Mobile Development

iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter development from a full-stack engineering team. We advise on the native-vs-cross-platform decision based on your project's actual requirements, not based on which stack we find easier to bill. The goal is a mobile product that performs well, passes App Store review, and connects to your backend infrastructure without architectural compromises.

The mobile app development market was valued at $94.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 23.8% CAGR through 2035 (Spot News, 2025). Google Play downloads are projected to exceed 143 billion in 2026; Apple App Store projected at 38 billion (AppMySite, 2026). For most consumer products, mobile is the primary interface, not a secondary one.

mobile development that fits your project#

when native iOS or Android is the right call#

Native development (Swift and SwiftUI for iOS, Kotlin and Jetpack Compose for Android) is the right choice when performance is non-negotiable, when the app requires deep OS integration (ARKit, Core Bluetooth, Health Kit, NFC), or when the user experience depends on platform-specific interaction patterns that cross-platform frameworks approximate but don't replicate.

Native is also the right call when you are building for a single platform first and speed-to-market on that specific platform matters more than cross-platform parity. A well-built native app on iOS outperforms a cross-platform equivalent in animation smoothness, startup time, and access to the latest platform APIs, because the framework doesn't sit between your code and the OS.

when cross-platform saves time and budget#

Cross-platform development (React Native or Flutter) shares a single codebase across iOS and Android. For the large majority of applications that don't require deep native OS integration and that have comparable UX requirements on both platforms, cross-platform reduces build cost by 30-40% versus maintaining separate native codebases (Netguru, 2025).

Flutter holds approximately 46% of cross-platform market share; React Native holds approximately 35% (TechAhead, 2026). Both are production-ready frameworks with mature ecosystems. The choice between them is based on your team's existing stack, your backend technology, and the specific features the app requires, not on which one is trending.

what goes wrong when the stack decision is made wrong#

The most common failure mode: a development shop pushes cross-platform because it's what they know, and the client ends up with an app that has noticeable performance problems on high-motion interfaces, or that can't access a native API that the product actually requires. The second most common failure: a client insists on native development for a straightforward business application that could have shipped faster and cheaper with React Native.

We make the architecture recommendation before the engagement starts and explain the reasoning. If you disagree with the recommendation, we want to have that conversation.

what we build#

consumer and B2C mobile apps#

Consumer applications where onboarding friction, retention mechanics, and perceived performance directly affect business outcomes. Consumer apps require more UX investment than internal tools. We design the flows, write the code, and own both sides of that tradeoff.

SaaS companion and mobile-first products#

Mobile applications that pair with a web SaaS platform, or standalone mobile-first products where the app is the primary interface. We build the mobile layer and the API contracts that connect it to the backend in the same engagement when both are in scope, which eliminates the integration friction of working with two separate teams.

internal tools and field operations apps#

Internal applications for field service, inventory management, operations, and data entry for teams that work outside a browser. These prioritize reliability, offline capability, and integration with existing backend systems over visual polish. We scope them differently from consumer apps because the success metrics are different.

AI-integrated mobile experiences#

Mobile applications with embedded AI features: on-device inference with Core ML or TensorFlow Lite, API-driven LLM features, voice interfaces, or live vision capabilities. Building AI into mobile requires attention to latency, cost per inference, and offline behavior. We integrate AI components at the architecture level, not as a post-launch addition. See our agentic AI services for context on how the AI layer connects to the rest of the product.

our technology stack#

native iOS: Swift and SwiftUI#

Swift is the standard iOS language. SwiftUI for declarative UI, with UIKit components used where SwiftUI's current capabilities fall short. Combine and Swift concurrency (async/await) for reactive data flows. Xcode Cloud or GitHub Actions for CI/CD. TestFlight for beta distribution.

native Android: Kotlin and Jetpack Compose#

Kotlin is the current Android standard. Jetpack Compose for modern declarative UI. Architecture components (ViewModel, Room, Navigation) for structure. Gradle build system with Play Store deployment via GitHub Actions or Fastlane.

cross-platform: React Native and Expo#

React Native with Expo for teams with existing React or JavaScript/TypeScript experience. Expo's managed workflow removes most native build configuration overhead; the bare workflow is available when native modules are required. Expo's development builds and over-the-air update system reduce iteration time between releases. React Native has a mature ecosystem. Most native APIs you need have an existing, maintained library.

cross-platform: Flutter and Dart#

Flutter for applications where rendering consistency across platforms and pixel-perfect custom interfaces matter most. Dart is a different language from JavaScript, which means a different developer profile, but Flutter's performance advantage comes from its custom rendering engine, which bypasses native UI components entirely. This produces consistent visual behavior but means some platform-specific conventions require explicit implementation.

how we scope and deliver mobile projects#

step 1: platform and architecture decision#

The first conversation is always about the right architecture. We ask: What does the app need to do that a web app cannot? What native APIs are required? What is the development team's existing skillset? What is the performance requirement? What backend does this connect to, and does that backend already exist?

From this conversation, we recommend a platform and framework with explicit reasoning. We also scope the full feature set at this stage, including the parts clients often defer until later, like offline sync logic, push notification architecture, and App Store metadata.

step 2: design and prototyping#

Mobile UI design in Figma with platform-specific component libraries (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design for Android). Interactive prototype covering primary user flows before development begins. Edge cases (empty states, error handling, permission request flows) are scoped at the design stage, not discovered during QA.

step 3: development and testing#

Development in two-week sprints with a working build delivered on TestFlight or Android Internal Track at each sprint boundary. Automated testing covers critical paths; manual QA covers edge cases, device matrix, and OS version compatibility. We test on real devices, not simulators.

Performance profiling runs throughout development for consumer apps, starting at sprint one. Memory leaks and UI jank caught at week 4 are cheaper to fix than those caught at week 12. We don't treat perf as a final-pass concern.

step 4: App Store submission and launch#

App Store Connect and Google Play Console submission, including screenshot generation, metadata, age rating questionnaires, and export compliance declarations. We have experience navigating App Store review rejections. The most common issues are guideline compliance, privacy policy requirements, and in-app purchase configuration. We scope time for at least one review cycle in every project.

step 5: post-launch support and iteration#

Post-launch support window for bug fixes and OS compatibility issues. Crash reporting via Sentry or Firebase Crashlytics set up before launch. Version management and update distribution through the stores or, for React Native/Expo projects, over-the-air updates for non-native code changes.

pricing and timelines#

Custom mobile app development in 2026 ranges from $25,000 for simple MVPs to $300,000+ for complex platforms (Topflight Apps, 2026). Here is how our pricing maps to common project scopes.

simple apps and MVPs ($25K-$60K, 8-16 weeks)#

A focused MVP: core feature set, authentication, basic API integration, and App Store submission for one platform. Designed to validate product-market fit without over-building. Cross-platform deployments in this range use React Native or Flutter to cover both iOS and Android from a single codebase.

mid-complexity products ($60K-$150K, 3-6 months)#

Applications with moderate feature depth: multiple authenticated user roles, offline data sync, push notifications, third-party integrations (payments, maps, analytics), and design polish required for consumer distribution. Typically cross-platform but native is viable depending on requirements.

complex platforms ($150K+, 6-12 months)#

Large feature surfaces, live data, custom hardware integration (Bluetooth LE, NFC, AR), regulated environments, or enterprise-grade security requirements. Native development becomes more likely at this scope when platform-specific performance and API access are requirements.

FAQ#

Should I build a native app or use React Native?

It depends on what the app actually needs to do. For most business applications, SaaS companions, and consumer apps without intensive animation or hardware requirements, React Native delivers a production-quality result at meaningfully lower cost. For apps that need deep OS integration, high-performance graphics, or need to adopt platform-native features immediately on release day, native is the right call. The team maintaining it post-launch also matters: native requires platform-specific expertise that cross-platform doesn't.

What is the difference between Flutter and React Native?

React Native renders using native platform components, so your app looks and behaves like a native iOS or Android app, but component parity between platforms is imperfect. Flutter uses its own custom rendering engine (Skia), which produces pixel-identical output on every platform but diverges from native platform conventions. If your team has a JavaScript/TypeScript background, React Native is the natural fit. If consistent cross-platform rendering matters more than platform-native feel, Flutter is worth the Dart learning curve.

How much does it cost to build a mobile app in 2026?

Simple MVPs run $25,000-$60,000. Mid-complexity products run $60,000-$150,000. Complex platforms with large feature surfaces, live data, or hardware integration run $150,000 and up. Timeline follows accordingly: 8-16 weeks for simple apps; 3-6 months for mid-complexity; 6-12 months for complex platforms. We scope fixed-price after a requirements conversation.

Can one team build both iOS and Android apps?

Yes. With cross-platform frameworks, a single team shares approximately 85-95% of the codebase across iOS and Android. Platform-specific code is isolated to modules that handle native API differences. For native development, a single team can maintain both platforms but the engineering surface is larger. We do both.

How long does App Store review take?

Apple's App Store review typically runs 1-3 days for a standard review, but first-time submissions and apps with in-app purchases or privacy-sensitive permissions can take longer. Google Play is faster, typically 1-3 days for initial review. We include time for at least one round of review feedback in every project plan. Common rejection reasons are well-documented and most are avoidable with proper pre-submission review.

Can you connect the mobile app to an existing backend?

Yes. Most of the mobile projects we take on connect to an existing API or backend system. We scope the API contract requirements at the start of the engagement. If the existing backend needs changes to support the mobile client, we flag that early. If the backend doesn't exist yet, we scope it alongside the mobile build. Our web and SaaS development work and mobile development share the same backend technology stack.

Have a mobile project to scope? Contact our team or start with our technical audit if you have an existing mobile codebase.