iOS App Ideas: Turn Them Into a Killer App

Updated Dec 13, 2024 • 13 min read

So you have an idea for an app and have decided to give it a go on the iOS market.

The realm of app market is vast, ranging from simple utility apps to complex social networking platforms, showcasing the potential for any app idea to become the next big hit. Whether you’re considering app ideas like a digital receipt organizer, a custom-cake ordering system, or an innovative social networking app, the possibilities are endless. Specifically, iPhone app ideas hold a unique place in the market, inviting developers to bring forward their most innovative concepts. When discussing the best iOS app ideas, it is crucial to select engaging and accessible concepts that can captivate users and drive growth.

Navigating the Apple App Store can be both a challenge and an opportunity for new apps, setting the stage for innovative solutions to stand out. You’re probably wondering about the specifics that make an iOS project a success or failure. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Ask yourself: Why do I want to build an innovative mobile app in the first place?

The first step you need to take is analyzing your business idea closely. During this stage, aim to come up with the following:

The Unique Value Proposition of your mobile app – what’s unique about your product and why the consumer should choose it over your competitors. Ensure your concept includes an awesome app idea or brilliant app ideas that stand out in the market.
Key functionalities of your custom mobile app – you’ll need this list to make the first steps toward developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that will help you test the validity of your idea on the market. These functionalities should stem from an innovative app idea, setting your app apart from the competition.
Your target audience – you need to have a clear idea about the prospective users of your app. Only then will you know how to create a product that matches their needs and reach them through your marketing efforts.
Main revenue channels – it’s essential that you consider how you’ll monetise your application at this stage of the planning process.

To help you do all that, here’s a business model canvas you can use as a reference. Consider running a scoping session to check the real scope of your project - this will serve as the foundation for your initial estimations.

Starting with a great mobile app idea and exploring new ideas is crucial in the early planning stage to ensure your app captures the market’s attention and meets consumer needs effectively. App developers play a vital role in enhancing existing concepts, such as by creating solutions that streamline payment processes in supermarkets, thereby improving consumer convenience.

Choose the application development technology and toolkit

Next, you need to choose the technology stack for your iOS app. You can develop an iOS app using different languages, like Swift and Objective-C or use a multiplatform solution like React Native or Flutter.

Each of these has different pros and cons. Swift is faster and safer than Objective-C. Supported by Apple, the Swift community is continually growing, whereas Objective-C is hard to learn and fewer developers are learning it nowadays. According to a 2017 StackOverflow Developers Survey, Swift is one of the most popular programming languages today, so you'll be able to find a team of experts easily.

Another interesting option is React Native, which promises to help developers build apps for multiple platforms. Have a look at React Native.

Find the right people

When developing an iOS app, you can either hire a team of developers who will be a part of your team or outsource app development to a reputable mobile app development company.

Building an app in-house is a popular option among larger organisations that plan to make mobile a central element of their strategy. When choosing in-house, the advantage is that you have total control of the process, get results quickly, and enjoy its flexibility, since the scope or number of revisions are no longer a constraint.

Outsourcing development to a top-tier mobile app development company is an excellent option for smaller organisations or startup founders who simply can’t afford the high setup costs that come with internal development teams. Partnering with a leading development partner not only focuses on reducing the time between client brief and project start but also leverages their expertise in machine learning, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence services to transform app ideas into functional applications. Moreover, this model is less risky and makes sticking to a budget much easier.

By teaming up with a consultancy firm, you also gain access to extensive mobile expertise and a team with an established process, which helps deliver the app faster and more cost-effectively. External agencies provide their clients with end-to-end services - from the idea, through development and launch, to maintenance and support.

Build an excellent mobile app development process

When crafting the development process for your team or partnering with a software development company, it's a good idea to stick to battle-tested practices, such as agile project management. Agile development provides all stakeholders with means of contributing to the project, ensuring high collaboration between the client and the project team.

The transparency that comes as a part of agile development helps teams predict costs and schedule accurately to ensure predictable delivery. This kind of process is also very flexible, giving teams an opportunity to continually refine the product backlog and change priorities, improving the app's business value and quality.

Test your app – and then test it again

When it comes to mobile development, people are often pressured to deliver apps as quickly as possible. That's why testing your app before it hits the market is so important – it not only helps to identify potential errors or bugs that will impact the user experience, but also to discover possible ways of improving your app's performance.

It's vital to test early – fixing bugs during the development process is much less costly. User testing is key to boosting the overall usability and user experience of your app as well.

Prepare for App Store release

You don't want to spend time and money on an app that Apple won't allow in its store. Apple's App Store Review Guidelines are very detailed – Apple has a particular view of the apps it allows in its store, so it's a good idea to study these rules before you start developing your app.

Once your app is finished, you'll need to submit it to the App Store for review. The reviewers will take into account the app's content, technical details, and design. Have a look at this list of common reasons behind rejections. Most of the time, apps get rejected because of broken links, advertisements, crashes, or incomplete information.

The result

If carefully follow our guidelines, you should end up with a functional and beautifully crafted mobile app. That's how it was with Shine, an iOS app for meditation we've helped scale from a simple daily messaging application to one of the best App Store apps.

Netguru helped train the developers at Shine and put in place the best development processes, design the app, and implement new features that made the app a success. As a result of the cooperation, the app was named the App Store's App of the Day and then featured in the "Best of 2018" list on App Store. Read our interview with Shine's CTO Jonathan Uy to learn more about this success.

Health and wellness apps remain at the forefront, with mental health trackers and personalized fitness platforms driving user interest by catering to individual needs through tailored recommendations and progress monitoring. Similarly, green tech applications, such as carbon footprint trackers, are gaining traction, empowering users to make eco-friendly decisions by providing real-time insights into their environmental impact.

The integration of artificial intelligence is another major trend, with apps like language tutors and personalized learning platforms revolutionizing education and skill development. These trending categories not only align with growing user demands but also present developers with pathways to create high-impact, scalable solutions in a competitive market.

Key takeaway

Launching an iOS app development project can be challenging, but keeping these things in mind will set you on the path to success.

If you have any questions about developing iOS apps, just get in touch with our consultants – we're always happy to help entrepreneurs and organisations take advantage of mobile technologies.