The tools we'd pick to ship an app today.
54 services for building, shipping and growing iOS and Android apps, grouped by job. No sponsored spots, no signup. Most start free.
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Backend & data
Databases, sync and server functions without running servers.
- ConvexFree tierReactive database with TypeScript functions. Queries update live on every client.
- SupabaseFree tierPostgres with auth, storage, edge functions and realtime in one project.
- FirebaseFree tierGoogle's app backend: Firestore, auth, remote config, Crashlytics and FCM push.
- AppwriteOpen sourceOpen-source backend with databases, auth, storage and functions. Cloud or self-hosted.
- PocketBaseOpen sourceA whole backend in one Go binary: SQLite, auth, files and an admin UI.
- NeonFree tierServerless Postgres that scales to zero and branches like git.
- TursoFree tierSQLite at the edge, with embedded replicas that sync to the device.
- UpstashFree tierServerless Redis, queues and rate limiting billed per request.
Payments & subscriptions
In-app purchases, paywalls and web checkout.
- RevenueCatFree tierIn-app subscriptions for iOS and Android: receipts, paywalls, entitlements and charts.
- StripePaidWeb payments and subscriptions. Pay per transaction, no monthly fee.
- PaddlePaidMerchant of record that handles sales tax and VAT for software sold on the web.
- Lemon SqueezyPaidMerchant of record for digital products, licenses and subscriptions.
Product analytics
Find out what people actually do in your app.
Crashes & monitoring
Know about the crash before the one-star review does.
Build & release
Signing, builds and store uploads on autopilot.
- ExpoFree tierReact Native toolkit with EAS Build, Submit and over-the-air updates.
- fastlaneOpen sourceAutomates signing, builds, screenshots and uploads for iOS and Android.
- CodemagicFree tierCI/CD for mobile, with Flutter, React Native and native iOS workflows.
- GitHub ActionsFree tierCI in your repo, with macOS runners for iOS builds.
- Xcode CloudFree tierApple's own CI. Compute hours come with the Apple Developer Program.
Frameworks
What the app itself is written in.
- React NativeOpen sourceNative iOS and Android apps written in React and TypeScript.
- FlutterOpen sourceGoogle's UI toolkit for iOS, Android, web and desktop from one Dart codebase.
- SwiftOpen sourceApple's language for iOS, macOS, watchOS and visionOS apps.
- Kotlin MultiplatformOpen sourceShare Kotlin logic between Android and iOS, keep native UI where you want it.
- CapacitorOpen sourceShip an existing web app to the App Store and Google Play with native plugins.
Hosting & deploy
For the landing page, the API and everything around the app.
- VercelFree tierDeploys Next.js and other frontends on every push, with previews per branch.
- NetlifyFree tierStatic sites, functions and forms with deploy previews.
- CloudflareFree tierDNS, CDN, Workers, R2 storage and Pages. Most indie needs fit the free plan.
- RailwayPaidRun a server, worker or database from a repo in a few clicks.
- RenderFree tierWeb services, cron jobs and Postgres with git-based deploys.
- Fly.ioPaidRun containers close to your users in regions around the world.
Auth
Sign-in with Apple, Google, email and passkeys.
Transactional mail, onboarding and newsletters.
- ResendFree tierEmail API for developers, with React Email templates.
- LoopsFree tierOnboarding flows, product updates and transactional mail for software companies.
- MailgunFree tierSending, receiving and validating email through an API.
- BrevoFree tierNewsletters, SMS and transactional email with a generous free plan.
Design & motion
Interfaces, icons and animations that feel native.
- FigmaFree tierDesign the app, the icon and the prototype in the browser.
- RiveFree tierInteractive animations with state machines that run natively on iOS, Android and web.
- LottieFilesFree tierFree Lottie animations and tools to make and edit your own.
- FramerFree tierDesign and publish the app's website without writing code.
Localization & ads
Reach more countries and earn from free users.
AI
Models and APIs to build AI features on.
Everyday workflow
Planning, notes and editors indie devs live in.
- LinearFree tierFast issue tracking and roadmaps, pleasant even for a team of one.
- NotionFree tierDocs, specs, release notes and a public roadmap page.
- RaycastFree tierMac launcher with snippets, clipboard history and developer extensions.
- CursorFree tierAI code editor built on VS Code.
- AlgoliaFree tierHosted search with typo tolerance for in-app and site search.
- CloudinaryFree tierImage and video uploads, transformations and CDN delivery.