Mobile App Developers in South Africa: iOS and Android Apps
Netgen's in-house mobile app developers in Johannesburg and Cape Town build iOS and Android apps for South African businesses: native iOS in Swift, and cross-platform iOS and Android apps in React Native and .NET MAUI, with App Store and Google Play submission included. 100% local team, no offshoring, and you own the source code.
Mobile apps we've built include RoloNext, the uConnect rewards app and ETA College's National Performance Register app.
What a mobile app costs in South Africa
Most app builds range from R120,000 to R400,000+ excl. VAT, from a focused cross-platform MVP to a full app with an admin portal, APIs and integrations. Projects start with Sprint 0, a paid discovery and scoping phase (R48,000 excl. VAT, typically 2 to 6 weeks) that ends in a fixed, itemised quote. We often recommend a web platform first to prove the model, then mobile once you've got real users, so you don't commit to the full budget on day one.
- .NET CoreBackend
- React NativeMobile
- iOSApple
- AndroidGoogle
- Node.jsAPI
iOS and Android App Development Services
Native iOS Apps in Swift
Native iOS apps built in Swift for performance-critical applications and deep Apple platform features. App Store submission, TestFlight rollout, and ongoing iOS version support handled end-to-end. iOS app development
Cross-Platform iOS and Android: React Native and .NET MAUI
One codebase deployed to both the Apple App Store and Google Play. React Native, with native module integration for camera, push notifications, biometrics and SA-localised services, or .NET MAUI for clients with existing Microsoft .NET back-end systems, sharing a C# codebase between mobile and backend. React Native app development | .NET MAUI app development
App Store and Google Play Submission
Full submission to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, including provisioning, signing, screenshots, store-listing copy, and the review-feedback cycle. Apps are published under your developer account, not ours.
Backend & APIs
Robust custom backends in .NET Core or Node.js. PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server. Hosted on Azure, AWS, or local SA infrastructure depending on compliance needs.
How we build your mobile app
A fixed scope and price before the build starts, then working software you can see throughout.
- Sprint 0: discovery and scoping. Business analysis, requirements, architecture and a roadmap, ending in a fixed, itemised quote. R48,000 excl. VAT, typically 2 to 6 weeks.
- Design and build in agile sprints. We build natively in Swift for iOS, or cross-platform for iOS and Android in React Native or .NET MAUI, in iterative sprints with regular demos. Your build timeline is confirmed in Sprint 0 once the scope is known.
- App Store and Google Play submission. Provisioning, signing, store-listing copy, screenshots and the review cycle, published under your own developer account.
- Support after launch. SLA support, hosting, monitoring, security updates and new features from the team that built your app.
AI Built Into Your Mobile App
We embed ChatGPT, generative AI, and LLM features directly into iOS and Android apps. POPIA-safe. B-BBEE Level 2. SA team only. No offshore dev.
Why Choose Netgen as Your App Developer
Trusted by Businesses Across South Africa
Mobile app case studies
RoloNext
A digital business card app built in React Native for iOS and Android, with a custom SDK that kept its swipe-to-share feature alive when a third-party provider withdrew. Live on iOS and Android since 2020.
uConnect
A mobile rewards app rebuilt in React Native, with a new backend and APIs, staged updates and integrations with payment methods and retailers.
ETA College
A secure app for the National Performance Register that connects to the existing database, so athletes and coaches see their own performance results on their phones.
FinGlobal Migration
FinGlobal's React Native mobile app lets clients securely manage offshore financial services. We took it over in June 2024 when it was crashing on newer iPhones, fixed the critical bugs and have maintained it since.
What Our Clients Say
Real results, real relationships
“We went from idea to having a fully functioning app within a couple of months. Netgen took our ideas and created cross-platform apps hosted in the secure cloud.”
Olga Lakeman
Founder, Rolonext
Mobile App Developers in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Our in-house app developers work from offices in Johannesburg (Randburg) and Cape Town (Westlake, near Tokai and Muizenberg) and build for businesses across South Africa. 100% local team, no offshoring.
Johannesburg Office
280 Kent Avenue
Randburg, Johannesburg, 2194
Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 781 0480
Cape Town Office
11 Bell Crescent
Westlake, Cape Town, 7945
Western Cape, South Africa
Tel: +27 21 110 0272
Mobile App Development in South Africa: FAQs
Common questions about app development cost, timelines, native iOS (Swift), React Native and .NET MAUI, our Johannesburg and Cape Town teams, IP ownership and App Store submission.
How much does it cost to build a mobile app in South Africa?
Most app builds at Netgen cost R120,000 to R400,000+ excl. VAT. A focused cross-platform MVP for iOS and Android starts from R120,000, and an app with an admin portal, APIs and integrations with your existing systems is typically up to R400,000+. Every project starts with Sprint 0, a paid discovery and scoping phase (R48,000 excl. VAT, typically 2 to 6 weeks) that ends in a fixed, itemised quote.
How long does it take to build a mobile app?
Sprint 0 (discovery and scoping) typically takes 2 to 6 weeks. The build timeline depends on the scope and is confirmed in Sprint 0, after which we build in iterative agile sprints with regular demos, so you see working software throughout.
Does Netgen build iOS and Android mobile apps?
Yes. Netgen builds native iOS apps in Swift, and cross-platform apps for both iOS and Android in React Native, or .NET MAUI for clients with existing Microsoft .NET back-end systems. A cross-platform app ships one codebase to both the Apple App Store and Google Play, which keeps development time and ongoing maintenance lower than separate builds.
Should I build a native app or a cross-platform app like React Native?
Native apps deliver the best performance and platform-specific features such as advanced camera, ARKit, or hardware integrations; Netgen builds native iOS apps in Swift. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native and .NET MAUI ship one codebase to both iOS and Android, which is faster and cheaper to build and maintain, and this is how we build Android apps. For most South African business apps cross-platform is the right choice. The decision depends on your performance requirements, budget, and team.
Do you have mobile app developers in Johannesburg and Cape Town?
Yes. Netgen's app developers work from our offices in Johannesburg (280 Kent Avenue, Randburg), where we have been since 2000, and Cape Town (11 Bell Crescent, Westlake, near Tokai and Muizenberg), since 2012. The whole team is in South Africa. No offshoring.
Who owns the source code after Netgen builds a mobile app?
You do. Netgen builds the mobile app as your intellectual property. There are no licence fees payable to Netgen, and you retain full ownership of the source code and the right to publish or migrate the app anywhere.
Does Netgen handle App Store and Google Play submission?
Yes. Netgen handles the full submission process to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, including provisioning, signing, store-listing copy, screenshots, and the review-feedback cycle. Apps are published under your developer account, not ours.