In short: a mobile app goes through seven steps: scope the idea, define the first version, create the brand identity and design, develop, test, publish on the App Store and Google Play, then evolve the app based on feedback. The first two decide almost everything else, budget included.
How do you build a mobile app?
Building an app means making decisions in the right order. Code only comes in at step four: before that, you need to know who the app is for, what it does in its first version and what it looks like. Skipping these steps costs more than doing them, because every change of mind during development has a price.
- 01
Scope the ideaWho it’s for, what problem it solves, what your future customers use instead today.
- 02
Define the first versionThe flow that creates value, and the list of what can wait.
- 03
Brand identity and designName, logo, colors, then mocked-up, testable screens.
- 04
DevelopmentThe app, the server, the admin panel, delivered in regular increments.
- 05
TestingOn real phones, with real users before launch.
- 06
PublishingApp Store and Google Play listings, Apple and Google review.
- 07
Follow-up and updatesMeasure, fix, add what users ask for.
Step 1: scope the idea before talking tech
Scoping comes down to a few simple questions: who will use the app, when, and what that person does today without it. Brive Food, a fast-food restaurant in Brive-la-Gaillarde, wanted its own ordering app so it would no longer depend on a third-party platform. That starting point shaped the entire project, down to printing tickets in the kitchen (see the case study). Sometimes scoping also shows that a website is enough to start: our article on how much a showcase website costs helps you compare.
Step 2: define a first version you can launch quickly
The first version, often called an MVP, contains the flow that proves the idea works, and nothing more. This is the step that sets the budget: every feature added here ends up in the quote. We explain this in detail in our article on mobile app development cost.
It’s also the time to choose the technology, since the planned features decide between a cross-platform app and two native apps. The criteria are detailed in React Native or native: which to choose.
Step 3: brand identity and screen design
An app is recognized by its icon on the home screen and its first few seconds of use. We start with the brand (name, logo, colors), then design the screens as clickable prototypes. These prototypes can be tested before writing a single line of code, which is the cheapest way to fix a flow. Our visual identity service covers this step when the brand doesn’t exist yet.
Step 4: development, in regular increments
Development covers the app itself, the server that stores the data and the admin panel that lets you manage everything. Working in small increments lets you test the app on your phone as it progresses, rather than discovering the result at the end. Feedback comes early, when it’s still cheap to act on.
Step 5: test on real phones
An app has to be tested on several phone models, several screen sizes and slow connections. Apple provides TestFlight to distribute a test version before release. On Android, Google offers internal, closed and open testing tracks, and requires new personal developer accounts to run a closed test before they can publish.
Step 6: publish on the App Store and Google Play
Before going live, every app goes through a review: Apple and Google check that it follows their rules (App Store Review Guidelines). You also need to prepare the listings: name, subtitle, description, screenshots, privacy policy. These listings weigh in store search results, which is what ASO is all about.
Publishing requires a developer account on each store. Apple’s is a yearly subscription, Google’s requires a one-time registration fee.
Step 7: keep the app alive after launch
Launch opens the most useful phase: the one where real users show you what works. You measure, fix and add the features set aside in step 2. The new versions of iOS and Android released every year also require updates to keep the app compatible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you build a mobile app without knowing how to code?
Yes, in two ways: with a no-code tool for a simple app, or by hiring an agency. No-code tools work for testing an idea, but quickly hit their limits once you need payments, an admin panel or custom integrations.
How long does it take to build an app?
Expect a few weeks for a focused first version and several months for a full platform with payments and an admin panel. Apple and Google review usually adds a few days before going live.
Do you need a developer account to publish your app?
Yes. Apple requires membership in its developer program, paid every year, and Google asks for a one-time registration fee. The app can be published under your own account, so you remain the owner of the listing.
What is an MVP?
It’s the first version of an app, reduced to the flow that proves the idea works. It lets you launch faster and for less, then build what comes next based on feedback from your first users.
Which step should you start with?
Scoping: describing who will use the app and what it needs to do in its first version. Our estimate form asks exactly these questions and serves as the basis for our first conversation.
Who owns the app at the end?
You do. The code, the store accounts and the brand belong to you. We set this up from the start so you can evolve the app with us or with another team.