Mobile app development looks straightforward until App Store review, push notification reliability, and real device testing.
A mobile app developer who has only shipped to a simulator hasn't encountered the real constraints. App Store review compliance, iOS certificate management, Android signing, push notification delivery rates, offline state handling, and the gestures that feel right on each platform — these require production experience. We have it. Fixed scope, fixed price.
You need a mobile app developer who will actually get your app through App Store review and live with real users — not just hand you a prototype.
The prototype-to-production gap in mobile development is wider than in web development. A web application prototype can be deployed to a public URL in minutes. A mobile app prototype requires: EAS Build configuration for production builds, iOS certificate and provisioning profile setup in Apple Developer portal, Android signing keystore generation, App Store Connect account configuration with app metadata and screenshot requirements, Google Play Console account configuration, and App Store review submission that complies with Apple's 100-page review guidelines.
The production failure modes that only experienced mobile developers have encountered: apps rejected for missing privacy descriptions (Apple requires NSCameraUsageDescription, NSMicrophoneUsageDescription, NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription and dozens of others — any missing description for a used capability causes rejection); apps rejected for in-app purchase compliance (any app with subscription features must use Apple's StoreKit, not a third-party payment processor, for in-app subscription purchases — using Stripe for in-app subscriptions violates App Store guidelines); and apps rejected for content moderation requirements (apps with user-generated content require content moderation mechanisms).
Beyond the submission process, production mobile apps require handling the specific reliability requirements of mobile users: graceful degradation when network connectivity drops, correct handling of background app state (the app is suspended when the user switches away — any in-flight work needs to be preserved or cancelled cleanly), and push notification delivery reliability (iOS and Android each have specific requirements for notification categories, actions, and delivery options).
A production mobile app live on the App Store and Google Play — built with React Native and Expo, submitted, approved, and publicly available.
React Native and Expo SDK
Cross-platform codebase with platform-specific implementations where the UX requires them (iOS tab bar behaviour vs Android bottom nav, iOS navigation gestures vs Android back button handling, platform-specific date pickers). Expo SDK for camera, notifications, biometrics, location, and filesystem.
Native authentication
Clerk React Native SDK with social login (Google OAuth, Apple Sign-In — required by App Store guidelines for any social login), email/password, and biometric unlock. Secure token storage in React Native Keychain (iOS Keychain Services, Android Keystore via Expo SecureStore).
Push notifications
Expo Push Notification service with device token registration, notification categories and actions, deep link routing from notification tap to specific in-app screen, and backend push trigger infrastructure. Delivery receipts and retry logic for failed deliveries.
Offline state
React Query with persistence via AsyncStorage for offline read access to previously fetched data. Optimistic updates with rollback for offline write operations. Network state monitoring (NetInfo) to show appropriate offline indicators.
Production build pipeline
EAS Build with development, preview, and production build profiles. Automated build triggers on main branch merge. EAS Update for over-the-air JavaScript updates post-launch.
One honest number to start.
Fixed-scope, fixed-price. The number below is the starting point — final scope is built from your brief.
A production mobile app live on the App Store and Google Play — built with React Native and Expo, submitted, approved, and publicly available.
Three steps, every time.
The same repeatable engagement on every project. No surprises, no mystery, no billable ambiguity.
Brief & discovery.
We send you questions, then get on a call. Output: a written scope with every step, feature, and integration listed.
Build & ship.
Fixed schedule, weekly reviews. No scope creep unless you change the scope — and if you do, we reprice it transparently.
Warranty & retainer.
30-day warranty on every launch. Most clients stay on a monthly retainer for ongoing features and maintenance.
Why Fixed-Price Matters Here
Both store approvals are included in the delivery scope. The project isn't complete until your users can download the app. Fixed scope, fixed price.
Related engagements.
Questions, answered.
Yes — a React Native codebase targets both platforms from the same JavaScript codebase. The build, submission, and deployment to both App Store and Google Play are included in the standard scope. Building for only one platform is an option but rarely makes sense given the shared codebase.
If the app sells digital goods or subscriptions, Apple's StoreKit (via expo-in-app-purchases or react-native-iap) must be used for purchases made inside the app. This is a hard App Store requirement — Stripe cannot be used for in-app subscription purchases within the iOS app. Physical goods and external service purchases (booking a service, paying for a physical delivery) can use Stripe via a webview or the mobile browser. The purchase model is defined in the project scope.
Apple's standard review time is 1–3 business days. Expedited review is available for genuine production issues post-launch. First submissions are often reviewed more slowly and have a higher rate of information requests from the App Store team. Build at least 2 weeks of buffer before your target launch date for the App Store review process.
A production React Native app with native auth, push notifications, core feature set, and both store submissions typically runs $45k–$85k. The specific scope determines the price. Fixed-price.
12 to 18 weeks from specification to both stores live.
Tell Ryel about your project.
Describe what you’re building and what outcome you need. You’ll have a written, fixed-price scope within the week.