9 iOS Apps in 2 Years: What I'd Do Differently
I've built 9 iOS apps in 2 years. It's been a wild ride of successes, failures, and hard-won lessons. Looking back, there are several things I'd do differently to accelerate growth, improve quality, and ship faster.
Here's what I learned—and what I'd change if I started over today.
1. Go Native iOS Instead of Cross-Platform
The Mistake
Early on, I flirted with cross-platform solutions. The temptation is strong: write once, deploy everywhere. But the reality is painful.
The Reality
iOS users spend 2.5x more per install ($2.12 vs $0.85) and the development experience is infinitely better when you're native.
When you use a cross-platform framework, you're always fighting compromises:
- Subpar UI that doesn't feel native
- Performance hits
- Bloated app size
- Missing latest iOS features
- Debugging nightmares
The Solution
Go all-in on native Swift/SwiftUI. Yes, you miss the Android market. But:
- ✅ Better monetization potential ($2.5x per user)
- ✅ Apple ecosystem is unified and predictable
- ✅ Access to latest APIs immediately
- ✅ App Store favors native apps
- ✅ Development is genuinely more enjoyable
The opportunity cost of chasing cross-platform is higher than the upside.
2. Use SwiftUI + Latest APIs (Not UIKit)
The Mistake
UIKit is powerful, but it's like learning to drive with a manual transmission when automatics exist.
Why SwiftUI Wins
SwiftUI + the latest APIs = faster development + modern UX:
- Declarative syntax (write less, understand more)
- Live preview (instant feedback)
- Automatic dark mode support
- SwiftUI modifiers > UIKit stack views
- Built for modern iOS features
The Catch
You need to target recent iOS versions (iOS 15+). But honestly? That's fine. Your users will update, and you'll ship faster.
Action Item
If you're starting a new project today, go SwiftUI. Full stop.
3. Use SwiftData for Local Storage (Not Over-engineered Backend)
The Problem
Early apps, I over-engineered the backend. Database syncing, cloud services, complex APIs. Overkill for 90% of use cases.
The Solution
SwiftData is a game-changer.
SwiftData gives you:
- ✅ Local persistent storage (fast)
- ✅ Automatic migration
- ✅ CloudKit integration is easy too
- ✅ Query syntax that's intuitive
- ✅ Zero backend complexity for simple apps
When to add a backend: Only when you actually need multi-device sync or server-side logic. Not before.
Most apps don't need it. Shipping a working local app beats shipping nothing while you architect the "perfect" backend.
4. Study ASO (App Store Optimization)
The Mistake
I treated the App Store like a search engine. Write good code, ship it, wait for downloads. Naive.
The Reality
App Store Optimization (ASO) is real, and it matters.
Better keywords = better discoverability = more downloads. More downloads = better algorithm placement.
What to Optimize
- App name & subtitle - Keywords matter
- Keywords field - Research competitor keywords
- Icon & screenshots - First impression is everything
- Description - Conversions matter
- Ratings & reviews - Quality signals
The Compound Effect
An app optimized for ASO gets 3-5x more organic traffic than an ignored app with the same features.
Spend time here. It's multiplied by the millions of potential users.
5. Ship Working MVPs (Don't Perfectionism-Block)
The Mistake
Waiting for 100% feature completeness before launch. Polishing endlessly. Perfectionism paralysis.
The Truth
One fully-working feature beats 10 half-baked ones.
Apple review is strict but fair. A focused, polished MVP:
- ✅ Ships faster (months not years)
- ✅ Gets user feedback early
- ✅ Builds momentum
- ✅ Easier to iterate
The Psychology
Shipping makes you feel good. It proves you can finish. Half-built projects drain motivation.
Ship an MVP. Get it live. Then iterate. You'll improve faster with real users than with your own guesses.
6. Market on TikTok (Not Just App Store)
The Mistake
Relying 100% on App Store organic search traffic. It's a lottery.
The Opportunity
Short-form video is absurdly effective for apps.
TikTok demos convert better than any paid ads because:
- ✅ Authentic (not polished ads)
- ✅ Shows actual functionality
- ✅ Viral potential (low cost, high reach)
- ✅ Algorithm favors engaging content
- ✅ iOS users are there
What Works
15-30 second clips showing:
- A problem the app solves
- How to use it
- The satisfying payoff
Why I Missed This
It feels unsophisticated compared to "App Store SEO." But TikTok drives installs, period.
Putting It All Together
If I rewound 2 years and started fresh:
- Native Swift + SwiftUI from day one
- SwiftData for persistence (no backend until needed)
- Ship the MVP in 4-6 weeks (not 6 months)
- ASO research before naming the app
- TikTok marketing immediately after launch
- Iterate based on user feedback, not guesses
The Meta Lesson
iOS development is different from web dev, but easier than you think.
It's not harder—it's just different. Use AI, learn as you build, and don't overthink it.
If I did it, you can too. 😊
The barrier to entry has never been lower. SwiftUI is beginner-friendly. Swift is beautiful. The App Store reaches billions of potential users.
The only thing stopping you is shipping.
What's Next?
If you're curious about iOS development:
- Start with SwiftUI tutorials
- Build something small (a calculator, a habit tracker)
- Ship it to the App Store (the review process is educational)
- Market on TikTok
- Iterate based on feedback
The best time to build 9 iOS apps was 2 years ago. The second best time is now.
Let's build something. 🚀