Custom iOS applications built in Swift and SwiftUI for businesses that need more than an off-the-shelf mobile product -- consumer apps, enterprise tools, and industry-specific platforms designed for the iPhone and iPad experience. We handle the full iOS build: architecture, UI, backend integration, App Store submission, and the ongoing release cycle. You own the code.
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2,000+ shipments yr 1RaftLabs builds custom iOS applications in Swift and SwiftUI for businesses that need a native iPhone and iPad experience. We cover consumer apps, enterprise mobile tools, and industry-specific platforms. Our team handles architecture, UI, App Store submission, and the full release cycle at a fixed cost agreed before development starts.
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Native iOS development means building for the platform as Apple designed it -- not adapting a web codebase or cross-platform runtime. The result is an app that behaves like an iOS app, uses iOS-native interactions, and accesses the full range of iOS capabilities without workarounds.
For businesses that need an app that feels native to iPhone and iPad users, that integrates deeply with iOS system features, or that needs to stay current with new iOS releases, native Swift development is the right choice.
Capabilities
End-user apps for the App Store -- marketplace apps, content platforms, service booking apps, social products, and consumer experiences that need the polished, native feel iPhone users notice immediately when it's absent. SwiftUI as the primary UI framework for modern declarative UI with smooth 60fps animations; UIKit for components where precise control over rendering behaviour matters (custom collection view layouts, complex gesture recognisers). Combine framework for reactive data flow between models and views. Core Data or SwiftData for local persistence with CloudKit sync where iCloud backup matters to the user. StoreKit 2 for in-app purchase and subscription integration: product fetching, purchase handling, transaction verification, and subscription status checking with the modern async/await API. Onboarding flows designed with iOS Human Interface Guidelines in mind: permission prompts (camera, location, notifications) preceded by in-app context screens explaining the value before the system dialog appears, because users who understand why say yes at a significantly higher rate. Push notification strategy via APNs: rich notifications with images and action buttons, notification grouping by thread, and a quiet delivery option for notifications that don't need to interrupt. Ratings prompts via SKStoreReviewController triggered on meaningful interactions rather than immediately after launch.
Internal iOS apps for field workers, sales teams, warehouse staff, and any business function where a purpose-built mobile tool replaces paper-based workflows or impractical desktop access. Offline-first architecture: Core Data with iCloud sync disabled for enterprise data (kept on-premises); manual sync via REST API with conflict resolution using server-wins or last-write-wins strategy depending on the use case; sync queue that batches completed records and flushes when connectivity is restored. Background sync via BGTaskScheduler (iOS 13+): the OS wakes the app at an appropriate time to sync without battery drain from continuous polling. Camera integration via AVFoundation for document capture with real-time edge detection; BarcodeScanner via AVMetadataObject for 1D/2D code reading without a hardware scanner. Signature capture via PencilKit or a custom bezier path renderer. Biometric authentication via LocalAuthentication framework (Touch ID, Face ID) with a PIN fallback for when biometrics aren't enrolled. Certificate pinning via URLSession with a custom URLSessionDelegate validates the server certificate against the pinned public key -- preventing interception on corporate networks. Distribution via Apple Business Manager (VPP/managed distribution) or Jamf Pro/Intune MDM, enabling silent installation and updates without App Store review dependency.
Applications designed for the iPad's larger screen and multitasking capabilities -- point-of-sale systems, clinical documentation tools, field inspection apps, design and annotation interfaces, and operational dashboards where the form factor provides genuine advantage over iPhone or a desktop browser. NavigationSplitView (SwiftUI) or UISplitViewController (UIKit) for primary/secondary/supplementary column layouts that use the iPad's real estate to show contextual detail without navigation stack depth. Stage Manager support for multi-window layouts on compatible iPad models: apps that respond correctly to arbitrary window sizes rather than being pinned to pre-set size classes. Keyboard shortcut integration via UIKeyCommand and UIMenuBuilder for power users who use an external keyboard -- command palette, navigation shortcuts, and action shortcuts documented in the app's menu bar. Apple Pencil integration via PencilKit for annotation, signature, freehand markup, and pressure-sensitive drawing interfaces; Scribble support for text fields on iPads without the keyboard visible. Hover effects on iPadOS 16+ (pointer device support) for interfaces used with a Magic Trackpad. Split-screen and Slide Over compatibility tested across the full size-class matrix -- not just the primary full-screen use case.
Deep integration with iOS system frameworks that make an app a native part of the device rather than a web page in a wrapper. HealthKit integration with explicit permission flows per data type (step count, heart rate, sleep analysis) and HKStatisticsCollectionQuery for aggregate health data over time periods. ARKit with ARWorldTrackingConfiguration for plane detection, object placement, and spatial audio anchors; RealityKit for rendering AR content with physically-based materials. Core ML with on-device inference for models compiled from PyTorch or TensorFlow using coremltools -- processing without sending data to a server, critical for privacy-sensitive applications. MapKit with custom overlay rendering and annotation clustering for apps with large numbers of location markers. NFC via Core NFC: NFCNDEFReaderSession for NDEF tag reading, NFCTagReaderSession for ISO 15693 and MIFARE tags used in industrial and retail contexts. Live Activities via ActivityKit for real-time updates on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island -- order tracking, sports scores, delivery ETA -- with push-to-update via APNs. Shortcuts App integration via App Intents framework: actions the user can add to Shortcuts, Siri voice commands, and Home Screen automations that expose your app's functionality to the iOS automation ecosystem.
App Store submission managed as a process rather than a deadline milestone. App Privacy section (nutrition labels) documents every data type collected, the purpose of collection, and whether it's linked to the user's identity -- required since iOS 14.3 and reviewed by Apple as part of submission. Permission usage description strings (NSCameraUsageDescription, NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription, NSMicrophoneUsageDescription) written to explain the specific user benefit, not legal compliance language, because Apple reviews for descriptiveness and rejects generic strings. TestFlight configuration for internal and external beta testing: up to 10,000 external testers, review groups by user type, and structured feedback collection before the production release. App Store Optimisation (ASO): keyword research using App Store search autocomplete and competitor metadata analysis, title and subtitle optimised for the primary keyword, screenshot and preview video production for all required device sizes (iPhone 6.5", 5.5", iPad). Review management: monitoring user reviews and responding to negative feedback, submitting expedited review requests for critical bug fixes. Post-launch monitoring via Firebase Crashlytics for crash-free session rate by iOS version and device model. App Store Connect analytics for funnel performance: impressions to product page, product page to download, download to first session.
Ongoing iOS development after initial launch -- new features added on a sprint cadence, iOS version compatibility updates (Apple requires apps to support the most recent major iOS version within one year of its release or face App Store rejection), and the bugs that surface from real-world usage across the fragmented iOS device and OS version population. Xcode version upgrades are required annually to maintain build support for the latest iOS SDK; each upgrade can expose deprecation warnings and breaking changes in third-party dependencies that require resolution. Swift concurrency migration (async/await, actors, Sendable conformance) for apps built on older callback or delegation patterns -- Apple's concurrency model is the future of the language and fighting it becomes increasingly costly as the SDK adopts it. SwiftUI deprecation handling: APIs that were the recommended approach in iOS 15 are superseded in iOS 16 and 17; staying current avoids the "deprecated" warnings that compound over multiple Xcode versions. Firebase Crashlytics monitoring for crash rate by iOS version, device model, and app version -- differentiating between crashes introduced by a specific app update and crashes introduced by an OS update. fastlane for CI/CD automation: automated build, test, and submission pipeline that removes the manual steps in the release cycle and enables more frequent updates with less overhead.
Tell us what the app needs to do, who uses it, and whether you need a backend alongside it. We'll scope it and give you a fixed cost.
Mobile App Development -- full mobile development capability overview
Android App Development -- native Android apps in Kotlin and Jetpack Compose
React Native Development -- cross-platform iOS and Android from a shared codebase
Flutter Development -- Flutter apps for iOS and Android
Custom Software Development -- web apps, internal tools, and enterprise platforms
Real-Time App Development -- WebSocket and live data for mobile and web
Frequently asked questions
Native iOS development (Swift/SwiftUI) is the better choice when: you need access to the latest iOS features and APIs before they're available in cross-platform frameworks; your app requires deep integration with iOS system capabilities (ARKit, HealthKit, Core ML, widgets, live activities); you have performance requirements where JavaScript bridge overhead matters; or you're building exclusively for Apple platforms and cross-platform development adds complexity without benefit. For apps targeting both iOS and Android with similar feature sets, React Native or Flutter often makes more sense economically. We'll give you an honest assessment during scoping.
App Store review is a routine part of our delivery process, not an afterthought at the end of the project. We design with App Store guidelines in mind from the start -- privacy nutrition labels, required permissions with usage descriptions, in-app purchase integration if needed, and the human interface guidelines that reviewers check. We submit the initial build and manage the review process, including responding to any rejection feedback. For businesses with existing App Store accounts, we work within your developer account. For new products, we guide the account setup.
Yes to both. Most iOS apps need a backend -- for user authentication, data persistence, push notifications, and business logic. Where you have an existing API, we build the iOS app to integrate with it. Where you need a new backend, we scope and build it alongside the iOS app as part of the same engagement. The backend scope is assessed during discovery based on what the app needs to do and what existing infrastructure you have.
A focused iOS app -- a single use case, clean UI, and standard integrations -- typically runs $25,000 to $60,000. A more complex app with custom UI components, multiple user roles, real-time features, and backend development typically runs $60,000 to $150,000. Fixed cost agreed before development starts. We scope every project before pricing it.
Work with us
We scope iOS App Development in 30 minutes. You walk away with a clear cost, timeline, and approach. No commitment required.