How much does it cost to publish an app on the App Store?

Apple charges $99 a year for the Apple Developer Program, which you need to publish on the App Store. Google Play charges a one-time US$25 registration fee.

Is it free to publish an app on Google Play?

Not quite. Google Play has a one-time US$25 registration fee for a developer account. After that there is no yearly fee to keep publishing.

How long does App Store review take?

Apple says App Review typically reviews at least 50% of submissions in less than 24 hours and 90% in less than 48 hours. Plan a few extra days in case the reviewer asks questions.

Do I need 12 testers to publish on Google Play?

Yes, if you have a personal developer account created after November 13, 2023. Google requires a closed test with at least 12 testers who have been opted in continuously for at least 14 days before you can apply for production access.

Why was my app rejected by Apple?

Apple says over 40% of unresolved issues relate to guideline 2.1, App Completeness, which covers crashes, placeholder content and incomplete information, such as a missing demo account for an app with a login. Privacy policy problems are also on Apple's list of common issues. And if users can create an account, the app must let them delete it.

Can someone publish my app for me?

Yes. A developer can do the setup, listing, privacy forms and review for you, but the app should be published under your own Apple and Google accounts so you own it. That is how I handle it for clients.

How to Publish an App on the App Store and Google Play: Costs and Steps (2026)

To publish an app on the App Store, you join the Apple Developer Program ($99 a year), create the app in App Store Connect, upload a build, fill in the listing and the privacy details, and submit it to App Review. Apple says it typically reviews 90% of submissions in less than 48 hours. Google Play works the same way in outline: a US$25 one-time account fee, a store listing, a Data safety form and a review, plus one extra step for new personal accounts, a 14-day closed test with at least 12 testers.

I’ve taken my own app, MacroScout, through both stores, including subscriptions. Below is the process as Apple and Google document it, checked against their official pages in October 2026.

App Store vs Google Play: what each store requires

	App Store (Apple)	Google Play
Account fee	$99 a year	US$25 one time
Testing before release	TestFlight, included in the membership	Personal accounts created after November 13, 2023: closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days
Privacy	App privacy details, required for new apps and updates	Data safety form, required even on closed and open testing tracks
Accounts in your app	If users can create an account, they must be able to delete it in the app	An in-app way to delete the account and a web link to request deletion
Apps with a login	Give the reviewer a working demo account or a full demo mode	Give the sign-in details the reviewer needs to access the app
Listing text limits	Name 30 characters, subtitle 30, keywords 100 bytes, promotional text 170, description 4,000	Name 30 characters, short description 80, full description 4,000
Review time	Typically at least 50% in under 24 hours, 90% in under 48 hours	Up to seven days for some accounts, longer in exceptional cases
Technical minimum	Since April 28, 2026, uploads must be built with Xcode 26 or later (iOS 26 SDK for iPhone apps)	From August 31, 2026, most new apps and updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher

How to publish an app on the App Store, step by step

Join the Apple Developer Program. It costs $99 a year. You can enroll as an individual or as an organization. Companies and educational institutions need a D-U-N-S Number, which Apple uses to check that your business is a legal entity. Getting one can take up to 5 business days, so request it early if you don’t have one.
Create the app in App Store Connect. Add the app record with its name and bundle ID. The name can be 2 to 30 characters.
Upload a build. Upload from Xcode, or from a build service such as Expo EAS if your app is built with React Native.
Test with TestFlight. TestFlight comes with the membership. Test on real devices before you submit, because crashes and unfinished features are among the most common problems Apple reports in review.
Write the listing. You get a 30-character subtitle, 100 bytes of keywords, 170 characters of promotional text and a 4,000-character description, plus screenshots. This is also where App Store Optimization starts.
Fill in the app privacy details. Describe what data your app collects, including data collected by third-party code inside your app. Apple requires this for new apps and for updates.
Add reviewer information. If your app has a login, include a working demo account (and keep your backend running) so the reviewer can test everything.
Submit for review. If the app is rejected, read the guideline the message points to, fix the real cause and reply clearly.

How to publish an app on Google Play, step by step

Create a Google Play developer account. Pay the US$25 one-time fee and fill in your account details. Google says the fee isn’t refunded if your information turns out to be invalid, so enter it carefully.
Create the app and its store listing. You get a 30-character name, an 80-character short description and a 4,000-character full description.
Complete the Data safety form. Every app on Google Play needs it, including apps that are only on closed or open testing tracks.
Set up account deletion if your app has accounts. Google requires an in-app path to delete the account and its data, and a web link where users can request deletion.
Run the closed test if your account is new. Personal accounts created after November 13, 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers who stay opted in for at least 14 days in a row before applying for production.
Check your target API level. From August 31, 2026, new apps and app updates must target Android 16 (API level 36) or higher. Wear OS, Android Automotive OS, Android TV and Android XR apps have lower targets.
Apply for production and submit. Google says review can take up to seven days or longer in exceptional cases for some developer accounts.

How long it really takes

On the App Store, review is usually a day or two once everything is ready. On Google Play with a new personal account, the 14-day closed test comes first. Google then reviews your request for production access, which usually takes seven days or less. For a first Android release on a new personal account, plan for at least three weeks from the start of testing to going live.

Why apps get rejected, and how to avoid it

Crashes, placeholder content or missing information. Apple says this group, guideline 2.1 App Completeness, accounts for over 40% of unresolved issues. Test on a real device and remove anything unfinished.
No demo account. If the reviewer can’t log in, they can’t review. Give them a working account.
No account deletion. Both stores require it if users can create an account in your app.
Wrong or missing privacy details. Make sure Apple’s privacy details and Google’s Data safety form match what your app and its SDKs actually do.
On Google Play, skipping the closed test. New personal accounts can’t apply for production without it.

Want it done for you?

If you’d rather not deal with signing, consoles, privacy forms and reviewer replies, that is what my App Store and Google Play publishing service covers. I publish under your own accounts, so you own the app. If your app sells subscriptions, see in-app purchases too.