App design and development
App design and development you own outright
App design and development for iOS, Android and the web, from the first sketch to a live store listing. Scope and price are agreed in writing before paid work begins, and what we build is yours.
- Fixed price in writing
- You own the code
- iOS, Android, web
Overview
App design and development, handled end to end
A good app does one job clearly and earns a place on the home screen. We begin with that job.
That means who the app is for, what they need to get done, and what the first release must include to be worth shipping. Strategy, design, engineering and store submission sit with one team, so nothing is lost between hand-offs. Every stage ends with something you can open and use, and each decision, revision and approval is put in writing as we go.
Capabilities
What we design and build
Everything between a rough idea and a product people can download or open in a browser.
Handover
What you receive at handover
The finished product and everything needed to run it, change it or hand it to another team.
- Design files
- The complete interface design in Figma, including components and states, so any designer can pick it up.
- The source code
- The full codebase is handed over to you, so you or another developer can run it, change it and build on it.
- App store submission
- We prepare the store listing, screenshots and descriptions, submit the app for review and respond to what the reviewers ask for.
- Back end and integrations
- The databases, sign-in, payments and other services behind the app are handed over with it, with no lock-in to us or to one host.
- Documentation
- Plain-language notes on how the app is structured, how to run it and how to release an update.
- The clickable prototype
- The prototype stays with you as a reference for future features and for briefing anyone who works on the product next.
Toolkit
Tools we reach for
Chosen to suit the product and its audience. We recommend what fits and explain why.
- Native
-
- Swift
- SwiftUI
- Kotlin
- Cross-platform
-
- React Native
- Expo
- Web
-
- React
- Next.js
- TypeScript
- Back end and payments
-
- Node.js
- Supabase
- Firebase
- Stripe
- Cloudflare
- Design
-
- Figma
How it works
How an app project runs
Four stages, each with a clear output you can review before the next begins.
-
Scope and fixed quote
We learn what the app has to do, define the first release together and write it down. You receive one price for that scope before any paid work starts.
-
Design and prototype
We design the key journeys and link them into a prototype you can use on your own phone. Revisions are agreed in writing, then the design is locked for the build.
-
Build with regular previews
Engineering proceeds in visible steps. You receive working builds to try along the way, so surprises surface early and feedback shapes the result.
-
Submission, launch and iteration
We prepare the store submission, handle review feedback and hand everything over. After launch we can keep improving the product based on how people use it.
Our standards
What you can count on
The same working standards on every project, whatever its size.
-
One price, in writing
The quote is fixed for the agreed scope and signed off before paid work begins. No hourly billing and no surprise invoices.
-
You approve each stage
Design, build and submission move forward when you say so. Anything that would change the scope or the price is discussed first.
-
Everything is documented
Scope, previews, revisions and approvals are kept in writing. You can always see what was agreed and what changed.
-
You own what we build
The design, the code or files, and the domain belong to you. Nothing locks you in to us or to any particular host.
How we price
How app pricing works
Every project is quoted as one fixed price for a written scope, agreed before paid work starts. The scope describes what the first release includes, so both sides know what is being built and what it costs.
The main things that move a price are the number of screens and user journeys, how many platforms you need, the back-end and integration work behind them, and the amount of custom design involved. Your written quote sets all of this out, so you can see what the figure is made of before you agree to it.
- One fixed price for an agreed scope
- Scope and price set out in a written quote
- Changes to scope agreed in writing first
- No hourly billing
Questions
App design and development questions
Should my app be native or cross-platform?
It depends on the product. Native iOS and Android suits apps that lean on device features or need the most polished feel, while cross-platform lets one codebase serve both phones and can suit a first release well. We recommend one approach, explain the trade-offs and put the choice in your written quote.
How is the price of an app set?
We define the scope with you, then give a single fixed price for it in writing before paid work starts. The price follows the screens and journeys involved, the platforms, the back-end work and the custom design. You can start a project by describing the idea and we will ask the questions that shape the quote.
Who owns the app once it is built?
You do. The design and the source code are yours, with no lock-in to us or to a particular host. We prepare and submit the store listing as part of the project, and the handover gives you what you need to run the app or pass it to another team.
Should I begin with a prototype or a first release?
If the idea still needs testing, begin with a prototype: it is the quickest way to put the product in front of real people. If the direction is already clear, we scope a focused first release instead. Either way, tell us where you are and we will suggest the right starting point.
How long does an app take to build?
It depends on the scope, the platforms and how quickly decisions are made on both sides, so we do not quote a duration before we understand the project. Once the scope is agreed, the written plan sets out the stages and what you will see at each one.
What happens after the app launches?
The code and documentation are handed over, so you do not depend on us to keep the app running. If you want to keep improving it, we can plan updates and new features as further agreed work, and you can write to us at hello@techloop.ca whenever you need to.
Can you work from an existing app or design?
Yes. We review what exists, whether that is a design file, a prototype or a working codebase, and tell you plainly what we find and what we would keep. From there we scope the work, which can mean building on it or starting fresh where that is the better route.
Do I need a call to start an app project?
No. Everything can be handled by email, and a call is optional. If the app needs a site beside it, see web design and development, and the full FAQ answers wider questions.
Tell us about your app
Describe the idea, who it is for and where you are with it. We reply within one business day, and you receive a fixed quote in writing before any paid work starts.