Distribution of free and paid Amazon apps 2020-2025
Best Programming Languages For IOS App Development In 2025
Overview:
Swift remains the leading choice for iOS app programming in 2025.
Objective-C is still relevant for legacy projects.
Cross-platform tools, written in languages like JavaScript and Dart, are also in high demand.
Developing applications for iPhones and iPads has become a leading skill in the technology sector. With millions of apps available on the App Store, the demand for iOS developers is exceptionally high. According to Statista, Apple's App Store generated over $86 billion in revenue in 2024, highlighting the importance of iOS applications in the mobile industry.
The best iOS programming languages are those that strike a balance between speed, stability, and community support. For programmers, choosing the correct programming language is critical. Some languages are faster, others simplify development, and a few allow flexibility across platforms.
What are the Top 5 Programming Languages for iOS App Development in 2025?
This article presents the top programming languages for iOS app development in 2025. Check them below:
Swift
Swift is Apple's official programming language for the iOS platform. This language emerged in 2014, after which it quickly became the preferred choice for many developers, with Swift being considered a fast, secure, and easy-to-read language suitable for both beginners and professionals.
Why Developers Choose Swift:
Clean and beginner-friendly syntax.
Supported directly by Apple.
Works seamlessly with Xcode.
Strong performance for iOS, watchOS, and macOS apps.
Backed by a growing developer community.
Also Read: 10 Programming Languages Web3 Developers Must Learn
Objective-C
Objective-C for iOS apps remains relevant for maintaining older projects and legacy codebases. Before Swift, Objective-C was the traditional approach to Apple's programming paradigm design. Many existing apps still use Objective-C-dependent deployment systems. Companies handling legacy programs require personnel familiar with Objective-C.
Why Objective-C Still Matters:
Long history with the Apple ecosystem.
Strong support for large, existing codebases.
Compatible with Swift, making migration possible.
Essential for updating older iOS applications.
JavaScript (with React Native)
JavaScript for iOS development enables developers to create cross-platform apps using popular frameworks. JavaScript remains the world's most popular programming language. With React Native and other frameworks, developers can build cross-platform apps that run simultaneously on both iOS and Android.
Why JavaScript is Useful for iOS Apps:
Cross-platform support reduces development time.
A large community and plenty of libraries.
Easy integration with existing web apps.
Cost-effective for startups and small teams.
Dart (with Flutter)
Flutter, being a Dart-based framework, is selling exceptionally well in the mobile application development arena. Dart is neither native nor is it like Swift, but the language allows programmers to write one codebase that compiles into beautiful apps.
Why Dart + Flutter Stand Out:
Quick development with the ability to hot reload.
One codebase for both Android and iOS.
Powerful tools for UI modification.
Google-backed and extensively used.
Python
Python is a non native iOS language. Developers use Python to make iOS apps by implementing tools such as Kivy and BeeWare. This language is well-suited for data-driven, AI-centered apps.Rationale behind Developers using Python for iOS Apps:
Easy and readable syntax.
Extensive libraries for machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Ability to prototype quickly.
Helping startups focused on AI capabilities.
Also Read: Best Programming Languages to Build AI Apps in 2025
Conclusion
The core programming languages for iOS offer developers flexibility tailored to their objectives. Swift remains the preferred language for new apps, while Objective-C is quintessential for legacy projects. JavaScript, combined with React Native and Dart using Flutter, is a great choice for startups or cross-platform applications. Python adds value for AI-driven applications.
Anyone wishing to forge a career in app development should master Swift for iOS development, alongside at least one cross-platform option to broaden job opportunities. IOS app development in 2025 can be competitive; however, the correct programming language can significantly alleviate the workload.
The 'holy Grail' Of IPhone And Android App Development Is Getting Closer With New Tools That Help Coders Write Just Once For Both Mobile Platforms
Apple and Google dominate mobile computing, but their different iOS and Android platforms force developers to make the same app twice to reach both audiences.
This technical hurdle has plagued the industry for years, causing delays in app availability. Smaller companies often lack resources to hire one team for iOS and another for Android, so they must create their app for only one platform first.
That's spurred the creation of software tools that try to bridge the development gap. Other services aim to make app development itself easier with no-code or low-code solutions.
"Developers would in general love to be able to say, 'Okay, you and I write it once. And then I don't need to choose between iOS and Android' — it just runs on both at the same time," said Jason Nieh, a computer science professor at Columbia University. "That's been a holy grail in computing if you will for many, many years to try to do this, and there have been a variety of pieces of work to try to look at different ways to try to overcome that problem."
Here are some of the best tools and methods to bridge iOS-to-Android app development:
Cross-platform native developmentKotlin, a popular cross-platform language from the company JetBrains, lets developers create an app that is compatible on iOS and Android platforms and only requires coding it once.
Major companies are also trying to remedy the issue, such as Facebook with its software framework React Native and Google with the software development kit Flutter.
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Flutter lets developers build iOS and Android apps from one set of code. Product lead Tim Sneath called the tool a "big bold bet on a big bold problem." He highlighted how companies would never have multiple payroll or sales systems, yet developers must build the same app twice.
"We want to be able to give people the tools that they need," Sneath said. "We try and provide all the features to be able to build the best experience on both platforms without having to write from scratch on both."
Dom Profico, CTO of Mobiquity, said he wants to embrace Flutter but highlighted how a lack of developers who code in its language, Dart, makes staffing a problem. He thinks the tool is on the precipice of taking off and that more people will learn Dart once it does.
In the meantime, React Native is the go-to cross-platform tool at Mobiquity. This JavaScript framework, created by Facebook parent Meta, allows developers to code one app that is publishable on both iOS and Android platforms. It's currently one of the most in-demand skills on LinkedIn's job search tool.
Tools from smaller companies are also trying experimental approaches to tackling cross-platform development, such as a new framework dubbed Mutata that "translates" — or matches — an iOS app's code so that it can run on Android devices.
Not everyone is convinced cross-platform tools will work. Karen Ho, VP of mobile engineering at Swiftly, said the convenience these tools provide on the back-end are ultimately not worth the sacrifices that must be made with user experience.
"Consumers are really really picky when it comes to applications," she explained. "If an application is not performing or if an application is sluggish or if it's not necessarily as responsive as they want, they will quickly give up on it."
Low-code and no/zero-code optionsLow-code or no/zero-code tools — often drag-and-drop — help people who want to create digital projects without knowing how to code. More importantly for app development, these tools alleviate the need for developers to consider the ever-changing specifications of smartphones.
Nile Frater created NoCode.Tech, a website that aggregates resources to build projects without code. He said these flexible tools are especially key for Android app development, which requires consideration of more than 100 different screen sizes, while developing for iOS only requires considering around five different screen sizes.
"No-code apps take away a lot of problems like logins and sending emails and accepting payments in the app," Frater said. IOS and Android apps have many similar needs and no-code, low-code and zero-code tools let developers tackle those more easily so they can focus on the unique aspects of their apps instead, he added.
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Udemy Says Interest In Android, IOS App Development Skyrocketed After I/O And WWDC 2015
As Google and Apple have developer conferences on the horizon, app development is at the forefront. According to Udemy, interest has never been higher; it notes enrollment upticks for both its iOS and Android development courses.
On the Android side, Udemy says it has seen 925,000 enrollments all time, in over 300 courses. Since Google I/O last year, there has been a 68 percent rise in people wanting to learn how to build apps.
For iOS, Udemy has over one million enrollments to its 400 courses, and a 59 percent increase since WWDC of last year.
Part of the increased interest in iOS may be enterprise. Apple's partnership with SAP "has the potential to attract millions of enterprise app developers to the platform" says Apigee's Greg Brail, who also says SAP's API security will help encourage more developers to use them.
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With I/O happening this week, expect the synergy around app development to be heavier than ever, with learning platforms like Udemy, Treehouse and Udacity reaping the benefits.
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