App Store - Developing for the App Store (2024)

Over a decade of trust andsuccess.

In 12 years, the AppStore has grown from 500 apps to 1.8million — all reviewed and held to our high standards for privacy, security, and content. All along the way, we’ve provided developers with the cutting‑edge tools and end‑to‑end support they need. So they can keep making the apps that change how people work, play, meet, learn, travel, andlive theirlives.

A rich experience for eachplatform.

Create amazing apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS with our extensive suite of free tools and frameworks. You also get access to each platform’s unique features — like ApplePencil for iPadOS and cameras, sensors, and processing that enable AR experiences — so you can seamlessly integrate your app with the optimal user experience for each device. And with industry-leading security, privacy protections, and technologies built in, you’re freeto focus on yourideas.

Curated collections.
Created by real people.

Our worldwide team of editors tailors the AppStore to the various devices people use to shop for apps. So your app gets in front of the right users, in the right places, at the righttimes.

If you’re a member of the Apple Developer Program and would like to submit your app to be considered as a feature on the AppStore, visit appstore.com/promote.

Tap to Pay on iPhone.
No terminalneeded.

Tap to Pay on iPhone allows the apps you build to accept contactless payments, right on iPhone — without any extra terminals or hardware.¹ Merchants can use your app to accept ApplePay, contactless credit or debit cards, and other digital wallets — whether their customers are paying with a physical card, iPhone, AppleWatch, or an Android device. And TaptoPay oniPhone already works with the payment service providers youuse.

See all payment service providers that offer TaptoPayoniPhone

Automatic access to new
technologies and features.

When Apple releases new technologies and functionality, your apps get access to those features automatically — for example, discoverability in SpotlightSearch, integration with ScreenTime, and new user privacy protections for sensitive features like camera andlocation access.

We make it easy to reach over 1.5billion Appledevices.

The AppStore lets you build an app once and distribute it to 175stores around the world in over 40 languages. You get automatic access to a user base that confidently purchases content through the safe, seamless buying experience of theAppStore.

Over 250,000 APIs for virtuallyany hardware
or software task imaginable.

Our dedicated software development kits (SDKs) and developer services feature over 250,000 APIs, so you can do just about anything with software or hardware. Tools like HealthKit give engineers secure access to health data, HomeKit allows the remote management of devices around the home, and CloudKit unlocks data storage synced acrossdevices.

Accessibility is built into ourframeworks.

Easily build adaptive interfaces and make your apps accessible to everyone. Our standard UIKit and SwiftUI controls make it simple for youto connect your app to accessibility features like VoiceOver, SwitchControl, andAssistiveTouch.

Harness the world’s
largest platform for AR.

Apple offers the world’s largest platform for augmented reality with a range of iPhone and iPad devices that support AR technologies — powerful and accurate cameras, precise sensors, 3D graphics, and technologies like real‑time shading to make scenes come alive. These technologies are available to developers, including the ARKitframework.

Build more intelligent experiences withmachine learning.

Developers can create advanced machine learning applications with free tools optimized for Apple devices. Use CoreML frameworks and CreateML tools to easily train new data sets directly on your computer. CoreML works with the NeuralEngine hardware in most Apple devices — including Mac computers with Applesilicon — to significantly accelerate common machine learningtasks.

Tools for every stage ofdevelopment.

Our easy‑to‑use tools give you what you need to create high‑quality apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. So you can get your apps into the hands of millions of users around the world, and you’ll have the right tools to grow your user base and manage yourbusiness.

Xcode Cloud. Build. Test. Deliver. Together.

Xcode Cloud unifies cloud-based developer tools, so Apple Developers can build apps together, run automated tests in parallel, deliver apps to testers, and manage user feedback. Whether you and your team are across a desk or across the world, now working together is eveneasier.

Get your app ready to launch across Apple devices withTestFlight. Now on Mac.

Use TestFlight to manage your builds and get feedback, screenshots, and crash details from yourtesters.

Learn about getting your app ready to launch with TestFlight

Test how elements of your app product pageperform.

Find out exactly what your audience thinks of your app product page. Test different app icons, videos, and screenshots to see what your audience likesbest.

Customize your app product page for differentaudiences.

Create up to 35 custom product pages to showcase different content and features to different users. You can also drive traffic to each custom app product page with a uniqueURL.

Learn from us. And from eachother.

Apple holds conferences and workshops attended by tens of thousands of developers each year, helping them see their ideas fromconcept through distribution.

Visit forums

Access to cutting‑edge technology.

From the largest platform for augmented reality to advanced machine learning to whatever comes next. Developers use the power of our world‑class technologies to create groundbreakingapps.

Consulting, diagnosing, resolving. We’rehere foryou.

Developers can work directly with Apple as they create their products — whether consulting with an Apple engineer to troubleshoot a bug, working with AppReview to diagnose issues that might affect the user experience, or calling AppleCare to resolve a banking issue. With ever‑improving tools, shorter service times, more transparent policies, and opportunities for one‑on‑one guidance, we help developers from start toship.

Choose a business model that works for you.

Apple offers eight business models to choose from: free, free with advertising, free with physical goods and services, free with in‑app purchases, free with subscription, paid, reader, and cross platform. Apple only collects a commission if you sell a digital good or service through yourapp.

With the AppStore Small Business Program you can keep more. So you can domore.

The AppStore Small Business Program offers developers who have made under 1 million USD in proceeds a reduced commission rate. So small businesses get an extra 15% on all paid apps and in‑apppurchases.

Learn more about AppStore Small Business Program

Verified payments, propertyprotection,
and help with taxes.

Apple verifies user accounts to check that your users are real, helps to see that you get paid, and ensures that your intellectual property is protected. We also assist with tax obligations in over 60regions and support any dispute process to help you protect your trademarks andcopyrights.

Take your app global with Applemachinery.

We work with you to distribute your apps and run a global business with the AppStore. This includes flexible business models, machinery that scales app distribution worldwide, and tools to manageapps.

We can even helpwithmarketing— both on and off theAppStore.

The AppStore has a global marketing team whose sole purpose is to drive discovery and engagement. Campaigns and programs are created to assist, inform, and inspire our users while also helping our developers drive downloads and redownloads of their apps andgames.

Help users discover and rediscover your app with in‑app events.

Showcase timely events in your app by promoting them on the AppStore and making them discoverable to millions of AppStore visitors.