App Store Builders 2026: Every Builder That Publishes

Published October 25, 2026 · Last updated October 25, 2026

App Store Builders: The Short Answer

Superapp, Adalo, Bubble, FlutterFlow, Thunkable, GoodBarber, Appy Pie and BuildFire all publish apps to the Apple App Store from their own tools, and Replit and Bolt get there through Expo's build services. They differ in two ways that matter more than any feature list: how much of the publishing they actually do for you, and what the cheapest plan that publishes really costs. Superapp prepares the build, metadata, screenshots and privacy details and submits the app, for native Swift apps on Apple platforms, at $25 a month. Cross-platform builders publish to the App Store and Google Play from one project, from $37 a month on Thunkable's annual Builder plan. Web app builders such as Glide, Lovable and Base44 do not produce native App Store apps.

Quick answer: Which app builders publish directly to the App Store? Superapp publishes native Swift iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac apps and handles the submission, including metadata, screenshots and privacy details, on Pro at $25 a month, about $399 in year one with Apple's 99 USD fee. For iPhone and Android from one project, Thunkable (Builder, $37 a month billed annually), FlutterFlow (Basic, $39 a month), Bubble (Starter Mobile, $42 a month billed annually), GoodBarber (Premium, $55 a month billed yearly), Adalo (Builder, $624 a year), Appy Pie (Platinum, $60 a month per app) and BuildFire (Standard, $165 a month) all publish to both stores. Replit and Bolt publish React Native apps through Expo. Glide, Lovable and Base44 build web apps rather than native App Store apps. Every route also needs your own Apple Developer account at 99 USD a year.

Every app builder that publishes to the App Store, at a glance

Prices are from each vendor's own pricing page, checked on October 25, 2026; links are in the References. Apple's Developer Program costs 99 USD a year whichever builder you use, and Google Play charges 25 USD once.

What "Publishes to the App Store" Really Means

Builders use the same phrase for very different amounts of work. A full App Store release involves signing, building, uploading, completing the listing, declaring privacy details and submitting a version for review. Here is how far each kind of builder goes:

Level 2 builders differ among themselves: some ask for an App Store Connect API key, others for certificates and provisioning profiles, others for an app-specific password. The profiles below say exactly what each one asks for.

What Apple Requires, Whichever Builder You Use

For the full cost of publishing, see our guide to App Store publishing cost; for the technical side of signing and uploads, see Apple App Store deployment.

The App Store Builders, One by One

1. Superapp: full App Store submission for native Apple apps

Publishing level: 1, full submission.

Superapp turns "a plain-English description into a real native iPhone, iPad, Watch, and Mac app" and "generates real, production-ready Swift as a standard Xcode project you own and can export anytime." On the web version you type your idea with nothing to install, and builds run in the cloud, so you do not need a Mac.

How publishing works. Superapp's docs describe opening Publish, signing in with your Apple developer account, completing verification and selecting the team that should own the app; Superapp then creates the app record. It prepares "the build, metadata, screenshots, privacy declarations, ASO, and submission," which it describes as "roughly two clicks," and its FAQ says it "takes the app through App Store review, with hands-on help from the team if needed." Superapp says its native apps have "a rejection rate close to zero," and notes that Apple's Guideline 4.2 "targets thin web wrappers."

Plans: free credits to start in most countries; Pro $25 a month with 50 credits, 240 preview minutes and automated App Store publishing; Business $50 a month with 110 credits; Max $100 a month with 230 credits plus marketing tools including Apple Ads, App Store optimization and UGC creators. About one credit generates one screen.

Also included: Superapp Cloud for authentication, database and storage, or your own Supabase; a landing page for the app from the same project; code you "can export anytime" as a standard Xcode project.

Limits: Apple platforms only, no Android.

Year one (iOS): about $399 including Apple's fee.

2. Thunkable: cross-platform publishing on Builder

Publishing level: 2, build and upload from the platform.

Thunkable says you can "Publish your native mobile app to Apple's App Store and Google Play directly from the Thunkable platform," and build "with simple prompts using our AI Builder." Its App Store guide asks for a distribution certificate (.cer), a provisioning profile (.mobileprovision) and an app-specific password, and requires an explicit bundle ID. Its docs say "The published Apps page is only available to paid plans (builder and advanced)."

Watch out: Thunkable's pricing FAQ says that if your subscription expires, "any published apps will become unavailable for your end users."

Year one (iOS): about $543 on annual Builder. Both stores: about $568.

3. FlutterFlow: one-click deployment with your API key

Publishing level: 2, build and upload; you finish the listing.

FlutterFlow's Basic plan at $39 a month includes "Code Download," "APK Download" and "One-Click App Store Deployment." Its deployment guide has you create a bundle ID, add the app in App Store Connect, paste the app's Apple ID into FlutterFlow, generate a Team API key with the App Manager role, add the Issuer ID and Key ID, click Deploy To App Store, and then submit for review in App Store Connect after adding assets and metadata. FlutterFlow auto-increments the build number on each deploy.

Watch out: no database is included; connect Firebase or Supabase.

Year one (iOS): about $567 on Basic. Both stores: about $592.

4. Bubble: native mobile publishing from the editor

Publishing level: 2, build and upload from the editor.

Bubble says it builds "true native apps on React Native, not web pages in a wrapper," and you can "Submit your app to the Apple App or Google Play Store right from Bubble, no Xcode or Android Studio required." Bubble's support article on iOS publishing explains that Bubble "will automatically deliver your build to App Store Connect," where you add the metadata and submit for review, and Bubble's support center describes mobile as still in beta. Bubble's support article says "To publish to the App Store and Google Play Store, you need a Mobile or Web & Mobile plan."

Starter's build allotment is 10 for the first three months, then 5, with 3 live app versions.

Watch out: workload unit overages; no code export.

Year one (iOS): about $603 on annual Starter Mobile. Both stores: about $628.

5. GoodBarber: native content and commerce apps on Premium

Publishing level: 2.

GoodBarber says its apps are "compiled in Swift and Kotlin, published on the App Store and Google Play, from the Premium plan." Its Standard plans are web only.

For eCommerce apps, iOS publishing also needs Premium, from $62 a month billed yearly.

Year one (iOS): about $759 on yearly Content Premium. Both stores: about $784.

6. Adalo: guided publishing for iOS, Android and web

Publishing level: 2, guided workflow.

Adalo's publishing page says you "publish real native iOS (IPA) and Android (AAB) builds, not web wrappers," and says "Adalo's guided workflow walks you through App Store Connect and Google Play Console." Its FAQ says to "upgrade to the Builder plan at $65/month when you're ready to publish a native iOS and Android app." Its help center walks through publishing with an app-specific password.

Year one (iOS): about $723 on yearly Builder. Both stores: about $748.

7. Appy Pie: iOS on the Platinum plan

Publishing level: 2.

Appy Pie's Basic ($16) and Gold ($36) plans are Android only. Its "Platinum plan supports all the platforms Android and Apple," at $60 a month per app.

Watch out: per-app pricing multiplies with each app; customization is limited outside templates.

Year one (iOS and Android): about $819, plus 25 USD for Google Play.

8. BuildFire: managed publishing at a higher price

Publishing level: 2.

BuildFire's Standard plan at $165 a month includes "Publish on any platform (iOS, Android, tablet, PWA)." Growth is $315 and Scale is $440 a month, with 20% off annually.

Year one (iOS): about $2,079 on monthly Standard.

9. Replit: guided App Store flow for React Native apps

Publishing level: 3, developer tooling with a guided flow.

Replit's docs say "Expo is what Agent uses to build your mobile app on Replit." Publishing runs from "Start publishing to the App Store" to "Launch to App Store," sends the build to TestFlight and App Store Connect, and "can take up to 45 minutes." You need your own Apple Developer membership, and the docs do not state which Replit plan is required.

Best for: technical founders who will maintain the code.

10. Bolt: Expo builds from the command line

Publishing level: 3.

Bolt's help center says you can "Build iOS and Android apps from a prompt." Its Expo guide requires "Node.js LTS and Git installed," an Expo account and an Apple Developer account, then an EAS build with automatic submission to TestFlight and App Store Connect. Bolt Cloud gives projects "a database, authentication, file storage, and hosting."

Best for: developers comfortable with command-line tools.

Builders That Do Not Publish Native App Store Apps

About wrappers

A wrapper puts a website inside a native shell so it can be listed in the stores. It can work, but Apple's Guideline 4.2 asks apps to offer "features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website," and wrappers are the most common target of that rule. Note that Natively, which Adalo's comparison lists as a wrapper, now redirects to Newly, which says its apps "compile to real iOS and Android native code, not webviews."

What It Costs to Publish With Each Builder

Year one, iOS only

Year one, App Store and Google Play

Three years, iOS only

Totals exclude extra credits, usage overages, backend upgrades and paid marketing. Replit and Bolt are not included because their docs do not state which plan is needed to publish. For a wider view of costs, see our guide to low-cost mobile app development.

Budget-Friendly App Makers That Publish Directly to the App Store

This is the question most people ask: which affordable builder will actually get an app into the App Store? Ranked by year-one cost for an iPhone app on the cheapest plan that publishes:

1. Superapp, about $399. Native Swift, with the listing and submission handled. Apple platforms only.
2. Thunkable, about $543. One live app on annual Builder, iOS and Android.
3. FlutterFlow, about $567. Flutter code and one-click deployment; bring your own backend.
4. Bubble, about $603. React Native mobile apps on annual Starter Mobile; web on a higher plan.
5. Adalo, about $723. Native builds for iOS and Android with a built-in database.
6. GoodBarber, about $759. Native content and catalog apps on Premium.
7. Appy Pie, about $819. Template apps, priced per app.
8. BuildFire, about $2,079. Managed platform at a higher price.

Claims in Adalo's Comparison, Checked

Adalo's page on this topic says its prices are "as of March 2026." Some of its claims do not match the vendors' pages today:

Native, Cross-Platform or Wrapper: What Each Builder Produces

Who Does What: The Publishing Workflow by Builder

Before You Publish With Any Builder

Why Builder-Made Apps Get Rejected

Apple reviewed 9,100,620 submissions in 2025 and rejected 2,093,244, according to its Transparency Report. The most common reasons apply to builder-made apps as much as hand-coded ones:

Publishing to Google Play Too

Cross-platform builders also publish to Google Play. Google charges a one-time 25 USD registration fee, and new personal developer accounts must run a closed test with "a minimum of 12 testers who have been opted in continuously for at least 14 days" before publishing to production, per Google's testing requirements. Plan for that time if Android launch day matters.

After Publishing: Updates, Renewals and Leaving

Whatever the builder, Apple's membership must stay active: Apple says your apps will no longer be available for download if it lapses.

Worked Publishing Scenarios

A café's iPhone ordering app

A salon booking app on iPhone and Android

A startup MVP that developers will take over

The Best App Store Builder for Each Situation

Myths and Facts About App Store Builders

Glossary

How to Publish Your First App With an App Store Builder

1. Decide which stores you need. If your customers mostly use iPhones, an Apple-only builder with native output keeps things simple; if you need Android on day one, choose a cross-platform builder.
2. Check the publishing plan before building. Find the cheapest plan that publishes to the App Store, not the entry plan, and note any limit on live apps.
3. Enroll in the Apple Developer Program. Pay 99 USD a year; companies need a free D-U-N-S number first, which can take several business days.
4. Build and test the app. Use the builder's preview, then test on a real iPhone, including every login path.
5. Prepare what Apple asks for. Publish a privacy policy and support page, create a demo account if the app has a login, and add in-app account deletion if users can sign up.
6. Connect the builder to your Apple account. Depending on the builder this means signing in and choosing a team, creating an App Store Connect API key, uploading signing files, or creating an app-specific password.
7. Build and upload. Let the builder compile, sign and upload the app; with Expo-based tools, run the build and submit commands.
8. Complete the listing. Add the name, subtitle, description, keywords, screenshots, App Privacy details and age rating, unless your builder prepares them.
9. Test with TestFlight. Install the uploaded build on real devices before you submit.
10. Submit for review and release. Choose automatic release so the app goes live as soon as Apple approves it.

Head-to-Head: The Three Most-Compared App Store Builders

Pick Superapp for a native Apple app with the least publishing work. Pick Adalo or Thunkable if Android from the same project is required.

App Store Builders for iPad, Apple Watch and Mac

What Changed for App Store Builders in 2026

Questions to Ask Before Choosing an App Store Builder

Where Superapp Fits

As a disclosure, Superapp is our product, so weigh this accordingly. Superapp is the App Store builder in this comparison that takes publishing the furthest: you sign in with your Apple developer account and select the team, and Superapp creates the app record, builds, signs and uploads the app, prepares the metadata, screenshots and privacy declarations, and submits it for review. It generates native Swift for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac, includes a backend, and lets you export the code as a standard Xcode project. Pro costs $25 a month plus Apple's 99 USD a year. It does not publish Android apps; if you need Google Play from the same project, a cross-platform builder is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which app builders publish directly to the App Store?
Superapp, Thunkable, FlutterFlow, Bubble, GoodBarber, Adalo, Appy Pie and BuildFire publish from their own tools; Replit and Bolt publish through Expo.

What is the cheapest app builder that publishes to the App Store?
Among builders that prepare and submit the App Store listing for you, Superapp Pro at $25 a month, about $399 in year one including Apple's fee.

What is the cheapest way to publish to both the App Store and Google Play?
Thunkable's Builder plan on annual billing, about $568 in year one with both store fees, if one live app is enough.

Which builder does the most of the publishing work?
Superapp prepares the build, metadata, screenshots and privacy declarations and submits the app. Most other builders upload the build and leave the listing to you or a guided workflow.

Does Thunkable really cost $189 a month to publish?
No. Builder publishes one live app at $37 a month billed annually or $59 monthly. $189 a month is Advanced on monthly billing, for unlimited apps.

Does FlutterFlow publish to the App Store?
Yes. Basic at $39 a month includes one-click App Store deployment using an App Store Connect API key you create.

Does Bubble need a wrapper to reach the App Store?
No. Bubble builds React Native apps and uploads them to App Store Connect from its editor, on Mobile or Web and Mobile plans; you then submit for review in App Store Connect.

Is Natively a wrapper?
natively.dev now redirects to Newly, which says its apps compile to real iOS and Android native code, not webviews.

Can Glide publish to the App Store?
No. Glide's help center says publishing directly to the App Store or Google Play is not supported.

Can Lovable publish to the App Store?
Lovable builds web apps and does not generate React Native projects. It suggests a PWA or wrapping the URL with a tool such as Capacitor.

Do I need a Mac to publish with an app builder?
No, with cloud builders. Bolt's Expo route needs Node.js and Git installed locally, and coding in Xcode needs a Mac.

Do I need my own Apple Developer account?
Yes, for every builder. It costs 99 USD a year, and Apple expects apps to be submitted by the content provider.

What does an app-specific password do?
It lets a tool such as Thunkable or Adalo access your Apple account for publishing without your main password.

What is an App Store Connect API key?
A private key with a Key ID and Issuer ID that lets tools such as FlutterFlow upload builds on your behalf.

Which builders publish native Swift apps?
Superapp generates native Swift and SwiftUI. GoodBarber says its apps are compiled in Swift and Kotlin.

Which builders let me export my code?
Superapp as an Xcode project and FlutterFlow as Flutter code; Replit and Bolt projects are code from the start. Bubble does not offer export.

How many apps can I publish on each plan?
Thunkable Builder allows 1 live app, Adalo Builder 2 and Business 5, and Appy Pie charges per app. Apple's membership covers unlimited apps.

What happens to my app if I cancel the builder?
It depends. Thunkable says published apps become unavailable. With Superapp or FlutterFlow you keep exported code.

How long does App Store review take for builder apps?
The same as any app: Apple typically reviews at least 50% of submissions in under 24 hours and 90% in under 48 hours.

Do builder apps get rejected more often?
Not because of the builder. Rejections come from crashes, missing demo accounts, privacy issues or apps that only wrap a website.

Which builder is best for a small business?
Superapp for a native iPhone app; Adalo or Bubble for iOS and Android with a built-in database; GoodBarber for content or catalog apps on both stores.

Which builder is best for an Apple Watch or Mac app?
Superapp builds Apple Watch and Mac apps from the same project as the iPhone app.

What do I need before publishing?
An Apple Developer account, a privacy policy URL, listing text, screenshots, an icon, age rating answers, and a demo account if the app has a login.

How long does Google Play take for a new account?
New personal accounts must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before going to production.

Can I publish several apps on one Apple account?
Yes. One Apple Developer Program membership covers as many apps as you publish.

Is GoodBarber's cheapest plan enough for the App Store?
No. Standard is web only; native publishing starts on Premium.

Does Appy Pie publish to iOS on every plan?
No. Basic and Gold are Android only; iOS needs Platinum at $60 a month per app.

Is BuildFire worth the price?
It suits businesses that want a managed platform and can budget $165 a month or more; most first apps can publish for far less.

Can Replit publish without a Mac?
Yes. Replit's guided flow builds with Expo and sends the app to TestFlight and App Store Connect.

What is the difference between uploading and submitting?
Uploading sends a build to App Store Connect. Submitting attaches it to a version with a complete listing and sends it to App Review.

How do I publish my first app with a builder?
Pick a builder whose plan publishes, join the Apple Developer Program, build and test, prepare the privacy policy and listing, connect your Apple account, upload, test in TestFlight and submit for review.

Which App Store builder is easiest for non-coders?
Superapp, because you describe the app and it prepares the listing and submits. Thunkable and Adalo are visual options if you need Android too.

Do App Store builders create my App Store Connect listing?
Superapp prepares metadata, screenshots and privacy declarations. Most other builders upload the build and leave the listing to you or a guided workflow.

Can I switch builders after publishing?
Yes, if the new tool lets you use your existing bundle ID, so updates go to the same App Store record. Without code export you rebuild the app itself.

What changed with Adalo's pricing in 2026?
Adalo's pricing page now lists Builder at $65 a month or $624 a year for publishing, and Business at $200 a month or $1,920 a year.

Which builders publish Apple Watch apps?
Superapp builds Apple Watch apps from the same project as the iPhone app. The other builders here do not document Apple Watch support.

Do builders handle TestFlight?
Builders that upload to App Store Connect make builds available in TestFlight, where you can install them on real devices before review.

Can a builder publish under my company name?
Yes, if your Apple Developer account is an organization account, which needs a free D-U-N-S number.

References

• Apple Developer Program
• Apple: Membership renewal
• Apple: App Review Guidelines
• Apple: App Review
• Apple: Upcoming requirements
• Apple: 2025 App Store Transparency Report
• Apple: D-U-N-S Number
• Google Play: Testing requirements for new personal accounts
• Google Play: Registration fee
• Superapp: Home
• Superapp: Features
• Superapp: FAQ
• Superapp: Pricing
• Superapp: Apple Developer account docs
• Thunkable
• Thunkable: Pricing
• Thunkable: Publish to the App Store
• Thunkable: Publishing docs
• FlutterFlow: Pricing
• FlutterFlow: Apple App Store deployment
• Bubble: Mobile
• Bubble: Pricing and plans
• GoodBarber: Content app pricing
• GoodBarber: iOS publishing for shop apps
• Adalo: Pricing
• Adalo: App Store publishing
• Adalo: Publishing to the Apple App Store
• Adalo: Best app builders for App Store publishing
• Appy Pie: Pricing
• BuildFire: Pricing
• Replit: Building mobile apps
• Replit: Publish a mobile app to iOS
• Bolt: Integrations
• Bolt: Expo integration
• Glide: Is Glide able to push to the App Store?
• Lovable: FAQ
• Base44: Mobile experience
• Newly
• Superapp: App Store publishing cost
• Superapp: Apple App Store deployment
• Superapp: Low-cost mobile app development
• Superapp: Best AI iOS app builder 2026
• Apple: App Sandbox
• Apple: Creating independent watchOS apps
• Apple: iPhone and iPad apps on Apple Vision Pro
• Apple: Screenshot specifications
• MacRumors: Apple blocks updates for vibe coding apps
• Adalo announcement via GlobeNewswire
• Bubble: Publishing to the iOS App Store
• Bubble: When will mobile be out of beta