Mobile app development that works
Apps that solve one real problem well. We build the features people open the app for, and leave out the ones that only lengthen the roadmap.
- Platforms
- iOS and Android
- You email
- A developer
Fit
Who this is for
A good fit
- You want developers who test on real devices, not just simulators
- You want something people will actually use more than once
- You understand that mobile users have zero patience for slow apps
- You want an app you can add to next year without starting again
- You're realistic about App Store approval and marketing challenges
Not a good fit
- You want an app with every feature you can think of
- You haven't checked whether a mobile website would do the job
- You expect to make money from ads or in-app purchases on day one
- You need social media integration "just because"
- You want to build "the next Instagram" with a $5K budget
The build
What you get
Six things that exist when the build is done.
- 01 Native performance It feels fast because it is native, not a website wrapped in an app shell. Animation stays smooth, launch is quick, and the parts that need to work without a signal still do.
- 02 An interface people already know how to use It follows each platform's own conventions, so an iPhone user and an Android user both find what they expect. Accessibility is built in, and real people test it before launch.
- 03 App Store submission We submit it and we know what reviewers look for. Screenshots, descriptions and guideline compliance are our job, not a list handed back to you.
- 04 Security and privacy Encrypted in transit, the fewest permissions the app can function on, and a data model built for GDPR rather than retrofitted to it later.
- 05 Code someone else can pick up Tested, documented, and in a repository you own, so adding a feature next year does not mean starting again.
- 06 Monitoring after launch Crash reports and real performance numbers from real devices, so you learn how the app behaves outside our test phones.
Order of work
How an app gets built
Four steps, in this order, every time. The first one sometimes ends with us telling you that a website would serve your users better than an app.
Problem first
We work out what problem you are actually solving. Sometimes a mobile website solves it better, and that is a cheaper answer than finding out after launch.
Core features first
We prototype the functionality the app exists for. The nice-to-haves wait until the thing people came for works properly.
Real devices, real users
We test on the handsets your users actually carry, not on our team's latest iPhones and a simulator.
Launch and iterate
We handle the App Store submission, then stay to fix what real usage turns up and add what it shows is missing.
Before you commit
Three things about the App Store
Worth hearing before you spend, rather than after.
- 01 Approval is not guaranteed Apple and Google both have strict rules and we know them well, but rejections still happen. We plan for review delays and turn a rejection around quickly rather than treating it as a surprise.
- 02 Marketing is harder than building There are millions of apps and being found is the real work. We help with the store listing, the launch plan, and the analytics you need to see whether any of it worked.
- 03 Most apps earn nothing We will be honest about money. Most apps are a marketing cost rather than a revenue line, and we would rather say so before you spend than after.
Money
What an app costs, and what moves it
No surprise charges and no hidden fees. These are the ranges we work in, and the things that decide where inside them you land.
- A simple app on one platform $15K to $25K
- A full app on iOS and Android $30K to $60K
- Custom backend and enterprise integrations Let's talk
What moves it
- How many screens there are, and how much behaviour sits behind them.
- Whether it needs a backend built for it, or can use one you already have.
- How many outside services it has to talk to that we do not control.
- Whether it ships on one platform or both.
Stack
What we build apps with
We choose on what holds up in production rather than on what is trending. Native when performance is the deciding factor, cross-platform when getting onto both stores sooner is.
- Built for one platform
- Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android
- Built for both at once
- React Native, Flutter
Boundaries
What we won't build
Six of them, stated before you sign rather than discovered in month four.
- We won't build 47 features nobody opens. We find the core the app exists for and ship that properly.
- We won't add social sharing because a checklist asks for it. If sharing does not fit what the app does, it stays out.
- We won't send notifications for everything. They go out when someone wants them, because the alternative is being uninstalled.
- We won't ship an app that needs a tutorial. If it has to be explained, the interface is the thing to fix.
- We won't promise App Store success. Nobody can promise it, and anyone who does is selling you something.
- We won't tell you a social platform fits a small budget. We will tell you what your budget actually buys.
Questions
Mobile app questions
Should I build native or cross-platform?
Depends on your priorities. Native gives you the best performance and platform-specific features. Cross-platform gets you to market faster and costs less. We'll recommend what makes sense for your specific situation and budget.
How long does it take to build?
A simple app on one platform runs three to four months. A full app on both runs six to nine. Anything with a custom backend depends on what it has to integrate with, and we will not put a number on it until we know.
How long does App Store approval take?
Apple usually takes 1-7 days, Google Play is typically 1-3 days. But rejections happen, and that adds time. We build in buffer time for the approval process and handle any rejections quickly.
Do I really need a mobile app, or would a website work?
Honest answer: many businesses don't need an app. If your users don't need offline access, push notifications, or device-specific features, a mobile-optimized website might be better and cheaper. We'll tell you which makes more sense.
What happens after the app launches?
We stick around. Apps need updates for new OS versions, bug fixes, and feature additions. We offer ongoing maintenance plans or can train your team to handle updates. No disappearing act after launch.
Can you help with app marketing and user acquisition?
We can help with App Store optimization and launch strategy, but we're not a marketing agency. We'll connect you with marketing specialists who know mobile app promotion if that's what you need.
Do you handle app design and backend infrastructure?
Yes. Our UI/UX design team specializes in mobile interfaces that users love, and our cloud infrastructure team handles backend systems that scale to millions of users.
Tell us what you're trying to build
On the call you get a price range, a rough timeline, or the reason we're not the right shop. No deck, no second call with a salesperson.