Two apps hiding inside every mobile app
When people say "build me a mobile app", they usually picture screens. But there are really two products: the app on the phone, and the server it talks to. The screens get all the attention. The server decides whether the app is fast, secure, and still working after a thousand users sign up.
I'm Arun Tyagi, a freelance developer in Sector 58, Noida. I build mobile apps with React Native on the front and Laravel on the back, and I write both. That single decision removes a surprising number of problems.
Why React Native plus Laravel
- One codebase for iOS and Android. Roughly 70-90% of the code is shared, which lowers cost and keeps both platforms consistent.
- Laravel handles the backend well. Authentication, push notifications, payments, admin panel, queues. All mature and well documented.
- Same developer on both sides. If the app is slow, I can see whether the cause is the screen or the query. No blame handoff.
- Updates without app-store delays for some changes. Over-the-air updates cover small fixes; bigger ones go through the stores.
When React Native is the wrong choice
I will tell you if native is better. Games, heavy AR, apps that need constant background Bluetooth, or anything with very demanding graphics should be written natively. For business apps such as bookings, ordering, field staff tools, learning apps, delivery tracking, and customer portals, React Native is usually the sensible option.
What goes into a typical app build
- Scope workshop. We list screens, user roles, and which features can wait for version two. This is the cheapest stage to cut things.
- API first. I build and document the Laravel API, so the app has something stable to call. See API development.
- App screens. Navigation, forms, lists, offline behaviour, push notifications.
- Admin panel. A web dashboard so your team manages users, orders, or content without developers.
- Testing on real devices. Not just simulators. Low-end Android phones are where apps actually break.
- Store submission. I handle the Play Store and App Store listings, screenshots, privacy forms, and review responses.
The App Store reality
Apple rejects apps for reasons that have nothing to do with code quality: a missing account-deletion option, unclear privacy wording, a login that needs a demo account. Budget a couple of review rounds. I prepare for the common rejections in advance, but I cannot promise a first-try approval.
Approximate costs in India
| Type of app | Approx. range (INR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple companion app (login, lists, forms) | ?1,50,000 - ?3,00,000 | 6-8 weeks |
| Booking or ordering app with payments | ?3,00,000 - ?6,00,000 | 10-14 weeks |
| Marketplace or multi-role app | ?6,00,000 - ?12,00,000+ | 4-6 months |
Price includes the Laravel backend and admin panel, which many quotes quietly leave out. Always check that. Store fees (Google one-time, Apple yearly) and server hosting are paid by you directly.
What I need from you
- A rough idea of who uses the app and what they do in the first five minutes
- Any existing branding or designs, though I can arrange a simple UI if not
- Decisions on payments, maps, and notifications early, since each adds integration work
- A named person who can approve things quickly
After launch
Apps need updates whenever iOS or Android release a new version. Monthly care starts around ?8,000, covered under maintenance and support. If you are specifically after React Native work, the React Native app development services page has the technical details, and React Native developer India is for hiring questions.
Talk to me
Describe the app in a few lines on WhatsApp at +91 8791775933. I will reply with questions, not a brochure. Or book a free call and we can sketch the scope together. Some ideas turn out to need a good mobile website rather than an app, and I will say so if yours is one.