Short answer: Apple’s own IDE, Xcode, is the primary program used to create iPhone apps. It includes everything you need to design, code, test, and submit apps to the App Store.
The core Apple stack
- Xcode: Free on the Mac App Store. Provides the editor, iOS SDKs, Interface tools, simulators, profilers, code signing, and the App Store submission workflow.
- Language: Swift is the modern default. Objective-C is older but still supported.
- UI frameworks:
- SwiftUI for modern, declarative interfaces.
- UIKit for the classic, imperative approach and access to some advanced controls.
- Testing: Xcode includes unit tests, UI tests, and the iOS Simulator for every supported device size.
You will need a Mac to run Xcode and an Apple Developer Program membership to publish on the App Store.
Popular cross-platform options
These tools let you write the bulk of your app once and ship to iOS and other platforms. For the final iOS build you still open or compile through Xcode, locally or on a cloud Mac.
- React Native – JavaScript or TypeScript, rich ecosystem, strong community.
- Flutter – Dart language, fast UI rendering, great for custom designs.
- Unity – Best suited for 2D or 3D games, exports an Xcode project.
- Godot – Open-source game engine that can export to an iOS-ready Xcode project.
No-code and low-code paths
- Swift Playgrounds on iPad: Lets beginners build real SwiftUI apps and can submit to the App Store through an Apple developer account.
- Hosted app builders: Drag-and-drop services can generate an iOS build and help with submission. These are good for prototypes and simple content apps, but you will trade off flexibility and performance.
What to choose
- You want the most control and a long-term foundation: Use Xcode + Swift + SwiftUI.
- You are targeting iOS and Android with one codebase: Consider Flutter or React Native, then finish the iOS build with Xcode.
- You are making a game: Use Unity or Godot, then export to Xcode.
- You want the simplest entry point: Try Swift Playgrounds or a no-code builder to get a feel for the process.
Minimum setup checklist
- Get a Mac and install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
- Create a new iOS App project using Swift and SwiftUI.
- Run the app in the iOS Simulator.
- Enroll in the Apple Developer Program when you are ready to test on device and submit.
- Test on real devices, prepare screenshots and metadata, then upload via Xcode to App Store Connect.
Key tips
- Start with SwiftUI unless you have a specific UIKit reason. SwiftUI speeds up iteration and is future focused.
- Even with cross-platform tools, plan to touch Xcode for signing, device builds, and store submission.
- Keep your provisioning profiles and certificates organized to avoid build headaches.
- Ship early on TestFlight, gather feedback, and iterate.
Bottom line: Use Xcode to make iPhone apps. Everything else either plugs into it or helps you reach more platforms, but Xcode is the home base for building and shipping on iOS.
