--- title: "iPhone, iPad & Android Apps" canonicalUrl: https://happywebs.co.uk/services/app-development/ serviceSlug: app-development tier: primary --- # iPhone, iPad and Android apps for UK businesses We build native apps for the people doing the work: an iPad by the bench, a till at the counter, a phone in the van. We have built them for a fabricator, a charity shop, an upholstery workshop and our own products. Each app connects to the systems you already run, keeps working when the signal drops and is tested on the real devices before anyone relies on it. ## What is included - **Discovery and app scope** — Who uses it, where, on which devices and what it must connect to. We agree the smallest first version worth building before any design starts. - **Native iPhone and iPad apps** — Swift and SwiftUI, built for the device: large buttons for gloves, split views on iPad, camera, LiDAR, maps and location where the job needs them. - **Android apps** — Native Kotlin and Jetpack Compose for Android phones and tablets, or one cross-platform codebase when that is the better trade-off. - **Offline working and sync** — Work saved on the device and synced when the signal returns, with clear status so staff know what has been sent. - **Connections to your systems** — Sign-in, job data, stock, members or orders from your existing system or a new one we build, through a secure API. - **Staff apps without the App Store** — Private distribution through TestFlight, Apple Business Manager custom apps or an unlisted App Store link, so only your team can install it. - **App Store and Google Play release** — Store listings, screenshots, privacy details and review submission under your own developer accounts. - **App care after launch** — Updates for each new iOS and Android release, fixes, monitoring and new features as the business changes. ## Indicative pricing All Happy Webs prices exclude VAT. A focused staff app on one device type starts from £7,500. A public App Store app with accounts and a backend starts from £15,000. iPhone, iPad and Android with offline working and several integrations starts from £25,000. App care starts from £175 a month. All prices exclude VAT. Apple and Google developer accounts are paid directly by you. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does it cost to build an app in the UK? When we checked UK agency pricing in October 2026, simple business apps were commonly quoted at £10,000 to £25,000 and first public apps at £20,000 to £40,000, with larger apps well above that. Our staff apps start from £7,500, public App Store apps from £15,000 and multi-device field apps from £25,000, all exclusive of VAT and fixed for the agreed first version. ### What apps have you built? A custom iPad membership and till app for The Bridge at Leigh food bank. DryRide, our iPhone app that compares fastest and driest motorcycle routes using Apple MapKit and WeatherKit. A site visit app for Valley Upholstery that uses the iPhone camera and LiDAR, now in testing. A native iPad shopfloor app for Kingsland Fabrications, connected to the production system we built them. And the iPhone, iPad and Android engineer apps for our own DoorOps product. ### Native or cross-platform? For iPhone and iPad we usually build native in Swift, because it gives the best camera, maps, offline and accessibility support and costs about the same for one platform. When you need iPhone and Android on a tighter budget, one cross-platform codebase can make sense. We have built both and will recommend one based on the devices your users actually have. ### Can we have an app just for our staff, not on the App Store? Yes. Apple supports private distribution through Apple Business Manager custom apps and unlisted App Store apps, and TestFlight for testing. Android apps can be shared through a closed Google Play track or managed devices. Only your team can install them, and nothing appears in public search. ### What do Apple and Google charge? When we checked in October 2026, the Apple Developer Program was $99 a year, charged in local currency, and Google Play charged a one-off $25 registration fee. A company account with Apple needs a free D-U-N-S number, which can take a week or two to arrive. Apple waives the fee for eligible non-profits. These accounts are opened in your name and paid directly by you. ### How long does an app take? A focused staff app usually takes four to six weeks. A public App Store app takes around two to three months, plus Apple and Google review time. Multi-device field apps with offline working take three to five months. You see working builds on your own devices throughout. ### Do we own the app? The store listings and developer accounts are in your company name. Ownership of the code and handover are set out in the project agreement, with any third-party services and their running costs listed separately, so you know exactly what you receive. ### What happens after launch? Apple and Google release new operating system versions every year and sometimes change their rules. App care from £175 a month keeps the app building, tested and compliant, with time for fixes and small changes. Larger features are quoted separately. ### Do we need an app, or would a website do? Often a mobile-friendly web app is enough, and it costs less to run. A native app earns its place when it needs the camera, LiDAR, offline working, a till, push notifications or a device that stays on the shop floor all day. We will tell you which before you spend anything.