store, we deploy to TestFlight so you and your users can test the real app on real devices. We iterate based on what we find.
- App Store assets — screenshots for every required device size, app icon in all required resolutions, and an App Store description written to perform in search.
- Apple review — we prepare the submission and respond to any feedback from the review team. Most well-prepared apps are approved within 24–48 hours, though it can take longer for first-time submissions or apps with in-app purchases.
- Post-launch updates — iOS apps require annual updates when Apple releases a new major OS version. We support the apps we build.
What it costs
Native iOS apps typically range from £8,000 to £30,000+ depending on scope. A focused utility app with no backend — something like StandbyCalc — sits toward the lower end. A complex app with a web API, user accounts, in-app purchases, and a rich feature set sits toward the upper end.
Beyond the build cost, factor in the ongoing commitments: the £99/year Apple Developer membership, and an annual update cycle to keep the app compatible with new iOS releases. We are transparent about this from the start because an app is a long-term investment, not a one-off purchase.
As with our web application work, we quote fixed prices. You know what you are getting and what it costs before we begin.
What happens after launch
Publishing to the App Store is not the end. Users discover bugs. iOS updates change behaviour. New features get requested. In-app purchase logic needs updating when StoreKit changes.
We provide ongoing support for the apps we build — either on a retainer or responding to specific issues as they arise. If something breaks after an iOS update, we fix it. We do not hand over a codebase and disappear.