How to DIY: Mobile App Developer
An app in the App Store and Google Play that looks native, loads fast, and doesn't cost $30K+ to build — ideally from a single codebase
Tools used in this guide
5How to DIY: Mobile App Developer
A step-by-step guide to doing this yourself — honestly.
What you're really trying to do
An app in the App Store and Google Play that looks native, loads fast, and doesn't cost $30K+ to build — ideally from a single codebase
DIY Cost
$99-150/yr (Apple + Google fees)
2-4 months to learn
Hire Cost
$5,000-30,000+
Done for you
You could save $5,000-30,000+ by doing it yourself
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow along at your own pace. Most people finish in 2-4 months.
Set up Expo and React Native
~10 minExpo is React Native without the pain. Install it with `npx create-expo-app`, scan a QR code, and your app runs on your phone instantly. If you know React (or can learn it), you can build iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. The Expo docs tutorial takes about 4 hours.
Use a UI component library
~10 minDon't build buttons and navigation from scratch. Use React Native Paper or Tamagui for pre-built components that look native on both platforms. Tamagui also works on web, so you get a website for free.
Connect your backend
~10 minUse Supabase for auth, database, and storage — the same setup works for mobile and web. The Supabase JS client works in React Native with minor config. For push notifications, use Expo Notifications (free) or OneSignal.
Build and submit with EAS
~15 minExpo Application Services (EAS) handles building your app binaries, code signing, and submitting to App Store and Google Play. No need for a Mac to build iOS apps. Run `eas build` and `eas submit` — it handles the rest. You do need Apple Developer ($99/yr) and Google Play ($25 one-time) accounts.
Ship over-the-air updates
~15 minOne of Expo's superpowers: push JS updates directly to users' phones without going through app store review. Fix bugs and ship features in minutes, not days. Use EAS Update — it's free for small teams.
When to hire instead
Hire when: your app needs heavy native features (AR, Bluetooth, complex camera work, background location tracking), you need to launch in both stores within 4 weeks, your app has performance-critical animations (60fps scrolling with complex layouts), or you're building for enterprise with strict compliance requirements. App store rejection can delay you 2+ weeks if you don't know the guidelines.
No time? Skip to hiringReal talk
Expo + React Native has made mobile dev genuinely accessible to web developers. If your app is mostly screens, forms, and data display, you can absolutely DIY it — plenty of indie apps making real money were built this way. But mobile has a long tail of annoying platform-specific issues: push notification certificates expire, Android handles background tasks differently than iOS, deep links break in subtle ways, and app store review can reject you for vague reasons. Budget 2x what you think, and test on real devices early (simulators lie).
Tools You'll Need
Hand-picked for this project. We only recommend tools we'd actually use.
Essential Tools
You need these to get started.
VS Code
Free
Build React Native and Expo apps with hot reload, debugging, and TypeScript support. The standard editor for cross-platform mobile development.
Why we recommend it
VS Code with Expo and React Native extensions provides hot reload and debugging for mobile development.
Claude Pro
$20/mo
Generate mobile UI components, navigation flows, and platform-specific code. Claude handles both iOS and Android quirks.
Why we recommend it
Claude writes clean React Native code and knows the platform-specific gotchas for both iOS and Android.
Nice-to-Have Tools
Not required, but they make the job easier.
Figma
Free
Design your app screens before building. Mobile UI kits and prototype features let you test user flows without writing code.
Why we recommend it
Design your mobile app in Figma first — test the UX before spending weeks coding the wrong interface.
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our Verdict
Difficulty
hard
Learning time
2-4 months
DIY cost
$99-150/yr (Apple + Google fees)
Hire cost
$5,000-30,000+
Choose DIY if...
- 3 of 3 tools are free
- You want to learn a new skill
- Budget matters more than time
Choose Hire if...
- The learning curve is steep
- You need professional-quality results
- Your time is worth more than the cost
- You have a tight deadline
Learn from video tutorials
Sometimes watching is easier than reading. Search for tutorials:
Join the conversation
See what other people are saying about doing this yourself:
Prefer to hire a pro?
No shame in that. Sometimes your time is worth more than the money you'd save. These top-rated freelancers specialize in Mobile App Developer and can get it done fast.
Mike T
@appcraft_mike · Top Rated
Priya S
@iosdev_priya · Level 2
Toptal Mobile Developers
@toptal · Top 3%
Frequently Asked Questions
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Find a Mobile App Developer pro on Fiverr
Skip the learning curve. Top-rated Mobile App Developer freelancers start at $5,000-30,000+.