Building an iOS app without code and without a Mac
The Mac requirement moved to the cloud. Apple's $99 and App Review didn't.
Leanfinit · 6 min read
Updated
Where the Mac requirement went
An iOS app has to be compiled and signed with Apple's tools, and Xcode only runs on macOS. That used to mean “no Mac, no iPhone app”. Now most no-code builders compile in the cloud on their own Macs, so you can build from Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.
Two things didn't move to the cloud: Apple's Developer Program at $99 a year, which every App Store route needs, and App Review.
Six routes compared
USD per month unless stated. All store routes also need Apple's $99 a year.
| Route | You write code? | Cheapest plan that reaches the App Store (USD per month) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlutterFlow | No (visual) | Basic $39 | One-click App Store and Play deploy from Basic |
| Adalo | No (visual) | Builder $65 ($52 billed yearly) | 2 published apps on Builder |
| Bubble native mobile | No (visual) | Mobile plans from $49 | Native mobile is in public beta; 5 store builds a month on Starter |
| Rork | No (AI) | Pro $20 | Generates native SwiftUI; the free plan can’t build or publish |
| Expo EAS + AI-generated code | Yes, or AI writes it | Free: 15 iOS builds a month, store submission included | For code from Bolt or similar; you maintain the code |
| Codemagic + your own code | Yes | Free: 500 macOS build minutes a month | CI service; then $0.095 a minute |
Thunkable also builds for iOS, but its pricing page doesn't say which plan unlocks store publishing. App builder pricing compared has the rest of each tool's plan. If an AI chat already wrote your code, here is where to run it.
What Apple still requires
- The $99 account. Individuals can't get a waiver.
- App Review. Your app needs to do something useful on its own; a thin wrapper around a website is a common rejection reason.
- TestFlight for testing: up to 100 internal and 10,000 external testers; external builds go through a beta review.
- A new build for every change. Each fix is a new submission and, on most builders, a new build counted against your plan.
If you also want Google Play: a one-time $25, and new personal accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before launch.
When you don't need the App Store at all
- Describe
- Use it on your iPhone
- Change it with a sentence
If the app is for you, your family or your team, every line above is overhead. A web app added to the iPhone Home Screen opens full screen with its own icon since iOS 26, needs no Mac, no $99 and no review, and changes the moment you change it. The free iPhone app maker guide compares the free routes; the blog has the step-by-step.
Leanfinit works this way during the beta: describe the app, use it on your phone, change it with another sentence. It's free, the app runs on your device and keeps your entries there. There is no App Store submission during the beta. To feel the difference, open a strength log on your iPhone without a Mac or $99 and add it to your Home Screen.
FAQ
Can I build an iOS app without a Mac?
Yes. FlutterFlow, Adalo, Bubble, Rork and Expo EAS compile in the cloud.
Which no-code builder can publish to the App Store?
FlutterFlow from Basic ($39), Adalo from Builder ($65), Bubble's mobile plans (beta, from $49), Rork from Pro ($20), each plus Apple's $99 a year.
Can I launch an iOS app on the store without programming?
Yes, with a visual or AI builder and a paid Apple account. App Review still applies.
Is there a free way to get my app on my iPhone without a Mac?
Yes: a web app on the Home Screen.
Describe your own app →
Takes a few sentences. Private, yours.
“A tip tracker for my shifts: date, hours, cash tips, card tips. Show my real hourly rate this week. Works offline.”
Sources
Prices and facts checked 27 October 2026