Find the Best iOS Developer Jobs

Do you have a passion for Apple products and how apps work? Do you want to work on exciting new apps and projects used by millions of people worldwide?

Then you’d love to work as a freelance iOS developer on Upwork! As a freelance iOS developer, you’ll get to choose your own work and schedule—you’re not forced to sign a contract for something you won’t like.

What does an iOS developer do?

iOS developers build apps for the Apple ecosystem. Some examples include productivity apps, video players, mobile games, banking apps, and social media apps.

An iOS developer will be familiar with Apple hardware and software. Since iOS development relies on keeping the user interface as clean as possible, software developers must write clean and efficient code in Objective-C or Swift.

Developers of iOS software have traditionally worked with the Objective-C programming language, though in 2004, Apple released its programming language called Swift. Swift has since become a popular choice for iOS app development, though jobs for both are still commonly found.

Developers will typically also be familiar with working on macOS or Linux environments and using other hardware in the Apple ecosystem.

What skills do I need to become an iOS developer?

No formal qualifications are necessary to become an iOS developer, but candidates must be expected to pass code tests or otherwise demonstrate competency with iOS development.

A strong portfolio with code samples and commits to open-source projects helps candidates to stand out.

Common skills a freelance iOS developer should possess include:

Thorough understanding of either Objective-C or Swift programming languages
Sense of modern coding standards and architectures, such as MVVM
Understanding of the Apple ecosystems
Experience with GitHub, an integrated development environment (IDE), JavaScript, iOS SDK, and SwiftUI

What are the job responsibilities of iOS developers?

iOS developers are responsible for developing and maintaining features as part of a larger software project. They often work as part of a team and toward common goals. Developers will be expected to work with third-party libraries, outside APIs, frameworks, and other tools to develop iOS device apps.

iOS developers primarily work in Xcode, Apple's integrated development environment for macOS, which is used to develop software for Apple products such as the Mac, the iPhone, iOS, the iPad, watchOS, and tvOS.

The responsibilities of an iOS developer typically include:

Architecting solutions and tutorials for client problems
Writing code to project requirements
Developing tests for new code
Finding and fixing bugs in existing code

Eager to learn more about iOS development on Upwork? Check out these additional resources:

iOS Developer FAQs

iOS Developer Rates

Swift vs Objective-C: a look at iOS programming languages

Ace Your Developer Interview

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyse and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

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How to Become a Freelance iOS Developer

What does an iOS developer do?

What skills do I need to become an iOS developer?

What are the job responsibilities of iOS developers?

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