Is It Hard to Make an App and Publish It? An Honest Answer for 2026

Making a simple content or store app is no longer hard. With a no-code app builder, you don't need to write code, and the main work is deciding what the app does and preparing good content.

Publishing it is harder than most first-timers expect. Apple and Google require developer accounts, privacy information and a review, and a new personal Google Play account must first run a 14-day closed test with at least 12 testers.

Apps with custom logic are still hard. Marketplaces, on-demand services, social networks and games usually need developers, whatever a tool's marketing says.

For a non-technical person, the hardest parts are usually store requirements, review and keeping the app current. Those come after the build.

Where GoodBarber fits. GoodBarber is a no-code app builder for content and mobile-commerce apps. It suits the first two rows of the table below. It isn't made for games or complex marketplaces.

Labels show where a claim comes from: (Official source) Apple's or Google's own pages · (GoodBarber data) our internal records, with their scope · (Our assessment) our judgment after 15 years of building app tools, which you may weigh differently.

The type of app matters more than your skills. An app built from standard parts is manageable for a beginner. An app built around its own logic is a software project.

The useful question is whether a tool already provides what your app needs. Articles, products, a checkout, push notifications and user accounts are standard parts. Matching drivers to riders in real time is not.

Table: How hard each type of app is for someone who doesn't code (Our assessment)

If your idea sits in the bottom three rows, it may still work as a smaller first version. A local marketplace run from one store is far simpler than Airbnb. Our guide to the limitations of no-code app builders explains where tools stop.

With a no-code tool, the build is rarely the stage that stops people. Review, store setup and upkeep are more likely to.

Table: The six stages, for a content or store app built with a no-code tool (Our assessment)

The picture changes if you write the code yourself or use an AI generator. Stage 2 then gets harder, and stage 6 gets much harder, because you own every technical problem. Our 7-step guide to making an app covers these stages in detail.

You don't need to code, but you do need to be organized. The skills that matter most are clear thinking, patience with forms and careful testing.

How technical you need to be depends on the route you take.

Table: What each route asks of you (Our assessment)

AI generators deserve a caution. They produce a convincing first version quickly, which can make the whole job look easy. A demo that works in a browser is still a long way from an app that passes store review and handles real accounts and payments. We looked at this gap in what vibe coding tools forget to tell you about mobile apps and in our guide to creating an app with AI.

With any route, you'll need these non-coding skills:

• Writing a clear brief. Who is the app for, and what is the one thing they come back for?
• Testing like a stranger. Try every button, on a real phone, on a bad connection.
• Reading a rejection. Store messages are formal, but they usually cite a specific guideline.
• Handling personal data properly. You must be able to say what your app collects and why.

Publishing is hard because you have to meet someone else's rules, and every app has to pass the same review. The fees are small. The requirements take the effort.

Store accounts come first

• (Official source) Apple: the Apple Developer Program costs US$99 per year, or the local equivalent. Some nonprofits, accredited educational institutions and government entities can request a waiver.
• (Official source) Google: Google Play has a US$25 one-time registration fee, identity verification, and extra requirements for personal accounts. These include proving access to an Android device through the Play Console mobile app, so an iPhone-only founder needs to borrow one.
• (Official source) Companies: to enroll an organization with Apple, you need a D-U-N-S Number registered to your legal entity. Individuals and sole proprietors don't need one.

Google's closed test for new personal accounts

(Official source) Personal developer accounts created after November 13, 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in continuously for at least 14 days. You then apply for production access and answer questions about the test. Finding 12 people who stay opted in is often the hardest part, and we have a step-by-step guide to getting through it.

Apple's review

Rejection is common and often fixable, so plan for it.

(Official source) In its 2025 App Store Transparency Report, Apple says it reviewed 9,100,620 app submissions and rejected 2,093,244, about 23%. Those figures cover all developers and include updates. Performance was the largest rejection category. Apple also says that over 40% of unresolved issues relate to guideline 2.1, App Completeness, which covers crashes, placeholder content and incomplete information.

Here's what our own publishing team sees on first submissions.

Our own data on first submissions

~42% of first iOS submissions handled by our publishing team were rejected by Apple

91% of those rejected apps were eventually accepted after the team stepped in

(GoodBarber data) 12 months to April 2026, from our publishing team's CRM. Sample size not disclosed. These apps went through one team on one platform, so this isn't Apple's overall rate and can't be compared directly with the 23% above.

Most preventable rejections come from a few checks. Before you submit, make sure that:

• The app has no crashes, placeholder text or broken links, and every feature you describe works.
• Your support link is working, and your privacy policy link appears both in App Store Connect and inside the app.
• Reviewers can get in. If the app needs a login, provide a demo account in the App Review Information section.
• The app offers more than your website does. Guideline 4.2 asks for features, content and UI that lift it "beyond a repackaged website."
• The right owner submits it. Under guideline 4.2.6, apps from templates or app generation services are rejected unless they're submitted directly by the provider of the app's content. In practice, submit from your own developer account.

Google has its own review, policies and data safety form. See our App Store publishing guide for the Apple steps.

Plan for about three weeks of waiting on a new personal Google Play account. Apple's review is usually much faster.

These waits are outside your control, however quickly you build. They're separate from the time spent making the app.

Table: Waiting times stated by Apple, Google and D&B (Official source)

The three-week figure is our sum of the 14-day test and up to 7 days for production access. A rejection adds a round of fixes, and a tester who drops out early may not count toward the 12, so build in a margin before any launch date.

Publishing an app isn't the same as releasing it to a market. Two jobs start on launch day: keeping it compliant and finding users.

Keeping it current. Phone operating systems and store rules keep changing, even if your app doesn't. (Official source) As one example, Google required new apps and updates to target Android 16 by August 31, 2026, and existing apps had to target at least Android 15 to stay available to new users on newer Android versions. Rules like this are routine. Who handles them depends on your route: often the platform on a no-code builder, you or your developers otherwise. We explain what goes wrong in what quietly breaks when you don't update your app.

Finding users. An app store won't send you an audience. (Our assessment) Apps with an existing audience have a much easier start: a shop with customers, a church with members, a media brand with readers. If you're starting from nothing, finding users is likely to be harder than building the app, so test demand first. Ask people who fit your audience whether they'd install it and what they'd use it for.

Giving people a reason to return. An app earns its place on a phone with something a website can't do as well, such as push notifications, loyalty rewards, or fast repeat ordering. If you can't name that reason, reconsider whether you need an app yet.

Yes, for most content and store apps. One person can do every stage with a no-code tool, though a few situations call for help.

Going solo has one visible effect: (Official source) if you enroll with Apple as an individual, your own name is displayed as the seller on the App Store. With an organization account, your organization's name appears instead.

Get help in these cases:

• Regulated services. Apple says apps for services such as banking, healthcare or gambling generally must be submitted by the legal entity providing the service. Get legal advice early.
• Custom logic. If your idea is in the bottom half of the first table, budget for developers.
• Repeated rejections. If the same app is rejected twice, a publishing specialist can save time.
• Design. Templates go a long way, and our guide to designing an app yourself covers the rest. A strong brand may justify a designer.

(GoodBarber example) What the platform takes off your plate

• Build: a no-code back office that produces native iOS and Android apps and a web version from one setup.
• Run: hosting, database, push notifications and payment connections come with the platform, so there's no separate stack to assemble.
• Publish: you can submit the app yourself, or use the optional GoodBarber Takes Care service. Our team handles submission, store forms and screenshots, and manages rejections. The app is published under your own developer accounts, so it stays yours.
• Cost: native apps start with the Premium plan, from €660 per year on Content apps, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card. Store fees are extra, as they are with any tool. Some features are paid extensions. See current pricing.

Limits. GoodBarber is built for content apps and mobile commerce. It doesn't build games, and it isn't the right tool for recreating a complex marketplace like Airbnb. You can't export the whole app's code. You still have to write your content, test the app and hold the store accounts. The stores decide what passes review, so no service can guarantee acceptance.

Each "no" tells you where the difficulty will be. It doesn't mean you should stop.

(Our assessment) Answer yes or no:

1. Can you describe the app's main purpose in one sentence?
2. Is everything it needs a standard feature, such as content, a shop, accounts or notifications?
3. Do you already have an audience, or a clear way to reach one?
4. Can you have content ready for launch day, with no placeholders?
5. Can you find 12 reliable testers, if you're on a new personal Google Play account?
6. Will someone own the app every month after launch?

Five or six yes answers: your project is very doable with a no-code tool. Three or four: fix the gaps before you build. Two or fewer, or a no on question 2: reduce the scope, or talk to developers before you commit.

Is it difficult to create an app and release it on the market?

Creating a simple app isn't difficult with a no-code builder. Releasing it takes more effort, because you need developer accounts, privacy information and store review, and a new personal Google Play account needs a 14-day closed test. Finding users is often harder still.

How hard is it to build a mobile app as a beginner?

For a content or store app, it's manageable, with a learning curve around the tool and the stores. For anything with custom logic, it's hard, and a beginner should start with a much smaller version.

Do I need to know how to code to make an app?

No. No-code builders don't require any code. AI generators don't require it to start, but you'll need some technical judgment to fix problems and publish. See what each route asks of you.

Can I create an app with my phone?

You can do some tasks from a phone, but we recommend a computer for building and store setup. You will need real phones for testing, and a personal Google Play account requires access to an Android device.

How complex an app can I realistically build without a developer?

You can build a full content, store, membership or loyalty app, including accounts, payments and notifications. The limit comes with logic that the tool doesn't already provide. Check each must-have feature against the tool's documentation before you start.

Can I build an app like Uber, Airbnb or Instagram without coding?

Not a full version. Real-time matching, two-sided payments and moderation at scale need custom development. A no-code tool can test a narrower version of the idea, such as one local service.

Will Apple reject my app?

It may. Apple's 2025 report shows about 23% of all submissions rejected, including updates. Many rejections can be fixed: complete the app, test it, and provide your privacy policy and demo account details.

How long does it take to publish an app?

Apple typically reviews 90% of submissions in under 48 hours. On a new personal Google Play account, allow about three weeks for the closed test and production access. Organizations may need extra time for a D-U-N-S Number.

How much does it cost to publish an app?

Apple charges US$99 per year and Google charges a one-time US$25, whichever tool you use. Building costs extra: see how much it costs to build an app without coding.

Do I need a company to publish an app?

No. Apple and Google both accept individuals. On Apple, your own name then appears as the seller, and apps for regulated services generally must come from the legal entity providing them.

This guide was written by the GoodBarber marketing team. It started from the questions people ask search engines and AI assistants about making an app, including the wording "is it difficult to create an app and release it in the market?"

Store rules, fees and waiting times come from Apple's and Google's own pages, checked on November 6, 2026. Difficulty ratings are our assessment and aren't measured data. GoodBarber sells an app builder, so we benefit if you choose the no-code route. We've tried to state clearly where it doesn't fit.

We review this guide at least every quarter, and when a store rule or fee changes.

Sources

1. Apple: App Review
2. Apple: App Store Review Guidelines
3. Apple: 2025 App Store Transparency Report
4. Apple: Enrollment, What's included, D-U-N-S Number
5. Google: Get started with Play Console
6. Google: App testing requirements for new personal developer accounts
7. Google: Play Console Help on review times
8. Google: Target API level requirements

The quickest way to find out is to try. Build a first version of your content or store app, and test it on your own phone before you pay anything.

Start your 30-day free trial →

No credit card required. GoodBarber apps get a download every 4 seconds, and we have paying customers in 152 countries.

• How to make an app: the 7-step guide
• How to create an app with AI
• Limitations of no-code app builders
• Google Play closed testing: getting 12 testers through 14 days