Native iOS applications
- Swift & SwiftUI with platform-native feel
- HealthKit, Apple Pay & widget integrations
- App Store submission & review management
Mobile App Development Services
We design and ship native iOS, Android, and cross-platform apps with senior mobile engineers — not template shops. From MVP to apps handling millions of sessions, with performance, accessibility, and App Store compliance built in from sprint one. You get weekly TestFlight builds, honest platform recommendations, and engineers who've shipped top-chart apps before.
- Weekly TestFlight & internal builds
- Native Swift, Kotlin & cross-platform
- Senior mobile engineers — no juniors
The problem
Most mobile apps lose 77% of users within three days — because UX, performance, and store compliance were afterthoughts.
65% of mobile projects overrun or underdeliver when teams treat apps like responsive websites — skipping offline patterns, ignoring platform guidelines, and shipping to stores without a real device testing matrix.
We've inherited the aftermath: 2-star apps with crash rates above 5%, React Native codebases that feel nothing like native, App Store rejections on privacy manifests, and B2B field tools that break the moment connectivity drops. The cost isn't just the build invoice — it's churn, negative reviews, and product teams that stop trusting mobile as a channel.
Service breakdown
What we build under mobile app development.
Eight practice areas — each with defined deliverables, technology tags, and deep links where a dedicated spoke exists.
Native Android applications
- Kotlin & Jetpack Compose builds
- Material Design 3 & device fragmentation
- Play Store submission & staged rollouts
React Native & Flutter apps
- Shared codebase with platform-specific polish
- OTA updates & code-push workflows
- Native module bridges where performance matters
Consumer & lifestyle apps
- Onboarding, engagement & retention flows
- Push notifications & deep linking
- In-app purchases & subscription billing
Enterprise & field workforce apps
- Offline-first sync & conflict resolution
- MDM deployment & SSO integration
- Barcode scanning, GPS & camera capture
Banking & payments mobile
- KYC flows & biometric authentication
- PCI-aware payment integrations
- Real-time portfolios & transaction history
App redesigns & rewrites
- UX audit & performance profiling
- Controlled migration from legacy native code
- Crash rate reduction & store rating recovery
On-device & cloud AI features
- Voice, vision & NLP integrations
- On-device ML with Core ML & ML Kit
- Copilot & smart search in mobile UX
Technology stack
Mobile stacks your product lead can validate.
Tabbed by category — not a framework religion. We pick native vs. cross-platform based on UX requirements, timeline, and your team's skills.
Delivery approach
Four principles that keep mobile apps in the top charts.
Each principle addresses a known mobile project failure mode — the difference between a serious mobile partner and a template shop.
Installable builds every week
Failure mode: slide decks instead of software. Every sprint ends with a TestFlight or internal build your stakeholders can install on real devices — not screenshots in a Figma file.
Honest native vs. cross-platform advice
Failure mode: pushing React Native because it's cheaper to staff. We recommend Swift/Kotlin when platform-native feel is critical, and cross-platform when speed-to-market and shared logic win.
Offline-first by default
Failure mode: apps that break without connectivity. Sync patterns, local storage, and graceful degradation are designed in from sprint one — not patched after field users complain.
Store compliance from day one
Failure mode: App Store rejection on launch week. Privacy manifests, accessibility, and review guidelines are parallel workstreams — not a scramble after the first rejection.
Have a mobile app in mind? Let's scope it in a week.
A senior mobile engineer — not a salesperson — reviews your brief and returns a platform recommendation within one business day.
Industries served
Mobile apps we've shipped in your sector.
Sector-specific UX patterns and compliance contexts — not generic app templates. See all industries →
Engagement models
Three ways to engage for mobile apps.
Same senior mobile bar across every model — pick the shape that matches your product stage and internal capacity.
01
Best for MVPs & v1 launches
Fixed-milestone delivery
Ideal when you have a scoped MVP or v1 feature set — discovery, build, and App Store launch as defined milestones with fixed pricing per phase. Most mobile projects start here.
Scope a fixed build →
02
Best for ongoing product growth
Dedicated mobile pod
A cross-functional mobile team embedded in your repos and ceremonies — for apps that need continuous iteration after launch. Monthly retainer with sprint-level scope reviews.
Explore dedicated pods →
03
Best for capacity gaps
Staff augmentation
Pre-vetted senior iOS, Android, or React Native engineers who join your team, codebase, and rituals — when you need specific mobile skills fast without a full pod.
Augment your team →
Case studies
Mobile apps we've shipped — with numbers.
Industry · Challenge · Solution · Outcome. See all work →
FinTech · Mobile
VaultPay — consumer banking at scale
Challenge: Launch a neobank-style iOS and Android app with KYC, live portfolios, and PCI-aware payments.
Outcome: MVP to App Store in 12 weeks; 99.9% API uptime; 40k+ MAU.
Read case study →
Food Delivery · Marketplace
FeastBox — three-sided delivery app
Challenge: Consumer, restaurant, and driver apps with real-time order tracking and peak-traffic resilience.
Outcome: 10x traffic headroom; 99.95% uptime during launch week.
Read case study →
HealthTech · Wearables
PulseTrack — fitness & nutrition app
Challenge: React Native app with Apple Health, Garmin sync, and HIPAA-aware data handling.
Outcome: v1 in 10 weeks; 4.8★ App Store rating; 65% 30-day retention.
Read case study →
Why Techora
Why us for mobile apps — specifically.
Not generic agency claims. Differentiators that matter when you're evaluating a mobile development partner.
Weekly installable builds
TestFlight and internal builds every sprint — not Figma prototypes. Stakeholders validate features on real devices before they hit the App Store.
Native & cross-platform depth
Swift, Kotlin, React Native, and Flutter — we recommend based on your UX requirements and timeline, not what our bench happens to know.
Mobile + backend in one pod
We build the app and the APIs it depends on — GraphQL, REST, Firebase, offline sync — so you're not coordinating between a mobile shop and a separate backend vendor.
ISO 27001 · SOC 2-aligned
Secure auth, encrypted storage, privacy manifests, and HIPAA/PCI patterns for regulated mobile apps — built in from sprint one, not bolted on before audit.
Delivery process
Seven phases from discovery to App Store.
A cadence built for mobile work — installable builds every week, no black-box sprints.
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Discovery & platform selection
Map users, platforms, integrations, and store requirements. Native vs. cross-platform recommendation with honest trade-offs. Exit with a scoped backlog and release plan.
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UX design & prototyping
User flows, design system, and clickable prototypes validated before build. Offline, auth, and navigation patterns established early so UI scales without rework.
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Architecture & API contracts
Mobile architecture, state management, sync strategy, and API contracts documented before sprint one. ADRs for every major technical decision.
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Iterative build
Two-week sprints with installable TestFlight and internal builds demoed every week. Your stakeholders test on real devices — not percentage-complete reports.
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QA & device testing
Automated tests, device matrix coverage, performance profiling, and accessibility review. Beta feedback incorporated before store submission.
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Store submission & launch
App Store and Play Store metadata, screenshots, privacy manifests, and review responses. Staged rollouts with crash monitoring from minute one.
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Iterate & grow
Ship updates from analytics, user feedback, and crash data. Optional retainer for ongoing feature work, performance tuning, and OS compatibility updates.
Security, compliance & IP
Enterprise trust signals for mobile buyers.
Mobile app buyers evaluate security, privacy, and code ownership before they evaluate hourly rates. We address both upfront — not at contract negotiation.
- ISO 27001 Certified
- SOC 2 Type II Aligned
- HIPAA / PCI Mobile patterns
- App Privacy Manifests & GDPR
Code ownership & NDAs: All app source code, design assets, and store accounts live in your repositories and developer accounts from day one. Standard mutual NDA before any technical deep-dive. Upon full payment, we assign all rights in bespoke work product created for you.
FAQ
Mobile app buying questions, answered.
Platforms, timelines, store submission, and ownership — the decision-stage questions your product team will ask.
It depends on UX requirements, team skills, and timeline. We ship Swift/Kotlin when platform-native feel is critical, and React Native or Flutter when speed-to-market and shared logic win. We'll recommend honestly — not push what we prefer to bill.
Yes. We prepare metadata, screenshots, privacy manifests, and review responses. If you've been rejected before, we audit the prior submission and fix root causes — not just resubmit and hope.
A focused single-platform MVP typically ranges from $35k–$90k depending on complexity. Cross-platform iOS + Android MVPs run $55k–$130k. Dedicated mobile pods are $22k–$50k/month. We'll recommend the model that matches your certainty.
Yes. We start with a code and UX audit — crash rates, performance bottlenecks, test coverage, and store ratings — then propose phased improvements or a controlled rewrite if the codebase is beyond rescue.
We build mobile clients against your existing APIs or ship full-stack with our custom software team. GraphQL, REST, Firebase, and offline-first sync patterns are all in scope — one pod can own both sides when needed.
A typical mobile pod includes a tech lead, 1–2 mobile engineers (iOS/Android or cross-platform), a UX designer, a QA specialist, and part-time backend support. Every named engineer is senior — no juniors sold as seniors.
A focused MVP is often 10–14 weeks for one platform, 14–20 weeks for iOS and Android together with shared cross-platform logic. We'll give a range after discovery — not a sales-friendly "4 weeks" that ignores store review and edge cases.
Product brief, design system, production app codebase, CI/CD pipelines, store assets, crash reporting setup, test plans, device coverage matrix, and launch runbooks. Every milestone has defined acceptance criteria.
Every launch includes a 30-day warranty for defects. Beyond that, most clients transition to a dedicated mobile pod retainer for ongoing feature work, OS compatibility updates, and crash monitoring.
Discovery can begin within 1–2 weeks. Full build pods typically kick off in 2–3 weeks. We'll tell you honestly if we're at capacity rather than overcommitting.
What is mobile app development?
Mobile app development is the process of designing, building, testing, and launching applications for smartphones and tablets — primarily iOS (Apple) and Android (Google) platforms. It spans product discovery, UX design, native or cross-platform engineering, backend API integration, quality assurance, and App Store / Play Store submission.
Unlike responsive web apps, native mobile applications leverage device capabilities — cameras, GPS, push notifications, biometric authentication, offline storage, and platform-specific UI patterns — to deliver experiences that feel fast and intentional on small screens.
Modern mobile development typically involves choosing between native (Swift/Kotlin), cross-platform (React Native/Flutter), or hybrid approaches — each with trade-offs in performance, development speed, and platform fidelity. The right choice depends on your UX requirements, team skills, timeline, and budget.
When should you build a mobile app?
Build a mobile app when your users need persistent, device-integrated experiences that a mobile website can't deliver. The clearest signals:
- Your users are primarily on mobile. If analytics show 70%+ mobile traffic and engagement is higher on native apps in your category, a dedicated app makes sense.
- You need offline access. Field workers, travellers, and users in low-connectivity environments need apps that work without a network.
- Push notifications drive retention. Re-engagement via push is significantly more effective than email for consumer and B2B apps.
- Device features are core to the product. Camera, GPS, biometrics, HealthKit, and Bluetooth integrations require native or near-native capabilities.
- App Store presence is a distribution channel. Discoverability, trust signals, and in-app purchases often justify the investment over a PWA.
Don't build a mobile app when a responsive web app or PWA covers your needs — especially for internal tools with desktop-primary users or content-heavy products without device-specific features.
How to evaluate mobile app development providers
Product leaders and engineering evaluators look for different signals. A strong mobile partner addresses both.
For technical evaluators
- Published apps in your category. Ask for live App Store / Play Store links — not just portfolio screenshots.
- Platform expertise depth. Confirm they have senior Swift/Kotlin engineers, not just React Native generalists relabelled as mobile specialists.
- Device testing practices. Ask about their device matrix, automated testing approach, and crash monitoring setup.
- Store submission experience. Rejections are common — providers with a track record of first-submission approvals save weeks.
For commercial evaluators
- Weekly build cadence. Providers who demo installable builds every sprint are more accountable than those showing Figma mockups.
- Honest platform recommendations. If they always recommend cross-platform regardless of your UX needs, that's a red flag.
- Measurable outcomes. "Built an app" is weak. "4.8★ rating, 65% 30-day retention, 40k MAU" is credible.
- Code ownership clarity. Confirm source code, design assets, and store accounts transfer to you.
Cost factors and pricing models
Mobile app costs depend on platform count, feature complexity, design depth, and backend requirements — not hourly rates alone.
Primary cost drivers
- Platform count. A single-platform MVP costs roughly 60–70% of a dual-platform build with cross-platform logic.
- Feature complexity. Auth, payments, offline sync, real-time features, and third-party integrations each add significant effort.
- Design depth. Custom UX/UI for multiple user roles adds design and frontend effort beyond basic CRUD screens.
- Backend requirements. Apps needing custom APIs, real-time sync, or complex data models add backend engineering scope.
- Compliance. HIPAA, PCI, or GDPR patterns for mobile add 15–25% to architecture and testing overhead.
Common pricing models
- Fixed-milestone: Best for defined MVPs and v1 launches. Pay per phase with clear deliverables.
- Dedicated mobile pod: Monthly fee for a cross-functional team. Best for ongoing product iteration.
- Staff augmentation: Hourly/monthly billing for individual senior mobile engineers. Best for filling specific skill gaps.
Common mistakes to avoid
After shipping mobile apps across FinTech, HealthTech, logistics, and consumer categories, these are the failure patterns we see most often.
- Building for both platforms on day one without validation. Launch on one platform, validate product-market fit, then expand — unless cross-platform is a hard requirement.
- Choosing cross-platform to save money without UX testing. React Native and Flutter are excellent tools, but some interactions feel wrong on one platform. Test on real devices early.
- Ignoring offline patterns. Apps that break without connectivity frustrate users and generate 1-star reviews. Design offline-first from sprint one.
- Skipping App Store guidelines review. Privacy manifests, accessibility, and content policies cause rejections that delay launch by weeks.
- No crash monitoring before launch. Firebase Crashlytics or Sentry should be integrated from the first TestFlight build — not after users report bugs.
- Treating launch as the finish line. OS updates, device fragmentation, and user feedback require ongoing iteration. Budget for post-launch support.
Start your app
Tell us what you're trying to build.
Share your app idea and target platforms — a senior mobile engineer replies within one business day. No sales handoff, no pitch deck.