Swift, Objective-C JavaScript C# Dart, and Java are the main iOS programming languages in 2024. Swift tops the list due to its speed and modern features, while JavaScript and Dart have gained popularity for cross-platform development.
Why does that matter? Well, here are some impressive figures: by the of 2024, over 4.48 billion people worldwide are expected to be mobile internet users. Of those, 1.46 billion are active iPhone users. This means that the Apple App Store, hosting over 1.836 million apps, is a definite hot spot for developers eager to tap into this vast and growing user base.
Thus choosing the right language for iOS app development is key. It can make the development process smoother and influence the app’s performance and ease of maintenance.
Developing an iOS app no longer requires you to strictly use native code, and over the years several iOS programming languages have surfaced. If you are also considering the iOS market for your next mobile app, then it’s a good idea to evaluate your options and see which is the best for your project.
In this article, we’ll explore the top six languages for iOS app development in 2024, evaluating their strengths and community support to help you choose the right one.
What are the 7 Leading Languages for Building iOS Apps in 2024?
In 2024, a few languages shine because of their unique strengths and adaptability to different developers’ needs. Whether you want to make apps just for iOS or apps that work on many platforms, these seven languages will give you what you need to do well in the changing world of iOS apps.
Let’s take a look at each language and see how they can help you create great iOS apps:
1. Swift – The Forefront of iOS Development
Swift is a programming language created by Apple to build apps for all their operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. When building native iOS apps, Swift remains the preferred choice in 2024.
Apple designed Swift for faster and easier development. . Some of the frameworks that work seamlessly with Swift include Cocoa, CloudKit, and AVFoundation.
As of 2024, Swift ranks 20th on the Tiobe index, reflecting its continued relevance despite the rise of other languages.
The best use case for Swift programming language: Swift excels in developing fast, scalable iOS apps, optimized for performance. It removes the middle layer of interpretation, unlike other languages, making it ideal for high-performance apps.
Companies like Airbnb, LinkedIn, and Lyft continue to leverage Swift for iOS app development.
| Pros | Cons |
| Native iOS language | There are not so many Swift developers out there |
| Gentle learning curve, making it easier for beginners to grasp. | Limited community support compared to other languages like Python, Java, and C++ |
| Stable and reliable | |
| Regular updates | |
| Wide scalability | |
| Enables fast development of apps | |
| Automatic memory counting | |
| Frequent updates from Apple |
2. C#
C# is a cross-platform, object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft in 2000. However, it wasn’t considered a programming language for iOS apps until Xamarin came along. Xamarin is a hybrid app development framework built on C# that allows teams to share a majority of the code between apps for different target platforms, thus streamlining their development and support.
As of 2024, C# ranks 5th on the Tiobe index, reflecting its continued growth in popularity.
The best use case for C#: It is best to use C# if you plan to build iOS and Android applications. It is also ideal if your team already has C# developers. Popular apps like Slack and Pinterest have utilized C# with Xamarin for their mobile apps.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great community support since it is a popular and mature language | Relatively steep learning curve for beginners |
| Open-source | Limited flexibility since it is based on the Microsoft.NET framework |
| High performance | |
| It has a huge library | |
| Cross-platform support | |
| Easy to use | |
| There are many C# developers | |
| Scalable and updateable |
3. Objective-C – The Legacy Choice
Objective-C is an extension of the C programming language with object-oriented programming capabilities. Developed in the early 1980s, it was the primary language for creating OS X and iOS, plus their APIs. Though it can still be used for iOS applications, Objective-C has largely been replaced by Swift.
As of 2024, Objective-C ranks 32nd on the Tiobe index.The best use case for Objective C: Objective C is an old and relatively outdated programming language (It was last updated in 2016). So, it’s best suited for maintaining older iOS apps that don’t support Swift. For modern iOS development, Swift is the better choice.
Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram were originally built with Objective-C.
| Pros | Cons |
| Stable and mature language | Outdated language and less secure |
| Supports dynamic typing | Steeper learning curve compared to Swift |
| Proven track record for legacy apps | Limited pool of talent |
| Not open-source | |
| Limited functionality | |
| Lack of new updates |
4. Java – The Cross-Platform Contender
Java is a general-purpose, class-based, and object-oriented programming language created in 1995. It remains one of the most popular and mature programming languages, with over 9 million developers currently using it worldwide.
Since it is a general-purpose programming language, it can be used to build iOS and Android applications. One of Java’s essential aspects is that its code doesn’t need recompilation to run on any platform, making it an incredibly reliable and fast cross-platform programming language.Much like C#, Java requires a framework to port the code to something that iOS understands. There are many, with one of the most popular being Codename One.
As of 2024, Java ranks 4th on the Tiobe index.
Best use cases for Java: Java is not a very popular language for iOS. Despite the existence of hybrid app development platforms such as Codename One, it is only ideal to use it if you already have an Android application that you would like to build for iOS with minimal effort. If you are strictly building an iOS app, it is best to opt for Swift instead.
Popular apps like Spotify use Java in their development process.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cross-platform language | High memory use |
| Large community support | Relatively hard to learn for those with no programming background |
| Scalable and updatable programming language | Performance slower than native iOS languages |
| Huge pool of talent | Type-heavy language |
| Open-source | |
| Flexible | |
| Secure |
5. JavaScript – Bridging the Gap with React Native
JavaScript, in combination with HTML5 and CSS, is widely used to create web apps. For iOS development, JavaScript frameworks like React Native and Apache Cordova are used to “wrap” the app for native deployment.
- React Native, in particular, enables developers to create hybrid apps for iOS and Android with a single codebase.
As of 2024, JavaScript ranks 6th on the Tiobe index.
Best use cases for JavaScript: You’ll want to use web technologies for your iOS app if you plan to develop, or already have, a web app that you want to port over to iOS.. When starting a project for a new app, since you need to ensure you have developers on your team that are well versed with HTML 5, CSS, and JavaScript because these three work together. This changes if you’re using React Native however, since you’ll only require JavaScript developers to deliver a hybrid application that can be published to other mobile platforms or even as a web app.
Apps like Facebook and Instagram use JavaScript frameworks for mobile app development.
| Pros | Cons |
| Wide pool of talent | Limited functionality |
| Multiplatform support | Performance issues with responsive design |
| Open source | |
| It’s considered easy to pick up, especially for beginners. | |
| Allows creating offline apps |
6. Dart – Rising with Flutter
Flutter, developed by Google, uses Dart as its programming language to enable seamless cross-platform development. While Dart and Flutter may not have the same mass adoption as other languages, they offer an easy way to create fast, responsive, and visually appealing apps out of the box.
As of 2024, Dart ranks 30th on the Tiobe index.
Best use cases for Dart: The best use case for Dart is when you want to develop an iOS app alongside a web app version. If you’re interested in adopting Google’s material design philosophy, Flutter comes with it set up from the start.
The Google Ads app is a notable example of a mobile application built with Dart and Flutter.
| Pros | Cons |
| Dart is easy to learn for individuals with a background in JavaScript or Java. | Few libraries to aid development |
| Multiplatform support | Limited talent pool |
| Open source | Relative smaller community |
| Easily create appealing visuals for your app | |
| Provides a wide collection of widgets to customize your app | |
| Allows creating offline apps |
7. Kotlin – Bridging iOS and Android with Kotlin Multiplatform
Kotlin is widely known for Android development, but with Kotlin Multiplatform, developers can now use shared code between iOS and Android apps. This allows developers to use common business logic across platforms while still writing native UIs for each.
Best use cases for Kotlin: Kotlin Multiplatform is ideal for apps requiring native UIs on iOS and Android, especially for enterprise applications.
Apps like Netflix and Trello use Kotlin for their cross-platform logic.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cross-platform development with native performance | Complex setup for iOS |
| Seamless integration with Android apps | Smaller ecosystem compared to native iOS development or well-established cross-platform tools like Flutter |
| Large, active community |
Benefits of iOS Programming Languages for Businesses
Whether you’re looking for iPad or iPhone app development languages, savvy business owners will decide based on their immediate need to build the app, but also look towards the future. This choice can bring benefits to the business as well. Let’s explore a few key points you should consider when making your choice.
1. Project Diversity And Developer Flexibility
If your company plans on working on other projects besides iOS apps, consider picking a multi-purpose language that allows the developers to branch out and take charge of these other projects at the company. This can not only give developers new opportunities to shine in different contexts, but also make them extremely flexible and able to tackle more types of challenges.
2. Cross-Platform Development
In case you’re developing an app that is meant to run in several mobile operating systems, pick a hybrid app development framework like Xamarin, React Native, or Flutter. Having the option to target other platforms other than iOS brings many benefits, but by far the most important is the increase in user base. Greater reach is nothing to be scoffed at: apps live or die by their adoption.
3. Web Availability
Web apps are very popular companions to mobile apps. If you’re considering branching out to a web app in the future, pick a web based solution. Web technologies is a tried and true option, but newer frameworks such as React Native and Flutter can also prove advantageous. Building apps for the web makes your app available everywhere, making it far more appealing to users that frequently switch between devices where your app would be useful. People are more likely to stick with apps that work in all contexts that they require, increasing user retention.
4. Native Functionality, Performance, and Feel
If your company is focused on making exclusively iOS apps, or simply wants to take advantage of cutting edge native functionality, Swift will probably be your language of choice. Swift will give you access to the native functionality of the iOS platform, and allow you to build extremely performant apps that conform to the expectations of iOS users in terms of visuals and user experience. The biggest benefit here is being able to deliver very high-quality products for the platform that will leave your users wanting more.
You can still reach a user experience akin to native feel using other options, but nothing beats using the native development platform when it comes to performance and tapping into the latest functionality as soon as it comes out.
What To Consider Before Building An iOS App?
1. Know Your Target Market
Before you build your iOS app, it is essential to have details of the people you target to use the app. Having details of the target audience and how they usually use their devices will give you an idea of how to design the app and which features matter most to these people.
Knowing your target audience will also make it easier for you to run ad campaigns for the app because you know exactly who you are communicating to. So, start by doing market research to determine your target users based on gender, age, location, and any other relevant criteria.
2. Know The Problem You Are Solving
While planning to build your iOS application, you need to have a clear idea of the problem you are trying to solve. This should always be the first step because if your app is not solving any problem in the market, it will not be used by anyone. This will also help you determine if you have competitors.
3. The Scope Of Your Application
After defining the purpose of the app, you now need to determine the different capabilities your application will have. For instance, if you are building a fitness application, you need to determine the exercises to include in the app. You can always expand the scope of the app in the future, but initially, it’s best to set a strong foundation in terms of what you’ll cover at the start.
4. What Devices To Support
Apple has been making iPhones since 2007, so you need to decide which of these iPhones your app will support. Your app’s functionality will help you determine the iOS devices with the necessary database to run it. Knowing the devices capable of running your app will help you determine the iOS versions to build the app for and also which languages you can use to write the app itself.
5. Evaluate Your Capacity To Build The App
Building an application is no easy task and will require several people with different development skills. So, before you start writing your first line of code, it is crucial to evaluate if you have the necessary talent to build the kind of app you want.
Some of the specialists you may need on the team include; Frontend and backend Developers, UX Designer, UI Designer, Graphic Designer, and even QA developers and Project Manager.
For startups, you can have one developer play two or three of the above roles. However, eventually, you may consider hiring remote developers who can help you scale your application.
Future Trends in iOS App Development
When we think about the near future, we see some big changes coming to iOS app development. From evolving cross-platform capabilities to advancements in AI and machine learning, developers are increasingly leveraging these new technologies to build more innovative, efficient, and user-friendly apps.
Here’s what’s likely to happen:
SwiftUI’s Growing Popularity
Apple’s SwiftUI framework is becoming the preferred choice for creating iOS apps. It allows developers to write less code and build more flexible user interfaces. As more people start using Swift, we’ll see an increase in developers turning to SwiftUI. This trend will help them create apps that work across different devices, from iPhones to Apple Watches.
AI and Machine Learning Become Key
As apps focus more on giving users personalized experiences, it’s becoming crucial to include Core ML (Apple’s machine learning tool) in iOS apps. By 2025, we can expect to see AI-powered features become common in iOS app development. These will include things like predictive texts, smart recommendations, and facial recognition.
Rise of Cross-Platform Development
Flutter and React Native help developers create apps that work well on iOS and Android. As companies seek to reduce costs and time-to-market, expect these cross-platform tools to gain even more traction, especially with the support of languages like Dart and JavaScript.
Focus on AR/VR and 3D Experiences
Apple invests in augmented reality (AR) through ARKit so iOS apps will keep pushing the limits of immersive user experiences. AR/VR features will benefit retail, education, and gaming apps changing how users interact with digital content.
Kotlin’s Growing Influence
Kotlin Multiplatform’s development has an impact on cross-platform development. It now allows developers to share business logic between iOS and Android. While its ecosystem is still smaller than React Native or Flutter, it’s on the rise and is particularly appealing to Android-first developers expanding into iOS.
Final Thoughts
We’ve introduced you to seven popular languages you can choose from if you want to build your next iOS application. As you venture into your development journey, having the right resources at your fingertips is invaluable. Online documentation is a free and accessible asset. You can find official docs for Swift and Objective-C on Apple’s developer site, Java on Oracle’s site, JavaScript on MDN Web Docs, and Dart on its official site. For community discussions and additional resources, GitHub and Stack Overflow are excellent platforms. Equip yourself with these resources to navigate through the intricacies of iOS app development and make informed decisions for your projects.
No matter what language you decide going forward, you’ll most likely need to hire people for your development team. And that’s where we come in!
DistantJob can help you hire expert iOS app developers (or hire any other kind of developer!) to bolster your dev team. We have 10+ years of experience and can get you the candidates you need in as short as 2 weeks. We take our job very seriously: hiring people with the right skills is important, but so is having someone that fits your company culture. DistantJob prides itself on finding the right people that will want to work for you.
Interested? Don’t hesitate and contact us or visit our office at Montreal!
