You need a Mac, Xcode, and Swift to build an iPhone app yourself
Creating an iPhone app requires three things: a Mac computer running macOS, Apple's free development software called Xcode, and knowledge of Swift, Apple's programming language. If you have those, you can build and test an app on your own machine, then submit it to the App Store for review. If you do not have a Mac or do not want to learn to code, you can hire a developer, use a no-code platform, or pay someone to build it for you — but you will still need an Apple Developer Account, which costs $99 per year.
The path you choose depends on whether you want to do the work yourself, how much time you have, and how much you can spend. A solo developer building their first app typically spends three to six months learning and building. A team can move faster. A no-code platform can get a simple app to market in weeks, but with less control over features and performance.
Key Takeaways
- You must own a Mac computer and enroll in the Apple Developer Program ($99 per year) before you can submit any app to the App Store.
- Learning Swift and Xcode yourself is free but takes months; hiring a developer costs $5,000 to $50,000 or more depending on complexity.
- No-code and low-code platforms let you build simple apps without writing code, but they charge monthly fees and limit what your app can do.
- The App Store review process takes one to three days; Apple rejects apps that crash, copy other apps, or violate its policies.
- You own your app and its revenue once it is published, but Apple takes 30 percent of sales and in-app purchases.
The self-taught route: learning Swift and Xcode
If you want to code the app yourself, start by downloading Xcode from the Mac App Store — it is free. Xcode is the integrated development environment (IDE) where you write code, design the user interface, and test your app on a simulated iPhone. You will write in Swift, which is Apple's modern programming language designed specifically for iOS apps.
Learning Swift takes most people two to six months of consistent study, depending on whether you have programmed before. Free resources include Apple's official Swift Playgrounds app, which teaches the basics interactively, and the free tier of platforms like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp. Paid courses on Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning typically cost $10 to $50 and include video lessons and projects. Once you understand the basics, you will spend most of your time learning how to use Xcode's tools to build real features — navigation between screens, storing data, connecting to the internet, and handling user input.
The self-taught route is cheapest but slowest. You will hit problems that take hours to solve. You will rewrite code multiple times. But you will own the entire codebase and understand how every part works, which matters if you need to fix bugs or add features later.
Hiring a developer or agency
If you do not want to learn to code, you can hire someone to build the app for you. Freelance iOS developers on platforms like Upwork, Toptal, and Gun.io charge anywhere from $50 to $200 per hour, or they quote a fixed price for the whole project. A simple app with basic features — a to-do list, a weather display, a calculator — might cost $5,000 to $15,000. A more complex app with user accounts, payments, and backend servers can cost $25,000 to $100,000 or more.
When you hire a developer, you need a clear written description of what the app should do, what screens it should have, and how users will interact with it. This is called a specification or brief. The more detailed your brief, the more accurate the quote will be. Ask the developer whether they will transfer full ownership of the code to you when the project is done — some developers retain rights or charge extra for that.
Agencies that specialize in iOS development typically charge more than freelancers but provide project management, design, and quality assurance. They are a better choice if your app is complex or if you need it finished quickly and reliably. Freelancers are better if you have a small budget and can tolerate longer timelines.
No-code and low-code platforms
Platforms like FlutterFlow, Bubble, Adalo, and Glide let you build an app by dragging components onto a screen and connecting them with logic, without writing code. These platforms handle the technical details — they generate the actual code and publish to the App Store for you. Most charge a monthly subscription, typically $20 to $100 per month depending on features and usage.
No-code platforms are fastest for simple apps: a basic app can be live in two to four weeks. They are also cheapest upfront — you pay monthly rather than thousands of dollars to a developer. But they have real limits. Your app will be slower than a native app written in Swift. You cannot use every feature the iPhone offers. If you outgrow the platform, you cannot easily move your app elsewhere. And if the platform shuts down, your app goes with it.
No-code is a good choice if you are testing an idea, building an internal tool for your business, or creating a simple app that does not need to be fast or feature-rich. It is not a good choice if you are building a game, a photo editor, or anything that needs to run smoothly on older iPhones.
Getting an Apple Developer Account and understanding App Store rules
Before you can submit an app to the App Store, you must enroll in the Apple Developer Program. This costs $99 per year. You will need an Apple ID, a valid payment method, and to agree to Apple's terms. Enrollment takes a few minutes online.
Once you are enrolled, you can submit your app for review. Apple's review team checks that your app does not crash, does not copy another app's design or functionality, does not collect data without permission, and follows Apple's guidelines on content, advertising, and user safety. Review typically takes one to three days, though it can take longer if Apple has questions. If your app is rejected, Apple tells you why and you can fix it and resubmit.
Apple takes 30 percent of all revenue from app sales and in-app purchases. You keep 70 percent. There is no fee to distribute a free app. If you want to charge for your app, you set the price in Apple's pricing tiers, which range from $0.99 to $999.99.
The timeline from idea to launch
If you are learning to code yourself, expect six to twelve months from start to App Store launch. The first two to three months go to learning Swift and Xcode. The next three to six months go to building your actual app — designing screens, writing features, testing, and fixing bugs. The final month is for polishing, submitting to the App Store, and handling Apple's review feedback.
If you hire a developer, the timeline depends on complexity and the developer's availability. A simple app might take two to three months. A complex app might take six months to a year. No-code platforms are fastest — two to four weeks for a simple app, two to three months for something more involved.
The timeline also depends on how clear your idea is. If you know exactly what you want to build, you will move faster. If you are still figuring out features and design, add time for that work.
What happens after launch
Launching to the App Store is not the end — it is the beginning. Users will find bugs you did not catch. They will request features. The iPhone operating system will update, and you will need to make sure your app still works. You will need to fix crashes, improve performance, and add features to stay competitive.
If you built the app yourself, you are responsible for all maintenance and updates. If you hired a developer, you can ask them to do updates, but you will pay for their time. No-code platforms handle some maintenance for you, but you are still responsible for fixing bugs in your app's logic.
Plan to spend at least five to ten hours per month maintaining your app, even if it is simple. If you cannot do that yourself, budget for a developer to do it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Mac to build an iPhone app?
Yes. Xcode, Apple's development software, only runs on macOS. You cannot develop for iPhone on Windows or Linux. If you do not own a Mac, you can buy a used one, rent one in the cloud, or hire a developer who has one.
Can I build an iPhone app without knowing how to code?
Yes, using no-code platforms like FlutterFlow, Bubble, or Adalo. You can also hire a developer to build it for you. Both options cost money but require no coding knowledge from you.
How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?
The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year. There is no additional fee to publish a free app. If you charge for your app or use in-app purchases, Apple takes 30 percent of the revenue. You keep 70 percent.
What happens if Apple rejects my app?
Apple tells you the reason for rejection. Common reasons include crashes, copying another app's design, collecting data without permission, or violating content policies. You can fix the issue and resubmit. Most rejections are resolved in one or two resubmissions.
Can I update my app after it launches?
Yes. You can submit updates to the App Store as often as you want. Each update goes through review again, which typically takes one to three days. Users see an update notification and can choose to install it.