How to Publish Your App on the App Store and Google Play: Accounts, Fees and Steps
The code is done, but users cannot download the app yet. Publishing on both stores has steps that take days or weeks if you leave them late. This guide covers developer accounts and fees, company versus personal accounts, what to prepare, and review times.
To publish an app you need an Apple Developer Program membership (USD 99 per year) and a Google Play Console account (USD 25 one-time). Register both in your company’s name, not the developer’s, and start weeks before the code is finished, because organisation verification takes time. After upload, Apple and Google review the app before it goes live.
Related Unicode service: Mobile app development.
Developer accounts and fees
| Item | App Store (Apple) | Google Play |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Apple Developer Program | Google Play Console |
| Fee | USD 99 per year | USD 25 one-time |
| Company account | Needs a D-U-N-S number | Organisation account; D-U-N-S and company verification may be required |
| Activation | A day to several days, longer for organisations | Hours to days, with identity verification |
Fees as listed on Apple and Google’s official pages at the time of writing; check before registering.
Company or personal account?
- Developer name in the store shows your company, not a person.
- Ownership: the app, its ratings and installs belong to the company; moving an app away from a developer’s account later is painful. Put it in the development contract.
- Google Play: new personal accounts must run a closed test with a minimum number of testers for a set period before production; organisation accounts are exempt.
What to prepare before uploading
- App name and description in Arabic and English.
- Icon and screenshots in each store’s sizes, ideally a short video.
- A privacy policy URL; both stores reject apps without one.
- Data disclosures: Google Play Data safety and App Store App Privacy.
- Content and age rating questionnaires.
- A demo account for reviewers if the app needs login.
Review times and rejections
Apple review usually finishes within a day or two, Google’s within hours to several days, and both take longer for new accounts and apps. Plan at least a week of buffer. Common rejection reasons are covered in why Apple or Google reject an app.
After launch
- Monitor crashes and reviews weekly and reply to negative reviews.
- Update for new iOS and Android versions; both stores require recent target versions.
- Renew the Apple membership on time or the app disappears.
- Budget for updates: see app maintenance cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to publish an app?
Apple Developer Program is USD 99 per year and Google Play Console is USD 25 one-time, per the official pages at the time of writing. These are account fees only, not development cost.
Should I publish under my name or my company?
Your company, so its name shows in the store and it owns the app, ratings and installs. Company accounts need a D-U-N-S number and verification, so start early.
How long does app review take?
Usually a day or two on the App Store and hours to several days on Google Play, longer for new accounts and apps or after a rejection.
What is Google Play closed testing?
A requirement for new personal developer accounts to run a closed test with a minimum number of testers for a set period before production. Organisation accounts are exempt.
Do you handle publishing?
Yes, as part of app development: store listings, disclosures, uploads and review follow-up, under accounts in your company’s name.
Ready to launch your app?
Tell us where your app stands and whether you have developer accounts, and we will send what is missing and a realistic launch timeline.
From idea to both stores
See app development, app development in Egypt and app development in Riyadh, or contact the Unicode team.