Skip to main content
An Apple Developer account is a paid Apple Developer Program membership, and you need one to publish apps on the App Store or TestFlight. It costs $99 per year (shown in local currency where available), covers as many apps as you want, and nonprofits, accredited schools, and government entities can ask for a fee waiver. To create one, sign in with an Apple Account that has two-factor authentication turned on, enroll in the Apple Developer app or at developer.apple.com/programs/enroll, choose Individual or Organization (organizations need a free D-U-N-S Number), verify your identity, and pay.

​
Apple Developer Program at a Glance

​
Individual or Organization?

Sole proprietors and single-person businesses enroll as Individual, so your own name is shown as the seller. Apple doesn’t accept DBAs, trade names, or branches as organizations. You can ask Apple to convert an individual membership to an organization later by contacting Apple Developer Support.

​
How to Enroll in the Apple Developer App

This is the simplest route for individuals:
  1. Install the Apple Developer app on an iPhone or iPad (with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode) or an Apple silicon Mac. Use the same device for the whole enrollment, and make sure you’re signed in to iCloud on it.
  2. Open the app, tap the Account tab, and sign in with your Apple Account (it needs two-factor authentication)
  3. Tap Enroll Now, then review the program requirements and tap Continue
  4. Enter your legal first and last name and phone number. Use your real legal name, not a nickname or company name, or your enrollment will be delayed.
  5. Verify your identity by taking a photo of your government-issued photo ID
  6. Select Individual as your entity type and accept the Apple Developer Program License Agreement
  7. Tap Subscribe to pay the yearly fee with your Apple Account’s payment method
Apple Gift Card balances can’t be used to pay (except for developers based in India, who must enroll in the app).

​
How to Enroll on the Web

  1. Go to developer.apple.com/programs/enroll and click Start your enrollment
  2. Sign in with your Apple Account and accept the Apple Developer Agreement
  3. Choose your entity type and enter your information. Organizations enter the legal entity name, D-U-N-S Number, headquarters address, website, and confirm they can sign for the organization.
  4. Individuals review the license agreement and pay right away. Organizations wait for Apple to verify the information and email next steps, then sign the agreement and pay.
If you pay by credit card as an individual, use a card in your own name. Otherwise Apple delays the enrollment and asks for a copy of your ID.

​
How to Get a D-U-N-S Number (Organizations)

  1. Look up your organization with Apple’s D-U-N-S lookup tool. You may already have one.
  2. If you don’t, submit your details to Dun & Bradstreet through the same tool. It’s free.
  3. Allow up to 5 business days to receive the number, then up to 2 more business days for it to reach Apple
  4. Enroll as an organization using the exact legal entity name on your D-U-N-S record

​
How Much Does an Apple Developer Account Cost?

So yes, it costs money to put an app on the App Store: at least $99 a year, even if your app is free.

​
Connect Your Apple Developer Account to Vibecode

Once your membership is active, Vibecode uses it to install apps on your iPhone and to publish to the App Store. Your apps are published under your account and your name.
  • iOS app (Swift) projects: click Publish, choose Install or Publish to App Store, and sign in with your Apple ID. Vibecode creates an App Store Connect API key for you. You can also enter an existing key (with the App Manager or Admin role). Manage it later in Settings → Apple Developer on the web. See Native iOS Apps.
  • Mobile app (React Native) projects: Expo Launch signs in to your Apple account during the App Store submission
  • Selling subscriptions or in-app purchases? The Account Holder also needs to accept the Paid Apps Agreement and add tax and banking details in App Store Connect under Business. See In-App Purchases with RevenueCat.

​
Common Enrollment Problems

  • Enrollment delayed: usually a name that doesn’t match your legal name, or a credit card in someone else’s name
  • Organization not accepted: DBAs, trade names, and branches aren’t accepted. The name must match your D-U-N-S record.
  • Website rejected: social media pages and parked domains don’t count as a website
  • No confirmation email: if you paid and heard nothing within 24 hours, contact Apple Developer Support with your Enrollment ID
  • Under the age of majority: a parent or guardian enrolls with their own Apple Account

​
Frequently Asked Questions

$99 per year for the Apple Developer Program, in local currency where available. It’s one fee for all your apps. Eligible nonprofits, accredited schools, and government entities can request a fee waiver.
You can sign in to Apple’s developer site with any Apple Account to read documentation and download tools, but publishing to the App Store or TestFlight requires the paid Apple Developer Program membership.
Individuals enroll and pay in one sitting. Apple says to contact them if the membership confirmation hasn’t arrived within 24 hours of purchase. Organizations take longer: up to 5 business days for a new D-U-N-S Number, 2 more for Apple to receive it, then Apple’s own verification.
No. You can enroll as an individual, and your legal name is shown as the seller on the App Store. Enroll as an organization if you want your company’s name shown instead.
No. You can enroll on the web from any computer, or in the Apple Developer app on an iPhone or iPad. With Vibecode you also don’t need a Mac to build or publish your app.
Your apps stop being available to download and you can’t submit updates, but people who already installed them can keep using them. If you renew later, free apps return within 24 hours, and paid apps return after you accept the Paid Applications Agreement. You don’t need to resubmit.
No. Apple requires every App Store app to be published by a developer account, and Vibecode publishes under yours. That’s also why your name, or your company’s, appears as the seller.

​
Next Steps

Publish to the App Store

Build, upload, and submit your app

Review Guidelines Checklist

Avoid the most common rejections

Native iOS Apps

Build a Swift iPhone app without a Mac

Vibecode Pricing

Plans with App Store submission
Last modified on October 10, 2026