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Native App Development Company: Native iOS & Android App Development Services

Updated September 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team

Progression Agency provides native app development: iPhone and iPad apps in Swift and SwiftUI and Android apps in Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, for products that need the best performance, the deepest hardware access and first-day support for new platform features.

On this page · 12 sections
  1. What is native app development?
  2. Native apps we build
  3. Key features and components
  4. Common integrations
  5. Native vs cross-platform vs web
  6. Our native app development process
  7. How much does native app development cost?
  8. Technology we typically use
  9. Mistakes to avoid
  10. Why choose Progression Agency for native app development?
  11. Related services
  12. Video: building software

The short answerNative app development is building a separate app for each platform using that platform’s own language and tools — Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android. It delivers the best performance, platform look and feel and hardware access, at a higher cost than one cross-platform codebase. A native app for one platform commonly costs $50,000-$130,000; both platforms roughly double that.

Cost ranges are US planning figures, not quotes.

Native app development searches
Native development is chosen when platform capability is the product.

What is native app development?

Native app development is building an app specifically for one operating system with that platform’s official language, SDKs and design guidelines.

The alternative is cross-platform development (React Native, Flutter) or a web-based approach. We recommend native only when it pays for itself.

iOS — Native iOS. Swift and SwiftUI..
Android — Native Android. Kotlin and Compose..
AR — AR and 3D. ARKit, ARCore..
HW — Hardware apps. Bluetooth, sensors..
Media — Media apps. Camera and audio..
Watch — Wearables. watchOS, Wear OS..

Native apps we build

Projects we are most often asked to build.

Native iOS apps

See iOS app development.

Native Android apps

See Android app development.

AR and 3D apps

ARKit and ARCore experiences.

Bluetooth and IoT apps

Device pairing and control; see IoT app development.

Camera, audio and media apps

High-performance capture and processing.

Wearable apps

watchOS and Wear OS.

The alternative is cross-platform development (React Native, Flutter) or a web-based approach.

Key features and components

What separates a useful build from a costly one.

Native app development: key components
FeatureWhy it matters
Platform UI conventionsFeels right to users
Full hardware accessCamera, sensors, Bluetooth
Best performanceSmooth graphics
Offline capabilityLocal data
New OS features on day oneWidgets, Live Activities
Accessibility APIsVoiceOver and TalkBack
Background processingLocation, audio, sync
Store complianceFewer review issues

Common integrations

Where the value usually comes from.

Common integrations
SystemWhat we connect
Apple frameworksHealthKit, Apple Pay, ARKit
Android JetpackRoom, WorkManager, CameraX
Backend APIsYour services
PushAPNs and FCM
AnalyticsCrash and product analytics
PaymentsIn-app purchase

Native vs cross-platform vs web

How the options compare.

  • Native: best performance and hardware access; two codebases.
  • Cross-platform: one codebase, near-native for most apps.
  • Progressive web app: no store, narrower device access.
  • Hybrid (web view): cheapest, least app-like.
How we deliver native app development
Planning platform order matters: many products launch native on one platform first.

Our native app development process

We decide platform order, design to Apple’s and Google’s guidelines, build in Swift and Kotlin in sprints, test across devices and OS versions, release to both stores and maintain through annual OS updates.

How much does native app development cost?

As a planning range, a native app for one platform commonly costs $50,000-$130,000; native iOS and Android together $100,000-$250,000.

Native app development cost ranges (planning figures)
ScopeTypical rangeTimeline
Native iOS or Android (one platform)$50,000-$130,0003-5 months
Native iOS + Android$100,000-$250,0004-7 months
Native AR / hardware app$120,000+5-8 months

Technology we typically use

Mainstream, maintainable choices.

Technology we typically use
LayerChoice
iOSSwift, SwiftUI, Xcode
AndroidKotlin, Jetpack Compose, Android Studio
BackendNode.js or Python
DataPostgreSQL, on-device storage
CIAutomated builds and tests
DistributionTestFlight, Play testing tracks

Mistakes to avoid

Common causes of overruns and low adoption.

  • Going native when cross-platform would do.
  • Building both platforms before validating one.
  • Divergent features between platforms.
  • Skipping older-device testing.
  • Ignoring annual OS updates.
  • No shared backend contract.
Performance — Native. Smooth UX..
Hardware — Native. Full access..
Day-one features — Native. New OS capabilities..
Accessibility — Native. Platform APIs..
Platform order — Native. Validate first..
Maintenance — Native. OS updates..

Why choose Progression Agency for native app development?

Engineering, design and go-to-market in one team.

  • Honest native-versus-cross-platform advice.
  • Swift and Kotlin specialists.
  • Launch marketing and ASO.
  • You own the code, data and accounts.
  • Headquartered in New York City, working nationwide.

See iOS, Android and cross-platform app development.

Ready to scope it?

Tell us the users, workflow and systems involved. We will propose a first release and planning estimate.

Get a proposal

Video: building software

Explainers on the practices and frameworks we use.

Getting found in search

AI, AEO and what is changing

Paid media and lead generation

Websites and design

Choosing and working with an agency

Software and app development

Social, content and brand

By industry and by situation

Frequently asked questions

What is native app development?
Building an app for one operating system using its official language and tools.
What is the difference between native and cross-platform apps?
Native uses separate codebases per platform; cross-platform shares one.
How much does native app development cost?
As a planning range, $50,000-$130,000 per platform.
How long does native app development take?
Commonly 3-5 months per platform.
Is native better than cross-platform?
For performance and hardware-heavy apps yes; for most business apps cross-platform is better value.
What is a native vs web app?
A native app installs from a store and runs on the device; a web app runs in the browser.
What is a native vs hybrid app?
Hybrid apps wrap web code in a native shell; native apps use platform code.
What languages are used for native apps?
Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android.
Do native apps perform better?
Generally yes, especially for graphics and hardware.
Can we start native on one platform?
Yes, and add the second later.
Do native apps work offline?
Yes.
Can native apps use AR?
Yes, with ARKit and ARCore.
How much maintenance do native apps need?
Two codebases to update each year; commonly 15-20% of build per platform.
What should I look for in a native app developer?
Platform specialists and shipped apps.
Can you convert a native app to cross-platform?
Yes, incrementally.
Do you build watch apps?
Yes.
Is SwiftUI production ready?
Yes, for most new apps.
Is Jetpack Compose production ready?
Yes, it is Google’s recommended toolkit.
Who owns the app?
You do.
Where is Progression Agency located?
New York City, serving clients nationwide.

Sources and further reading

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  6. Google: Article structured data
  7. Google: Product structured data
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  11. Google: sitemaps overview
  12. Google: consolidate duplicate URLs
  13. Google: redirects and Search
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  15. Google: multi-regional and multilingual sites
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  205. STIM (Sweden)
  206. Teosto (Finland)
  207. Koda (Denmark)
  208. TONO (Norway)
  209. IMRO (Ireland)
  210. SGAE (Spain)
  211. ZAiKS (Poland)
  212. KOMCA (South Korea)
  213. MCSC (China)
  214. CISAC
  215. World Intellectual Property Organization
  216. TikTok: creating videos
  217. TikTok: exploring videos
  218. TikTok: privacy settings
  219. TikTok: growing your audience
  220. TikTok Creator Academy
  221. TikTok Effect House
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  223. Instagram: Reels help
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  232. Apple HIG
  233. Material Design 3
  234. Swift
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Planning an app?We design, build, launch and maintain iOS, Android and web apps, with a written scope before any code.

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