Should I build a React Native app or a native iOS and Android app?

React Native suits most London businesses launching on both iOS and Android simultaneously with a shared codebase, cutting build time and cost by thirty to fifty per cent. Native Swift or Kotlin development suits apps requiring deep platform integration, high-performance graphics or hardware access such as camera, AR, or NFC. Softomate runs a technology selection workshop during discovery to recommend the right approach based on your user requirements, timeline and maintenance model. Most B2B tools, booking apps and customer portals launch successfully on React Native. Consumer apps with high animation or sensor demands often benefit from native builds.

Can Softomate build a mobile app that connects to our existing backend?

Yes. Softomate builds React Native, Swift and Kotlin apps that connect to existing REST APIs, GraphQL endpoints and Firebase backends through OAuth 2.0-authenticated requests. Field mappings, error handling, offline sync and token refresh flows are designed in architecture before build starts. Integration testing covers API responses, edge cases and data-consistency rules before TestFlight or Play Store beta release. Webhook events, push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging and deep-link flows extend the integration. Most clients achieve a working integrated build within the first three to four sprint cycles.

Does Softomate handle App Store and Google Play submission?

Yes. Softomate manages App Store (Apple) and Google Play Store submission as part of every mobile app delivery scope. Xcode archive, provisioning profiles, App Store Connect metadata and screenshot production are handled by the delivery team. Google Play Console setup, APK signing, content rating classification and store listing are also included. App Store review can take two to seven working days for initial submissions. TestFlight is used for beta testing before submission to ensure review passes on the first attempt. Post-launch monitoring covers crash reporting and user feedback triage.

Does mobile app development comply with UK GDPR?

Yes. UK GDPR compliance is specified in mobile app architecture before build starts. Consent capture, data minimisation, purpose limitation and retention schedules are built into delivery. AES-256 encryption protects data at rest on device and in transit to backend APIs. OAuth 2.0 scoped tokens prevent unauthorised access to personal data in REST API calls. Push notification consent flows comply with PECR requirements. Subject access request and data deletion workflows are mapped during discovery for regulated apps. ICO breach notification hooks are included for apps handling sensitive personal data in financial services, healthcare or property sectors.

Can Softomate add AI features to our mobile app?

Yes. Softomate adds specific AI capabilities to mobile apps, not vague intelligence claims. On-device machine learning models classify images, detect objects or predict user intent using Core ML (iOS) or ML Kit (Android). Natural language processing models categorise user inputs and route queries to the right content or workflow. Recommendation engines personalise content feeds based on usage patterns and stored preferences. Firebase Remote Config controls AI feature flags without app store updates. Softomate clients have used ML classification to reduce manual categorisation time by over sixty per cent within the first month after launch. Explore our AI process automation services for server-side AI that extends your mobile app capabilities.

Mobile App Development London

London mobile app development for iOS and Android, using React Native, Flutter, Swift and Kotlin. Softomate submits to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with UK GDPR-compliant architecture by default.

Fixed price from £20,000. Most projects are live in 10-18 weeks, with TestFlight beta and App Store submission included. A UK-based team, with recent builds for London property, fintech, healthtech and hospitality clients.

Fixed price from £20,000
Live in 10-18 weeks for most projects
App Store submission included

Call to Discuss Your Project

07442 569900

WhatsApp Us

+44 7442 569900

Benefits and fit

What should your mobile app development partner handle?

Launch on iOS and Android with the integrations, compliance and store submission already planned.

Faster iOS and Android launch

React Native cross-platform development launches on iOS and Android simultaneously from a shared codebase, cutting build time and cost by thirty to fifty per cent compared to two separate native builds.

Push notifications and connected systems

Firebase Cloud Messaging delivers targeted push notifications, in-app alerts and silent background updates across iOS and Android, keeping users engaged without manual communication overhead. REST API and GraphQL integrations connect mobile apps to Salesforce, HubSpot, AWS backends and legacy platforms through OAuth 2.0-authenticated requests, eliminating manual data re-entry for field teams.

UK GDPR compliance built in

Consent capture, data minimisation, AES-256 on-device encryption and OAuth 2.0 API authentication are specified in architecture before build, preventing compliance rework after App Store submission.

Store submission and beta testing included

Xcode archive, App Store Connect metadata, provisioning profiles and Google Play Console submission are handled by the delivery team, so clients avoid store rejection delays before go-live. TestFlight distribution, crash reporting via Firebase Crashlytics and structured UAT sessions catch usability issues and performance regressions before the app reaches App Store or Play Store review.

Before you commit

Is a custom mobile app the right starting point?

A good fit

London businesses replacing paper-based field operations, launching customer-facing booking tools or building B2B portals gain the most value from a dedicated mobile delivery partner.

A smaller change may be enough

A narrow add-on feature may not need a full agency build: freelancers work for narrow add-on features but carry continuity risk for full builds.

What we deliver

Which mobile app services can you choose from?

Five services cover cross-platform and native builds, backend integration and life after launch. Expand a service to see what you receive; your written proposal confirms the scope.

React Native cross-platform app development

Product teams get iOS and Android apps from a shared React Native codebase, reducing build time and post-launch maintenance cost.

Firebase integration handles authentication, real-time data, push notifications and crash reporting.

REST API and GraphQL connections link the app to AWS backends, Salesforce or bespoke platform APIs through OAuth 2.0-authenticated requests.

Native iOS app development with Swift

iOS-first teams get native Swift apps built in Xcode with SwiftUI or UIKit interfaces, Core ML on-device intelligence and Apple-specific features including Face ID, HealthKit and NFC.

App Store Connect submission, TestFlight beta distribution and provisioning profile management are included in every delivery scope for London iOS projects.

Native Android app development with Kotlin

Android-first teams get native Kotlin apps built in Android Studio with Jetpack Compose or XML layouts, ML Kit on-device intelligence and Android-specific features including NFC, background services and deep system integrations.

Google Play Console submission, APK signing and store listing metadata are managed by the delivery team for every London Android project.

Firebase, REST API and backend integration

Operations teams get mobile apps connected to Firebase Realtime Database, Firestore, Cloud Functions and external REST APIs in one delivery scope.

OAuth 2.0 token management, offline sync and push notification consent flows are built to UK GDPR standards.

Integration testing covers API responses, token refresh cycles and data-consistency rules before TestFlight beta release.

App Store optimisation and post-launch support

Post-launch teams get App Store Optimisation, Firebase Crashlytics crash monitoring and a structured iteration backlog after go-live.

Keyword research, screenshot A/B testing and review management improve App Store and Google Play visibility over time.

A monthly sprint retainer covers feature releases, platform OS updates and performance improvements without disrupting live users.

Technical choices

Which technical choices shape your app?

Three groups of technical decisions determine how the app behaves on a device, how users are reached and how safely it is released.

Build and device features

The React Native and Expo framework uses shared component libraries, TypeScript type safety and the Expo managed workflow to deliver consistent iOS and Android experiences from a single codebase. Core ML and ML Kit integration lets on-device machine learning models classify images, detect objects and predict user intent without server round-trips.

Messaging and secure access

Firebase Cloud Messaging sends targeted push notifications, silent background updates and in-app messaging to users on iOS and Android. OAuth 2.0 and biometric authentication use scoped tokens, Face ID, Touch ID and Android biometric APIs to protect user sessions and API calls to backend platforms and REST endpoints.

Offline use and release monitoring

Offline sync and local storage with SQLite, AsyncStorage and Firebase offline persistence keep field apps functional without a network connection and sync data when connectivity returns. TestFlight beta distribution and Firebase Crashlytics crash reporting identify performance and stability issues before App Store and Play Store release.

Our process

How does a mobile app go from idea to the stores?

Softomate maps user journeys, designs app architecture, builds in Agile sprints and submits to the App Store and Google Play with TestFlight beta testing. Product owners, iOS and Android users, IT contacts and compliance owners stay involved throughout, so technical decisions match device, security and regulatory needs.

Discover
Map user journeys and platform needs
Library photography, not client work.
User journeys, platform requirements and compliance constraints are mapped in discovery workshops with product owners, field users and IT contacts.
What you receiveA user story map, a platform technology recommendation (React Native, Swift or Kotlin), a Firebase or REST API integration inventory and a prioritised feature backlog before scope is fixed.
How we do this
Softomate runs a technology selection workshop during discovery to recommend the right approach based on your user requirements, timeline and maintenance model.
Discovery and architecture take two to three weeks.
Plan
Agree scope, milestones and data rules
Library photography, not client work.
Delivery scope, sprint milestones and UK GDPR data rules are agreed with product owners, data contacts and compliance leads during planning.
What you receiveA fixed-price delivery plan, acceptance criteria, Firebase and REST API integration specifications and an App Store submission checklist before build begins.
How we do this
Pricing is fixed after a discovery workshop, so scope, platform choice and delivery milestones are agreed before any build work starts.
Design
Design screens, flows and permissions
Library photography, not client work.
Screen flows, navigation architecture, data models and OAuth 2.0 permission designs are created with UX leads, engineers and product owners.
What you receiveFigma wireframes, API contract specifications, Firebase configuration plans and a push notification consent flow before the first sprint starts.
How we do this
Push notification consent flows comply with PECR requirements.
Build and Test
Build in two-week sprints with TestFlight
Library photography, not client work.
App screens, integrations and notification flows are built in two-week Scrum sprints with TestFlight beta distributions and sprint review sessions for product owners.
What you receiveTested React Native, Swift or Kotlin builds, connected Firebase and REST API integrations and Crashlytics monitoring before App Store submission.
How we do this
In a London property app case study, a working app was in TestFlight after sprint 3 and on-device user testing started at week 6.
Submit and Launch
Submit, launch and hand over
Library photography, not client work.
App Store and Google Play submissions, UAT sign-off and post-launch crash monitoring happen with product owners and compliance reviewers after final sprint completion.
What you receiveLive apps on both stores, handover documentation, runbooks and a prioritised iteration backlog for feature releases.
How we do this
App Store review can take two to seven working days for initial submissions.
In the same case study, App Store submission was at week 13.

Relevant results

What have similar mobile builds delivered?

Four projects from Softomate's mobile app work. Client names are anonymised per NDA.

London property group

Field data entry cut by 85 per cent

A London property management group reduced field data entry by eighty-five per cent within eight weeks after a React Native inspection app launched. Data entry time per property visit fell from twenty-two minutes to under three minutes. Offline SQLite storage, camera capture and REST API sync to Salesforce drove the improvement across forty field staff on iOS and Android devices.

London clinic network

Missed appointments down 43 per cent

A London clinic network reduced missed appointments by forty-three per cent within ten weeks after a React Native booking app with Firebase push notification reminders launched on iOS and Android. Patients received automated booking confirmations, twenty-four-hour reminders and rescheduling links. UK GDPR consent capture and data minimisation were delivered in the same scope as the booking flows.

London FinTech firm

An FCA-aligned iOS portal live in thirteen weeks

A London FinTech firm launched an FCA-aligned iOS portal app in thirteen weeks from discovery. Swift with SwiftUI delivered the interface. OAuth 2.0 role-based access, AES-256 document encryption and REST API connections to a Python backend were delivered in the same scope. App Store Connect submission and TestFlight beta passed review on the first attempt.

London retail operations team

ML Kit barcode scanning cut stock time by 70 per cent

A London retail operations team reduced manual stock entry time by seventy per cent within six weeks after a Kotlin Android app with ML Kit barcode scanning launched. Scans fed directly into an inventory REST API and Salesforce order records without manual re-entry. Firebase Crashlytics monitoring detected and resolved two edge-case crashes within the first week of live deployment.

85 per centless field data entry within eight weeks, London property group

43 per centfewer missed appointments within ten weeks, London clinic network

Thirteen weeksfrom discovery to a live iOS portal app

70 per centless manual stock entry time within six weeks, London retail team

Case study outcomes from real Softomate mobile app builds. Client names anonymised per NDA.

Delivery timeline

How long does a mobile app take to build?

Most mobile app projects for London businesses take ten to eighteen weeks from discovery to App Store and Google Play submission. Softomate uses Agile Scrum with two-week sprints so working builds are available for user testing throughout.

Focused React Native app

10-12 weeks

A single primary feature with REST API integration and push notifications. This is the MVP / starter tier.

Cross-platform with Firebase and AWS

14-16 weeks

Firebase, OAuth 2.0, deep-link flows and an AWS backend. This is the mid-complexity tier.

Native or complex build

16-22 weeks

Native Swift and Kotlin builds, AR/ML/sensor-heavy apps, multi-region rollout, or regulated finance and healthcare.

Discovery and architecture take two to three weeks, and TestFlight beta testing and App Store review add one to two weeks. Planning information, not a delivery guarantee. A discovery workshop gives a precise delivery schedule.

Pricing and running costs

How much does mobile app development cost in London?

Mobile application starts from £20,000 for implementation: a focused app first release with explicit platform, backend and feature boundaries. Monthly care starts from £299/month. Prices exclude VAT, and pricing is fixed after a discovery workshop.

Starting prices excluding VAT

MVP / starter app£20,000 - £35,000

React Native, single primary feature, REST API and Firebase, App Store and Play Store submission. Live in 10-12 weeks.

Mid-complexity (most common)£40,000 - £75,000

React Native or Flutter, 4-8 features, OAuth 2.0, payment integration, push notifications, offline sync, AWS backend. Live in 14-16 weeks.

Native or complex£80,000 - £180,000+

Native Swift and Kotlin builds, AR/ML/sensor-heavy apps, multi-region rollout, or regulated finance and healthcare. Live in 16-22 weeks.

Optional monthly careFrom £299/month

Care is optional after client-managed handover; additional development is quoted separately.

What is included and what is quoted separately

Included in every build: All builds include 90-day post-launch hyper-care, App Store and Play Store submission, TestFlight beta cycle, UK GDPR-compliant DPA, AWS UK hosting and source-code transfer at sign-off.
Care, licences and usage: Care forms part of the fee while we manage your chosen service. We agree the monitoring, maintenance and technical assistance covered by your plan. Additional features and larger changes are quoted separately. Your proposal identifies any required software licences and usage charges. We reuse suitable existing subscriptions and charge shared platform access once for the agreed account.

Any starting prices exclude VAT. Required licences and usage are confirmed separately before you commit.

Discuss your requirements →

Why Softomate and aftercare

Why choose Softomate for mobile app development?

One team across cross-platform and native builds, store submission and the AI layer, at a fixed price.

Software development work shown on the Softomate homepage

Platform expertise, with AI in the same project

Softomate builds cross-platform React Native, native Swift iOS and native Kotlin Android apps, matching the platform to your users, timeline and long-term maintenance model.

React Native apps run natively on iOS and Android from a single codebase. London fintech case study: app deployed on both stores in 14 weeks at £32,000 - vs £60,000+ for separate native builds.

Firebase authentication, Firestore, Cloud Functions and REST API connections link apps to AWS backends, Salesforce and bespoke platforms through OAuth 2.0 requests.

Softomate adds AI personalisation, AI chatbot, voice agent and computer vision to mobile apps in the same project. No second agency for the AI layer.

A fixed price, with store submission managed

Fixed price from £20,000 - no day-rate uncertainty. Scope, deliverables and timeline are agreed before build starts. App Store submission, TestFlight beta and final deployment are included in the fixed price. No additional charges for store approval rounds.

Softomate quotes fixed project prices after a discovery workshop, so scope, platform choice and delivery milestones are agreed before any build work starts.

App Store Connect metadata, provisioning profiles, Google Play Console setup and store listing production are handled by the delivery team, preventing rejection delays.

Working builds every two weeks, compliance by default

Agile sprints deliver working app builds every 2 weeks. London property app case study: working app in TestFlight after sprint 3, on-device user testing started at week 6, App Store submission at week 13.

TestFlight beta distribution and Firebase Crashlytics crash reporting identify issues before App Store review, reducing post-launch crash rates and negative reviews.

AWS UK region by default. App Store privacy manifest, UK App Privacy Disclosure and GDPR consent flows are configured before submission. No bolt-on compliance charge. Consent capture, data minimisation, AES-256 on-device encryption and OAuth 2.0 API authentication are specified in architecture before the first sprint starts.

FAQs

Questions before you commission a mobile app

Further guidance

Explore the mobile app details

More answers on technology choice, hiring routes, use cases and related services. Open the areas relevant to your app.

Common questions about mobile app development in London

Do you build Flutter apps in London?

Yes. Softomate builds Flutter apps for London businesses needing a single codebase that compiles natively to iOS, Android, web and desktop. Flutter suits businesses that need consistent UI across platforms with high performance. Dart development, Firebase integration, REST API connections and App Store submission are all included in our Flutter delivery scope. Most Flutter projects run ten to sixteen weeks from discovery to store submission.

Can you add AI features to our mobile app?

Yes. Softomate integrates AI capabilities into mobile apps including on-device ML models for image classification, natural language processing for query routing, recommendation engines for content personalisation and voice AI using our VAPI integration expertise. AI features are built with Core ML on iOS and ML Kit on Android. We also connect mobile apps to server-side AI systems including custom chatbots and voice agents.

London agency, in-house team, offshore or freelancer: when each wins

Most London businesses considering mobile app development have four routes: London-based agency (£20k-£180k fixed price), in-house mobile team (£280k-£600k/year for 2-3 senior engineers), offshore agency (£8k-£40k typical, 4-6 hour timezone gap), or freelancer (£8k-£35k, single point of failure). Honest comparison:

London agency, in-house, offshore or freelancer: mobile app comparison
Factor	London agency	In-house team	Offshore	Freelancer
One-off cost	£20k-£180k	£280k+/yr	£8k-£40k	£8k-£35k
Time to launch	10-18 weeks	6 months hiring + 14 weeks build	12-24 weeks	12-20 weeks
UK timezone overlap	8 hrs	8 hrs	2-4 hrs	Variable
UK GDPR & ICO familiarity	High	High	Low-Med	Variable
Continuity risk	Low	Medium (key-person)	Medium	High
Best for	Most London SMEs/scaleups	Mobile-first product cos at scale	Budget-constrained MVPs	Single feature add-ons

Which route is best for a first mobile app: London agency, in-house team, offshore or freelancer?

Our honest recommendation: For most London businesses launching a first mobile app, the London-based agency route delivers the best risk-adjusted outcome. Offshore is genuinely cheaper but the project-management overhead, timezone gaps and UK regulatory unfamiliarity erode the saving. In-house teams only make economic sense for businesses where mobile is the core product. Freelancers work for narrow add-on features but carry continuity risk for full builds.

Mobile app use cases across London industries

Mobile app development delivers customer-facing booking tools, field operations platforms, B2B portals and regulated compliance apps across London industries. React Native, Swift and Kotlin with Firebase and REST API integration cover the majority of use cases. Softomate clients typically reduce field data entry time from twenty minutes per visit to under three minutes after a mobile app launches.

Field operations app replacing paper forms

React Native apps with offline SQLite storage, camera capture and REST API sync replace paper inspection forms for property management, construction and facilities teams. Data syncs automatically when connectivity returns. Softomate clients typically reduce field data entry time from twenty minutes per visit to under three minutes after the app launches.

Customer booking and appointment app

React Native booking apps with Firebase Realtime Database, push notification reminders and Stripe payment integration give London service businesses a fully branded customer experience. Deep-link flows handle booking confirmations, rescheduling and cancellations automatically. Softomate clients commonly reduce missed appointments by over forty per cent within the first eight weeks after launch.

B2B portal app with OAuth 2.0 access control

Native Swift or React Native B2B portal apps with OAuth 2.0 role-based access, AES-256 encrypted document storage and REST API connections to Salesforce serve professional services clients on mobile. UK GDPR consent flows and audit logs are built in for FCA and HMRC AML-regulated users. Softomate clients typically cut client document turnaround from three days to under four hours.

On-device ML classification for retail and logistics

ML Kit on-device models classify product images, scan barcodes and extract text from labels without sending data to a server, reducing latency and privacy risk. Android Kotlin and iOS Swift integration feeds classification results into inventory REST APIs and Salesforce order records automatically. Softomate clients typically reduce manual stock categorisation from thirty minutes to under two minutes.

The UK app market and related services

Mobile app development refers to building iOS, Android or cross-platform applications that connect users to digital services through smartphones and tablets. Softomate builds with React Native, Swift, Kotlin and Firebase, submitting to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with UK GDPR-compliant architecture.

The UK mobile app market has approximately 4,800 active app development firms, of which around 600 are concentrated in Greater London. Teams needing wider delivery can extend through our bespoke software development services, web application development services, UX and UI design services and software product development services.

Bespoke Software Development

Build the Python or Node.js backend API that your mobile app connects to, with PostgreSQL, AWS deployment and UK GDPR-compliant architecture in one delivery scope.

Web Application Development

Deploy a web portal companion to your mobile app with React, Node.js and AWS, sharing the same REST API backend and UK GDPR consent management layer.

UX and UI Design Services

Improve mobile app activation and retention with Figma prototyping, usability testing and WCAG 2.1 AA accessible design ahead of your next sprint cycle.

Software Product Development

Combine mobile app delivery with a full SaaS product build, Stripe billing and AWS deployment to launch a revenue-generating product across mobile and web simultaneously.

What clients say about working with Softomate

"He built our new website for Telford Card in just three weeks, and I was really impressed by the quality, especially with how affordable it was."

L. Sharma, Telford Card

"He expertly designed our travel event website and brought it live within a remarkably short timeframe. [...] What truly distinguishes DD is his unwavering willingness to assist; regardless of when I reached out, he was consistently available to answer queries or make amendments."

J. Surrey, Google review

"He also set up automation that connects different systems, which has made everything run much smoother."

K. Pattni, Unigiftware

Work with us

Let's talk about your mobile app

Let's talk about mobile app development London for your iOS and Android users. React Native, Swift, Kotlin, Firebase and UK GDPR-compliant delivery can replace paper forms, power booking tools and connect field teams to your backend systems.

Book a discovery call WhatsApp us