Mobile App Development

Startup founders, product managers, and business leaders needing native iOS or Android apps that users love and competitors can't match

What You Get

What's Included in Our Mobile App Development

Key deliverable

Flutter Cross-Platform Development

Build beautiful iOS and Android apps from a single codebase using Flutter, our primary framework delivering native ARM performance, 60fps custom UI, and 30-50% cost savings versus dual native development.

  • Flutter development with Dart language compiling to native ARM code for both iOS and Android platforms
  • Beautiful custom UI through Flutter's widget-based architecture with Material Design and Cupertino widgets
  • Hot Reload for instant UI updates during development without losing app state or recompiling for rapid iteration
  • 60fps native performance indistinguishable from Swift or Kotlin apps with smooth animations and instant responses
Key deliverable

Native iOS & Android Development

Build platform-specific apps with Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android when maximum platform integration or specialized performance requirements demand separate codebases.

  • Native development with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) for maximum performance and platform integration
  • Platform-specific UI following Apple Human Interface Guidelines and Material Design principles
  • Full access to device features: Face ID, Touch ID, HealthKit, ARKit, Android Jetpack, camera APIs
  • 60fps animations with Metal (iOS) or Vulkan (Android) graphics optimization for smooth interactions
Key deliverable

Offline-First Architecture

Apps that work reliably without internet through local-first data storage, intelligent sync strategies, and conflict resolution for field workers and travelers.

  • SQLite or Realm local databases with encrypted storage for sensitive data and structured records
  • Background sync automatically reconciling local changes when connectivity returns with queue management
  • Conflict resolution handling multiple devices editing same data with last-write-wins or custom merge strategies
  • Incremental sync transferring only changed data to minimize bandwidth and battery usage
Key deliverable

App Store Launch & Optimization

Navigate App Store and Google Play submission with proven deployment pipelines, store listing optimization, and 95% first-submission approval rate.

  • App Store submission handling provisioning profiles, code signing, build configurations, and compliance requirements
  • App Store Optimization (ASO) with keyword research, compelling descriptions, preview videos, and conversion-optimized screenshots
  • Compliance review ensuring Apple Human Interface Guidelines and Google Material Design adherence plus privacy disclosures
  • Staged rollouts with TestFlight and Google Play Beta for risk-free deployment starting at 1% of users
Key deliverable

Analytics & Performance Monitoring

Deep visibility into app performance, user behavior, and crash patterns through Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, and custom instrumentation.

  • Event tracking with Firebase Analytics or Mixpanel for user journeys, funnel conversion, and feature adoption
  • Crash reporting with Crashlytics or Sentry providing real-time alerts, stack traces, device info, and user impact metrics
  • Performance monitoring tracking app launch time, screen rendering, network latency, and API response times
  • Custom event instrumentation for business-critical actions showing DAU, retention cohorts, and revenue metrics
Key deliverable

CI/CD & Automated Deployment

Ship updates faster with automated pipelines running tests, building apps, and distributing releases without manual intervention.

  • Automated testing with unit tests for business logic, integration tests for APIs, and UI tests for critical flows on real devices
  • GitHub Actions, Bitrise, or CircleCI pipelines testing every code change and catching bugs before production
  • Automated deployment handling version bumping, changelog generation, build signing, and TestFlight/Beta submission
  • Staged rollouts starting at 1% of users with automatic monitoring of crash rates and performance metrics
Our Process

From Discovery to Delivery

A proven approach to strategic planning

Define mobile strategy, technical architecture, and MVP scope aligned with business goals and user needs
01

Discovery & Planning • 1-2 weeks

Define mobile strategy, technical architecture, and MVP scope aligned with business goals and user needs

Deliverable: Technical architecture document, MVP feature prioritization, project timeline with milestones

View Details
Design intuitive mobile interfaces following platform conventions with user flows optimized for touchscreen interactions
02
Build app functionality with native performance, offline sync, and platform integrations using agile sprints
03
Comprehensive testing across devices, OS versions, network conditions, and edge cases ensuring production readiness
04
Navigate app store submission, optimize store listings, and deploy with staged rollout for risk-free launch
05
Monitor performance, gather user feedback, iterate on features, and maintain compatibility with platform updates
06

Why Trust StepInsight for Mobile App Development

Experience

  • 10+ years building Flutter cross-platform and native iOS/Android apps delivering 60fps performance and offline-first reliability across 18 industries
  • 200+ successful mobile app launches with 95% first-submission App Store approval rate and 4.5+ star average ratings
  • Expertise across consumer Flutter apps (1M+ downloads), enterprise field solutions (1,000+ daily users), and SaaS mobile expansions (web-to-mobile migrations)
  • Partnered with companies from pre-seed concept through Series B scale, launching Flutter MVPs and growing to millions of mobile users
  • Global delivery experience across US, Australia, Europe with offices in Sydney, Austin, and Brussels

Expertise

  • Native mobile development with Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android) for maximum performance and platform integration
  • Cross-platform expertise in Flutter (our preferred framework) and React Native enabling 30-50% faster development with native-quality results
  • Offline-first architecture with SQLite/Realm databases, background sync, conflict resolution, and network resilience
  • App Store optimization and submission expertise navigating Apple and Google policies with 95% first-approval success rate

Authority

  • Featured in industry publications for Flutter development best practices and offline-first architecture expertise
  • Guest speakers at mobile development and startup conferences across 3 continents
  • Strategic advisors to accelerators and venture capital firms on portfolio company mobile strategy and execution
  • Clutch-verified with 4.9/5 rating across 50+ client reviews
  • Active contributors to Flutter and Dart open-source communities with published packages and tools

Ready to start your project?

Let's talk custom software and build something remarkable together.

Investment

Investment & Pricing for Mobile App Development

Fixed-price engagements with clear deliverables and no surprise fees

Most Popular

Mobile MVP

$25,000 - $75,000
Best for: Pre-seed & MVP

For startups launching first mobile app with validated idea needing MVP in 8-12 weeks for investor demos or pilot customers.

8-12 Week Sprint
Cross-Platform
App Store Ready
Get Started

Full-Featured App

$75,000 - $150,000
Best for: Scaling SaaS

For growing businesses needing comprehensive mobile app with advanced features, offline-first architecture, and production-grade quality.

Full Product Team
Advanced Features
Offline-First
Scale Now

Enterprise Mobile Solution

$150,000 - $300,000+
Best for: Enterprise

For enterprise organizations needing complex mobile solutions with advanced security, compliance (HIPAA, SOC 2), and scalability requirements.

Enterprise Security
Advanced Analytics
Dedicated Team
Contact Us

Custom Mobile App Development vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions

See how our approach transforms outcomes

Details:

8-12 weeks for MVP launch with production-ready quality. Cross-platform development reduces timeline 30-50% vs dual native. 95% first-submission App Store approval rate based on 200+ launches. Weekly milestone delivery keeps project momentum and stakeholder visibility throughout development.

Details:

DIY mobile development with inexperienced teams takes 12-18+ months for first launch as teams learn iOS/Android platforms, debug platform-specific issues, and iterate through App Store rejections (average 2-3 rejections for first-time developers). Many projects never launch—40% of internal mobile projects are abandoned mid-development.

Details:

$25k-$75k for MVPs, $75k-$150k for full-featured apps, $150k-$300k for complex enterprise solutions. Cross-platform approach saves 30-50% vs dual native while maintaining quality. Fixed timeline with clear milestones reduces budget uncertainty. No recruiting, onboarding, or overhead costs.

Details:

$150k-$300k+ for internal development factoring fully-loaded costs of mobile engineers ($120k-$180k salaries), 12-18 month timelines, failed experiments, and opportunity cost of not launching sooner. Building dual native (separate iOS/Android) costs 60-80% more than cross-platform but internal teams rarely have expertise in both.

Details:

Production-ready quality with 60fps performance, <2-second load times, <0.5% crash rates, and security best practices (encrypted storage, certificate pinning, biometric auth). Performance profiling, automated testing, and security audits ensure apps meet enterprise standards. Apps rated 4.5+ stars average.

Details:

Inconsistent quality from inexperienced teams results in poor performance (laggy animations, slow loading), frequent crashes (4-8% crash rates common), battery drain from inefficient code, and security vulnerabilities from unfamiliarity with mobile-specific attack vectors (insecure data storage, weak encryption).

Details:

Senior teams with 10+ years mobile expertise across native iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter. Deep knowledge of platform conventions (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design), App Store policies preventing rejections, performance optimization techniques, and offline-first architectures. We've solved problems your team hasn't encountered yet.

Details:

Learning iOS and Android platforms takes 6-12 months per platform—Swift/Kotlin languages, Xcode/Android Studio tooling, platform-specific UI patterns, App Store policies, provisioning and code signing complexities. Teams make expensive mistakes navigating first mobile project: poor architecture, inefficient API usage, battery-draining background tasks.

Details:

95% first-submission approval rate based on 200+ successful launches. We know App Store guidelines intimately and address common rejection reasons proactively. App Store Optimization (ASO) includes keyword research, compelling store listings, and optimized screenshots driving organic discovery and conversion. Most apps achieve top 10 rankings in niche categories.

Details:

First-time developers face 40-60% rejection rates on initial App Store submissions due to guideline violations, missing privacy disclosures, UI inconsistencies, or broken functionality. Each rejection adds 1-2 weeks to timeline. Google Play has fewer rejections but poor-quality apps get buried in search with no organic discovery.

Details:

Offline-first architecture with local SQLite/Realm databases, intelligent background sync, conflict resolution, and graceful degradation during connectivity loss. Users can complete workflows offline with automatic sync when connected. Clear UI indicators show sync status. Essential for field operations, travel, and mobile-first markets with unreliable connectivity.

Details:

Most internal teams build cloud-dependent apps requiring constant connectivity, frustrating users in poor network conditions. Apps show error messages, lose user input during connectivity loss, and provide no offline functionality. 60% of users abandon apps that don't handle offline scenarios gracefully.

Details:

Comprehensive analytics with Firebase or Mixpanel showing DAU, retention, feature adoption, and conversion funnels. Custom event tracking for business-critical actions. Crashlytics provides real-time crash alerts with full stack traces, device info, and user impact metrics. Remote configuration enables A/B testing and feature flags without app updates. Data-driven product decisions.

Details:

Basic analytics showing downloads and crashes but no visibility into user behavior, feature adoption, conversion funnels, or retention cohorts. Teams guess which features to prioritize based on opinions rather than data. No crash context (device info, user actions) making bug diagnosis time-consuming.

Details:

Automated CI/CD pipelines run tests and deploy updates within hours instead of days. Staged rollouts reduce risk of bad releases. Over-the-air updates via CodePush fix JavaScript bugs without App Store delays. Ongoing support includes OS compatibility updates, dependency maintenance, and performance monitoring. 70% of clients continue with us for feature development post-launch.

Details:

Internal teams spend 40-60% of time on maintenance vs new features: fixing bugs, updating dependencies, ensuring compatibility with new iOS/Android versions (released annually), and responding to App Store policy changes. No CI/CD means manual testing and deployment consuming days per release. Technical debt accumulates making future changes riskier.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile App Development

Work with an agency when mobile is strategically important but you don't have an in-house team or can't wait 6 to 12 months to hire one. Typical triggers include your first mobile product, a major redesign, expansion from web to mobile, or tight deadlines for an MVP. Agencies let you launch quickly while you validate long-term mobile needs.

Costs vary with scope, platforms, and complexity. A lean MVP for one or two core flows is usually similar to a few months of senior engineering, while complex, integrated apps with offline use, custom UI, and compliance requirements cost more. We frame budgets around clear outcomes so you can map investment to expected engagement or revenue.

You receive production-ready apps for iOS and Android, full source code in your repositories, and all design assets. We also provide API documentation, environment and build instructions, release pipelines where relevant, and basic monitoring or analytics setup. The goal is that your team can understand, operate, and extend the app without relying on hidden knowledge.

A focused MVP with a small set of flows can often be designed, built, and shipped in 8 to 12 weeks. More complex apps, especially those with multiple user types, heavy integrations, or offline requirements, typically take several months. We plan work in phases so you can launch early slices and iterate as you learn from real users.

We emphasise long-term maintainability and measurable impact, not just getting an app into the stores. That means opinionated architectures, clear documentation, and realistic scoping, plus a focus on performance, offline behaviour, and analytics from day one. Our team also works closely with your product and backend teams instead of operating as a disconnected vendor.

For most products, a modern cross-platform framework like Flutter offers excellent performance and a shared codebase for iOS and Android, reducing cost and complexity. Pure native development is best when you need platform-specific features at the edge, very low-level performance, or deep integration with device features. We help you choose based on your roadmap.

Yes, if they're designed that way. Offline-first apps cache data locally, queue actions until connectivity returns, and carefully handle conflicts. We decide together which features must work offline, what data can be stored on device, and how to sync safely. Even partially offline support can dramatically improve reliability for field teams and travellers.

We prepare store listings, screenshots, privacy details, and builds, then guide or manage submission under your accounts. Our process follows Apple and Google guidelines to minimise rejection risk, and we respond to review feedback when it appears. After launch, we help you plan staged rollouts, handle hotfixes, and keep metadata up to date.

Yes. We start with a code and architecture review to understand your current app, dependencies, and risks. From there we can modernise frameworks, address bugs or performance issues, add new features, and set up CI/CD and monitoring. Where appropriate, we recommend incremental refactors instead of risky full rewrites.

We primarily use Flutter for new cross-platform builds, and we also work with native Swift/Kotlin or React Native where it makes sense. On the backend we integrate with your existing stack, whether that's Node, .NET, Java, or serverless, and we rely on modern tooling for CI/CD, crash reporting, analytics, and feature flagging.

We follow platform security best practices: secure storage for sensitive data, proper authentication and token handling, TLS for all network calls, and careful handling of logs and analytics. We avoid hard-coding secrets, respect least privilege for APIs, and design backend checks so that trust does not rely solely on the client application.

We design and implement responsive layouts that adapt to common breakpoints, densities, and orientations, and we test on a representative device matrix. Components are built to scale, not hard-coded to a single screen size. We also consider platform conventions so the app feels at home on both iOS and Android while staying consistent with your brand.

After launch, we monitor performance, crashes, and key product metrics, then prioritise fixes and improvements based on real usage. Many clients continue with a light maintenance and feature cadence, while others transition to internal teams. We ensure you have the documentation, access, and processes needed to keep the app healthy over time.

Yes. We connect mobile apps to your existing APIs, authentication, and data stores, or help you design new endpoints when needed. Integrations can cover CRMs, ERPs, analytics, payment gateways, or custom services. We pay close attention to performance, security, and error handling so that mobile users have a smooth experience even when backends misbehave.

What our customers think

Our clients trust us because we treat their products like our own. We focus on their business goals, building solutions that truly meet their needs — not just delivering features.

Lachlan Vidler
We were impressed with their deep thinking and ability to take ideas from people with non-software backgrounds and convert them into deliverable software products.
Jun 2025
Lucas Cox
Lucas Cox
I'm most impressed with StepInsight's passion, commitment, and flexibility.
Sept 2024
Dan Novick
Dan Novick
StepInsight work details and personal approach stood out.
Feb 2024
Audrey Bailly
Trust them; they know what they're doing and want the best outcome for their clients.
Jan 2023

Ready to start your project?

Let's talk custom software and build something remarkable together.