1. Decide what the first iOS version must do
List the smallest complete workflow a customer needs on mobile. For many products that means sign in, view or create the core item, manage an account, and receive a useful result. Leave desktop-only administration and low-use settings on the web until they are genuinely needed on iPhone.
Write down which parts already exist: APIs, database, authentication, billing, file storage, analytics, support, and legal pages. This separates reusable infrastructure from work that must be designed specifically for iOS.
- Primary mobile user and outcome
- Essential screens and navigation
- Existing APIs and authentication method
- Subscriptions or other digital purchases
- Device features such as camera, notifications, or offline data
2. Choose native, cross-platform, or a web wrapper
Native SwiftUI gives direct access to Apple's interface patterns and platform APIs. A cross-platform framework can be sensible when the same mobile product must ship on iOS and Android. A web view can be suitable for limited internal content, but it does not automatically make a website a good App Store product.
Choose based on product needs, team skills, performance, accessibility, offline behavior, and long-term maintenance. Do not choose only because one approach produces the first screenshot fastest.
3. Reuse the backend without copying the desktop interface
Keep proven server-side rules and data where possible. Define clear API contracts for the iOS app, use secure token storage, handle expired sessions, and make network failures understandable. If the web product has no stable API, create that boundary before building many screens.
Adapt navigation and content density to a smaller screen. Native controls, Dynamic Type, VoiceOver labels, loading states, empty states, and destructive-action confirmation all matter to the finished app.
4. Prepare the Apple-specific parts
Create the bundle identifier and app record, configure signing, add only the permissions the app actually needs, and write accurate privacy disclosures. If the app sells digital access or features, review Apple's current in-app purchase rules and configure App Store Connect products before testing purchase flows.
Test on physical devices as well as simulators. Check first launch, slow and offline networks, account deletion where applicable, subscription restore, accessibility, dark mode, and the support and privacy links shown in the store listing.
5. Submit a focused, reviewable build
Archive and upload the build, complete the App Store listing, provide review notes and a working demo account when login is required, and answer export-compliance and privacy questions accurately. Apple—not a starter kit, developer, or agency—makes the approval decision.
Where Ship iOS fits
Ship iOS is being developed for developers who want a reusable SwiftUI starting point for this process. The founding-customer pre-order is planned to include source code, a setup guide, and project instructions for Claude Code and Codex. It does not automatically convert a site or perform the implementation and submission for you.
Review the Ship iOS product, founding-customer pricing, and complete FAQ before pre-ordering.
Related questions
Can the iOS app use the same backend as the web app?
Usually, yes, if the backend exposes secure, documented APIs suitable for a mobile client. Authentication, file uploads, payments, rate limits, and account deletion still need to be checked for the iOS experience.
Should I put my entire website inside a web view?
Not by default. A web view can serve narrow use cases, but a useful App Store app normally needs a mobile-focused experience, reliable navigation, accessible controls, and a clear reason to exist on iOS.