macOS Desktop Apps

macOS Desktop App Development Services

Native Swift and SwiftUI applications for the Mac, built for Apple silicon, signed, notarized, and shipped through the App Store or your own channel.

Apple Silicon
Native arm64 and Universal 2 builds
Notarized
Hardened runtime, signed and stapled
SwiftUI First
AppKit where the platform still needs it

Mac Apps That Feel Like Mac Apps

Mac users notice when an app was built for something else. We develop macOS software the way Apple intends it to be built: SwiftUI and AppKit, the system design language, real keyboard and trackpad behaviour, and full support for the menu bar, Spotlight, Shortcuts, and system notifications.

When a shared codebase makes more commercial sense, we deliver the Mac build with Electron, Tauri, or Qt and still hold it to the same standard: correct window management, native menus, code signing, notarization, and an installer your users trust.

  • Universal 2 binaries for Apple silicon and Intel Macs
  • Developer ID signing, notarization, and stapling handled for you
  • App Sandbox and entitlements configured for App Store review
  • Auto-update built in, whether you ship inside or outside the store
Studio for macOS

Our macOS Development Services

From a first Mac release to modernising software that has been shipping for a decade.

Native Swift & SwiftUI Apps

Full macOS applications written in Swift, using SwiftUI for modern surfaces and AppKit where deeper control is required.

  • SwiftUI and AppKit interfaces
  • Swift Concurrency and Core Data
  • Human Interface Guidelines applied throughout

Menu Bar & Background Utilities

Lightweight tools that live in the menu bar, run as login items, or work quietly as background helpers and daemons.

  • Menu bar extras and status items
  • Launch agents and XPC helpers
  • Low-footprint, always-on behaviour

Cross-Platform Mac Builds

Electron, Tauri, Qt, and Flutter desktop builds tuned so the Mac version never feels like the afterthought.

  • Native menus and window behaviour
  • Shared codebase with Windows and Linux
  • Right-sized bundles and startup times

Apple Ecosystem Integration

Apps that connect to the rest of a user’s Apple life: iCloud sync, Continuity, Shortcuts, and companion iOS apps.

  • iCloud and CloudKit sync
  • Handoff, Continuity, and Universal Clipboard
  • Shortcuts and App Intents actions

App Store & Notarized Distribution

We take the release process off your plate: provisioning, review requirements, notarization, and update channels.

  • Mac App Store submission and review support
  • Signed DMG and PKG installers
  • Sparkle-style auto-updates outside the store

Migration & Modernization

Bringing older Mac software forward: Objective-C to Swift, Intel to Apple silicon, and deprecated APIs to supported ones.

  • Objective-C to Swift migration
  • Intel to Apple silicon ports
  • Replacing deprecated and removed APIs
macOS Stack

macOS Technologies We Use

Apple’s current toolchain, plus the cross-platform frameworks we reach for when a Mac build has to share a codebase.

Swift & Native UI

6 tools

SwiftUI-first apps that adopt each macOS release cleanly.

  • Swift
  • SwiftUI
  • AppKit
  • Objective-C
  • Core Data
  • Xcode

Cross-Platform on macOS

6 frameworks

When the Mac build has to share a codebase with Windows and Linux.

  • Electron
  • Tauri
  • Qt
  • Flutter
  • Avalonia UI
  • JavaFX

Data, Sync & Services

8 tools

Offline-capable storage plus the APIs behind it.

  • SQLite
  • PostgreSQL
  • Node.js
  • TypeScript
  • REST APIs
  • gRPC
  • Supabase
  • Firebase

Signing, Notarization & Delivery

7 tools

Notarized builds shipped through the App Store, Homebrew, or your own updater.

  • macOS
  • App Store
  • Homebrew
  • GitHub Actions
  • electron-builder
  • Sentry
  • Playwright

Working with something else? Our teams pick up new tools quickly. Tell us about your stack.

What We Get Right on macOS

The details that separate a real Mac app from a ported one.

Apple Silicon Performance

Native arm64 builds profiled with Instruments, so launch time and battery use hold up on M-series Macs.

Sandboxing & Entitlements

App Sandbox, hardened runtime, and least-privilege entitlements configured to pass review the first time.

Accessibility & VoiceOver

Full keyboard navigation, VoiceOver labels, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion support built in from the start.

Dark Mode & System Theming

Light and dark appearances, accent colours, and vibrancy that follow the user’s system settings.

Silent Auto-Updates

Background update checks with signed, delta-friendly releases so users are never stranded on an old build.

Privacy Permissions

Camera, microphone, files, and location prompts explained clearly and requested only when actually needed.

Distribution

How Your Mac App Reaches Users

We set up the channel that fits your product, and the release pipeline that keeps it current.

Mac App Store

Sandboxed builds, App Store Connect setup, and support through the review process.

Direct Download

Notarized DMG or PKG installers hosted on your own site, with a signed update feed.

Homebrew Cask

A cask formula so developer-heavy audiences can install and update from the terminal.

Managed Deployment

Packages ready for Jamf, Kandji, and other MDM tools used by IT departments.

Our macOS Development Process

A predictable path from idea to a notarized build on your users’ Macs.

1. Discovery & Scoping

We map the workflows your app has to support, the macOS versions you need to cover, and whether the App Store, direct distribution, or both is the right route.

2. Interface Design

Wireframes and prototypes built against the Human Interface Guidelines, covering window layouts, menus, keyboard shortcuts, and both light and dark appearances.

3. Development

Swift-first delivery in short sprints, with a running build you can install on your own Mac from the first weeks of the project.

4. Testing on Real Macs

Automated tests plus manual passes on Apple silicon and Intel hardware across the macOS versions in your support window.

5. Signing & Release

Developer ID signing, notarization, stapling, and either App Store submission or a signed installer with an update feed wired up.

6. Support & OS Updates

Each autumn brings a new macOS release. We test against the betas, fix what breaks, and keep your app compatible before your users notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What clients ask us most before starting a macOS app project.

Should we build natively in Swift or use a cross-platform framework?

If the Mac is your primary platform, or the app leans on system features like Shortcuts, iCloud, or menu bar behaviour, native Swift gives the best result. If you need Windows and Linux builds from the same codebase and the app is mostly forms, dashboards, and data, Electron or Tauri is usually the more economical choice. We will give you a straight recommendation based on your roadmap, not a preference.

Do we need an Apple Developer account?

Yes. Signing and notarization require a paid Apple Developer Program membership, and it should be registered to your company rather than an individual. We can walk you through enrollment and then work inside your account, so the certificates, identifiers, and App Store listing always stay under your control.

How long does a macOS app take to build?

A focused utility or menu bar tool typically takes 6 to 10 weeks. A full-featured desktop product with sync, accounts, and multiple document types is usually 4 to 6 months. We scope the work in phases so you get a usable, installable build long before the final release.

Can you take over an existing Mac app?

Regularly. We start with a short audit of the codebase, build setup, and signing configuration, then give you a written picture of its condition and the work needed. Common projects are Objective-C to Swift migrations, Apple silicon ports, and replacing APIs that Apple has deprecated.

Will the app work on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs?

We ship Universal 2 binaries by default, so a single download runs natively on both. If your support window has moved past Intel, we can build arm64-only and drop the extra size instead.

Ready to Build Your Mac App?

Tell us what you want your Mac users to be able to do, and we will come back with an approach, a stack recommendation, and a timeline.