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So, in the battle of iOS vs Android, you have chosen iOS and that’s why you are here.
Are you planning to create an iOS app or want to learn to build one? However, in both cases, it is wise to have exposure to a billion-dollar market. Since more users are shifting towards Apple due to its smart features, data security, and overall user experience, the ratio of iOS apps is increasing in the mobile app development sector.
Currently, the total number of iOS apps has crossed over 2 million by 2024. However, Android apps have a major share in the app development market. But from a revenue point of view, iOS apps are way ahead.
As per stats, the Apple App Store generated a revenue of 24.6 billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the 11.2 billion U.S. dollars earned by the Google Play Store.
One thing is crystal clear: iOS apps have an upper hand when it comes to making big money. Therefore, developing iPhone apps has become a priority of every iPhone app development company.
So, how to develop iOS apps? This is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about creating your own iOS apps. The procedure to build an iOS app is quite systematic and there are different steps involved gradually throughout the process to craft a user-centric iOS app.
In this blog, we’ll have a full-scale discussion on developing an iOS app. So, that individuals and businesses can shape their iOS app development journey with ease.
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Whether you are a techpreneur with an app idea or a tech enthusiast who wants to learn, this is a universal guide for every individual who wants to build an iOS application.
The question is, how to create an iOS app from scratch? Creating your first iOS app can be a real reach adventure if you follow the following steps:
Careful preparation is necessary before entering the development phase for an effective iOS app in today’s market. Therefore, you need to create a clear concept about your app idea, evaluate your target users, and choose quantifiable objectives. Here’s a streamlined approach:
First, it is crucial to identify the app’s primary objective. Ask yourself: What pain does my app relieve, or what need does it fulfill that a user cannot meet in any other way?
That’s how you can determine what your app is addressing or what it is offering that is different from other apps. Based on your target niche, try to come closer to your customer, and see their needs, preferences, and main issues.
Ensure that you undertake lots of research to look at competitors and other solutions out there. Also, you can get inspired by some of the top iOS apps and form your app vision.
These are opportunities your app can take advantage of, so use them accordingly. To do this, you can conduct surveys or interviews simply to see if there’s a demand, and inquire further about users’ needs to fit your idea.
Set specific objectives on your app in terms of traffic, downloads, or any other measurable value such as revenue. To assess the effectiveness of the solution, use specific parameters such as retention rate or user satisfaction factor.
Make a list of requirements that your app should meet and include in its design and development. You can implement them in order of priority starting with the most important and easily achievable in the development process. Always begin with basic functionalities that bring the highest value, and optional features can be put in for a future update.
The setup of the development environment is the prerequisite of the whole iOS app creation process. This is the step that makes it all work if everything is done here in the right manner. Therefore, stay vigilant with all the requirements mentioned here in this section:
First thing first – the system and device are the primary needs for developing an iOS app as follows:
If you want to know how to build an iOS app, these are the tools and technologies on which you should have a firm grip to create your iOS application:
Follow these steps to ensure a successful setup of Xcode on your Mac system that will lead to the smooth development of your iOS app:
When it comes to the understanding of the iOS app architecture, you must be aware of the following two aspects:
The design phase is just like the face of your app as this is the first thing that will initiate the user interaction. So, every small detail matters here and can create a huge impact on the user end. You have to be precise with designing each element of your app to create a hyper-personalized user experience.
Use Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, etc., to create flowcharts and mock-up interfaces. They aid in mapping out the architecture and flow of your app prior to implementation.
You need to create at least a sketch of your app to define its basic structure and flow. This step is important in defining the logical flow of the user’s journey and app navigation.
Ensure proper user experience by adhering to several iOS design principles. Make sure that it’s user-friendly and follows Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
By way of example, follow recommended design patterns and stay organized with your interface. Design with purpose, ensuring that frequently used functions are prominently placed and aesthetics do not obstruct usability.
Accessibility makes sure that your app is functional for people with different disabilities. This is important for achieving a larger audience reach and abiding by the principles of inclusive design.
Use controls such as VoiceOver for blind people, customizable text sizes, and high-contrast colors. Test and improve your app by using accessibility tools to meet the needs of diverse users.
This is the core step also known as the backbone of the whole app development for iOS. From laying the foundation to building the core functionality of the app, everything happens here that defines the purpose of your application.
Firstly, open up the Xcode application on your Mac and then begin a new project. Select the right project template depending on the nature of your app, let it be the Single View App or the Tabbed App.
Create a foundation for the application and include components such as view controllers and storyboards. The navigation flow should be set using UINavigationController or UITabBarController as required.
Start implementing the App with the most important functionalities included. You’ve created the initial feature set so you should start implementing the user interfaces, handling user inputs, and managing the app logic.
Extend your app’s functionality by utilizing third-party APIs and libraries. Leverage external dependencies such as CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager on-demand to enhance your app’s functionality.
Select the proper data management solution depending on the needs of your app. Refer to Core Data for deeper data models and association, Realm for an easier and more versatile database, and UserDefaults for a few user preferences and settings.
Take advantage of, for instance, breakpoints and the console sections of Xcode to debug cases in your script. Manage the runtime errors and the logical bugs easily and timeously.
Use the built-in mechanism available in Xcode such as using Instruments for performance scrutiny and memory leaks. Before release, validate your app’s performance on real devices and the simulators available to check stability.
Testing is an essential step in the app development process as it reveals various flaws and glitches that need to be addressed. A well-finished app does not freeze and has less chance of crashing, and it gets better ratings and more satisfaction from its users.
Here are some fundamental types of app testing that your app must go through to ensure its reliability:
When it comes to testing an iOS app in a beta version, TestFlight can be quite beneficial. Here’s how you can set it up:
Learn about the App Store guidelines to be sure your app complies with Apple’s standards. The most important requirements are content policy compliance, user privacy, and functionality rules. Read these guidelines thoroughly to avoid submission rejections and a smooth approval process.
Here are the basic steps to submit your app to the App Store:
Enhance your app’s visibility with these ASO tips:
Never ever neglect the post-launch activities, if you want to sustain your app in the long run. In fact, the future performance of your app including both functionality and user experience depends upon this factor. Therefore, look for every possibility that will lead to the further optimization of your iOS app.
Gather user responses via polls, reviews, and user engagement within the app. Convey this feedback to determine frequent problems and possible imperfections. This information can then be utilized to make better choices regarding new features in the software and fixing some glitches.
Frequently, release patches to address defects, optimize performance, and implement novelties. When making updates try and make sure that they are very stable to avoid a lot of downtime. Ensure that changes are well communicated to the users through release notes and in-app announcements.
Track the apps’ performance and user engagement level with Google Analytics, Firebase, or the App Analytics by Apple. Keep track of active users, average session time, and crash logs to track app usage and reported bugs.
When you have a high-performance app with well-maintained features, monetization becomes the next step. This means that monetizing your iOS app can be difficult since the methods on which your app’s revenue can be dependent are many. Explore the following monetization models and make your decision accordingly:
Within your app, you can provide additional features, content, or virtual goods. It encourages users to pay for improvements after they’ve already downloaded the app.
Display ads within your app to earn revenue based on user interactions. This strategy works well for apps with high user engagement but can impact user experience.
Give ongoing access to premium features or content on a regular basis. So this model ensures a steady revenue stream and encourages constant user engagement.
Charge a one time fee for your app to be downloaded. This requires persuading users to use the app up front, but it can generate revenue on the same day.
Meanwhile, if you are wondering about the cost of building an iOS app after learning about the whole creation process, you can read our detailed blog: iOS App Development Cost in 2024: A Complete Breakdown
Dominating the global tech industry, Trango Tech has evolved as a mobile app development company on which you can rely to create an iOS app. Facilitating clients across the world, we’ve got the exposure to cater to diverse requirements of business from startups to enterprise level.
Here’s how you can build your iOS app by collaborating with us:
Let’s say you have an app idea to develop an iPhone app and you want to execute it. That’s where you can connect with us and share the concept behind the purpose of your app.
After that, you can have a free consultation session with our experts in iOS app development. They will help you to refine your idea where you can leverage their deep insights from industry experience.
Once the consultation is done, you will finalize the requirements of your app to shape the scope of your app. Here, we will decide all the features and functionalities that you wish to have in your app.
After the finalization of your requirements, our iOS app development team will get to start working on your app. From design to core development and testing to deployment of your app, everything will remain our responsibility. As a result, we’ll hand you a full-fledged live application on the Apple App Store.
It’s a big deal to develop an iOS App and whether you are a business that has no spare time to devote to them or a developer looking to finalize an idea, it’s a big deal. With this guide, you did the most important steps from planning and design to coding, testing, and getting your app live on the App Store.
The takeaways are having the right hardware and tools, knowing its architecture, and knowing how to submit without a problem to Apple. Once the app is launched, users will have continuous feedback to perform iterations, push out updates, and release new features all with high performance. At the same time, simple ideas can be attempted to monetize your app to make it a profitable venture.
Expert’s Advice: Keep working on your skills, keep on updating yourself on the trends of the industry, and continue innovating in the moving iOS ecosystem. Also, you can converse with our specialists for any help with building an iOS app.
Yes, by using efficient developer tools such as Swift and Xcode, businesses of all sizes can create exceptional apps. Swift is a versatile, open-source programming language packed with modern features that developers appreciate. Xcode provides a comprehensive suite of tools for developing, building, and debugging apps across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Developing an iOS app typically takes 1 to 3 months for basic apps, 3 to 6 months for moderately complex apps, and 6 months to over a year for highly complex ones. The specific timeline varies based on the app’s features, the team’s expertise, and the development approach used.
The cost to develop an iOS app can vary according to the size of the application. Here’s the organization of the iOS app cost as per different scales:
| iOS App Size | Average Development Time | Average Development Cost |
| Small app development | 2-4 months | $5,000-25,000 |
| Medium app development | 4-8 months | $25,000-50,000 |
| Complex app development | 8+ months | $50,000+ |
Both Android and iOS platforms have a “top-heavy” revenue structure, where the majority of earnings are generated by leading developers. In response, some newer app developers are hiring mobile app marketing specialists to help them close the gap.
How much does it cost to publish apps on the Apple Store? An individual Developer Account costs $99 per year, with no extra ‘hosting’ fees. However, the overall cost of developing an app for the App Store can vary significantly based on factors like app type, features, functionality, and whether the app is paid or free.
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Ali Hassan, a dynamic content creator with four years of hands-on experience specializing in tech writing. As a skilled content strategist, Ali seamlessly blends creative finesse with thorough research to craft top-notch content. With a keen eye for optimization techniques, he transforms ideas into engaging, SEO-friendly narratives that captivate tech enthusiasts and novices alike.
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