How to Create an Apple Developer Account Step by Step (Free and $99)
Create a free Apple Developer account in minutes to run your own iOS apps on your iPhone and iPad, and see exactly when you need the paid $99 program.
A free Apple Developer account lets you build and run your own iOS apps on your iPhone and iPad at zero cost, using your existing Apple ID. You only need the paid $99/year Apple Developer Program when you want to publish to the App Store. This guide from Appy Pie AI walks through creating the free account, signing into Xcode, running an app on your device, and exactly when the paid program is worth it.
What This Guide Delivers
- Create a free Apple Developer account with your Apple ID
- Add the account to Xcode (Personal Team)
- Run your own app on your iPhone or iPad
- Free vs the $99 Apple Developer Program
- Whether you need a Mac or Xcode at all
- How to build and publish an iOS app with no code
A free account runs your own apps on your devices. Publishing to the App Store needs the $99/year Apple Developer Program. Rated 4.7/5 on G2 from 1,388 reviews.
Build Your iOS App FreeFree vs Paid at a glance
Free account
Run your own apps on your iPhone and iPad.
Developer Program
Publish to the App Store, TestFlight, App Store Connect.
TL;DR Quick Summary
To create a free Apple Developer account, go to developer.apple.com, click Account, and sign in with your Apple ID (or create one), then accept the Apple Developer Agreement. That free account lets you build and run your own apps on your iPhone and iPad through Xcode at no cost. To publish an app on the App Store, you need the paid Apple Developer Program, which costs $99 per year. If you do not have a Mac or do not want to use Xcode, you can build an iOS app with a no-code platform like Appy Pie AI instead.
Build Your iOS App With Appy Pie AI →Table of Contents
Jump to any section. This guide covers free vs paid, how to create the free account, signing into Xcode, running your app on your iPhone, what the $99 program costs and includes, building without a Mac, and an FAQ.
- Free vs Paid: What’s the Difference?
- Individual vs Organization: Which Do You Need?
- How to Create an Apple Developer Account
- What a Free Account Can and Cannot Do
- How to Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
- How Much Does an Apple Developer Account Cost?
- No Mac or Xcode? Build Without Code
- Frequently Asked Questions
Free vs Paid Apple Developer Account: What’s the Difference?
There are two kinds of Apple Developer account. The free one is all you need to build and test your own apps; the paid Apple Developer Program is what lets you publish to the App Store. When you are enrolled, our step-by-step guide on how to submit your iPhone app to the App Store walks through the full submission flow.
| Free account | Developer Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $99 / year |
| Run your own apps on your devices | Yes | Yes |
| Publish to the App Store | No | Yes |
| TestFlight beta testing | No | Yes |
| App Store Connect access | No | Yes |
| App signing validity | Re-sign every 7 days | 1 year |
| Best for | Testing and learning | Shipping a real app |
Fees confirmed on Apple’s enrollment page: Apple Developer Program 99 USD/year, Apple Developer Enterprise Program 299 USD/year, billed in local currency where available and subject to regional variation. Last verified: September 2026.
Individual vs Organization: Which Apple Developer Account Do You Need?
Both enrollment types cost the same $99 per year. The difference is whose name appears as the seller on the App Store, who can access the account, and how much paperwork Apple asks for before approving you.
| Individual / Sole Proprietor | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 / year | $99 / year |
| Seller name on the App Store | Your legal personal name | Your company’s legal name |
| D-U-N-S number required | No | Yes |
| Legal entity required | No | Yes, a registered company |
| Team members | Just you | Multiple, with roles and permissions |
| Typical approval time | Often within 48 hours | Longer, Apple verifies the entity |
| Best for | Solo developers, freelancers, testing | Companies, agencies, client work |
If you are only testing on your own iPhone, you do not need to choose yet. The free account described below works either way, and you pick an enrollment type only when you decide to publish. For what publishing costs on both stores, see how to publish your app.
How to Create an Apple Developer Account (Free, Step by Step)
Creating the free account takes a few minutes and only needs your Apple ID. Here is the full flow, from sign-in to running your app on your iPhone.
Create your free Apple Developer account
Go to developer.apple.com and click Account. Sign in with your existing Apple ID, or create a new one to keep things separate. Accept the Apple Developer Agreement, and your free account is ready, it gives you access to run your own apps on your devices at no cost.
Add your account to Xcode
On your Mac, open Xcode and go to Xcode → Settings → Accounts. Click the + button, choose Apple ID, and sign in (keep a 2FA device handy). Your account appears as a Personal Team, ready to sign apps.
Run your own app on your iPhone or iPad
Connect your iPhone via USB and tap Trust. In your project’s Signing & Capabilities tab, enable Automatically manage signing and pick your Personal Team. Select your iPhone and hit Run, your app installs straight onto your device. (On a free account, app signing renews every 7 days.)
What a Free Apple Developer Account Can and Cannot Do
A free account is a real developer account, not a trial that expires. It simply stops short of anything involving the public App Store. These are the limits people run into first.
Apps re-sign every 7 days
Xcode signs free builds with a Personal Team certificate that stays valid for seven days. After that the app refuses to open until you reconnect the device and run it again from Xcode. Paid Program certificates last a year.
A cap on registered devices
A free account only installs on devices you physically connect and register through Xcode. There is no over-the-air install and no way to send a build to a tester who is not sitting next to you.
No TestFlight and no App Store
Both require the paid Apple Developer Program. Without it you cannot distribute a build to beta testers or submit for App Store review.
Some capabilities are locked
Push notifications, Sign in with Apple, iCloud, Apple Pay and other entitlements need a paid membership, so features that depend on them cannot be tested on a free account.
None of this blocks learning or building. It only matters at the point you want other people to install the app, which is exactly when the $99 program starts to earn its fee.
How Much Does an Apple Developer Account Cost?
The free account is enough to build and test your own apps. The moment you want to put an app in front of the public, you need the paid program.
The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year and renews annually. It is the license you need to keep an app live in the App Store. With it you can publish apps, beta test through TestFlight, and manage your apps in App Store Connect, plus access members-only SDKs and betas. You can enroll as an individual (your name shows as the seller) or as an organization (your company name shows, and it requires a D-U-N-S number).
| Membership | Cost | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Apple Developer account | $0 | Build and run your own apps on your own devices |
| Apple Developer Program (Individual) | $99 / year | Publish to the App Store under your own name |
| Apple Developer Program (Organization) | $99 / year | Publish under a company name, needs a D-U-N-S number |
| Apple Developer Enterprise Program | $299 / year | Internal-only apps for a large organization, not for the App Store |
| Nonprofit, school or government | Fee may be waived | Eligible organizations can apply to have the $99 waived |
The fee is charged annually and renews automatically unless you cancel. If your membership lapses, any apps you have published are removed from the App Store until you renew.
How to Enroll in the Apple Developer Program, Step by Step
Creating the free account and enrolling in the paid program are two different jobs. Enrollment is what unlocks the App Store, and it asks for a good deal more than an email address. Here is the whole sequence, including the checks that catch people out.
1. Pick your enrollment route
You can enroll through the Apple Developer app on an Apple device, or on the web. The route changes how you are billed: enrolling in the app makes your membership an auto-renewable subscription that continues until you cancel. Enrolling an organization in the Apple Developer Enterprise Program is web only.
2. Choose Individual or Organization
Individuals and sole proprietors have their personal legal name listed as the seller on the App Store. Apple is strict here: do not enter an alias, nickname or company name in the name fields, because an incorrect legal name delays approval. Organizations need a recognised legal entity, and the company name becomes the seller.
3. Clear the verification checks (organizations)
Apple runs an identity verification process that includes the D-U-N-S Number and a binding authority check. If you are not the owner or founder, you must supply a reference who can confirm that you are an employee with the legal authority to enroll the organization and accept the agreements on its behalf. This is the step that most often adds days to an organization enrollment.
4. Pay the annual fee
The Apple Developer Program is 99 USD per year and the Apple Developer Enterprise Program is 299 USD per year, charged in local currency where available. Prices vary by region, and the exact amount is shown to you during enrollment.
5. Wait for confirmation
You receive a confirmation email once the purchase is processed, and you can check status at any time by signing in with the same Apple Account you enrolled with. If nothing arrives within 24 hours, contact Apple and quote your Enrollment ID.
6. Keep the tax paperwork
Membership is taxed at your region or state rate where applicable. Tax-exempt organizations can request a refund by sending the order number and a tax-exempt form to Apple’s sales tax team. Invoices are available from your account on the Apple Store Online.
Once you are enrolled, submission is the next job. Our guide on how to submit your iPhone app to the App Store picks up from exactly this point.
No Mac or Xcode? Build and Publish an iOS App Without Code
Here is the part most guides skip: you do not need a Mac or Xcode to build an iOS app at all.
Build without code
Appy Pie AI app builder creates a native iOS app from your idea, no Mac, no Xcode, no Swift.
Guided App Store publishing
Appy Pie AI helps you submit to the App Store (you still need the $99 Apple Developer Program account to publish there).
iOS and Android together
Build once and ship to both the App Store and Google Play from the same project.
Want to Skip the Code? Build Your iOS App With Appy Pie AI
Create a native iOS and Android app without a Mac or Xcode. Appy Pie AI app builder takes you from idea to app, and helps you publish to the stores.
Build Your App Free See the Best AI Web App BuildersFrequently Asked Questions
Is an Apple Developer account free?
Yes. A free Apple Developer account uses your existing Apple ID and lets you build and run your own apps on your iPhone and iPad. Publishing to the App Store requires the paid Apple Developer Program at $99 per year.
How much does an Apple Developer account cost?
Creating the account is free. The Apple Developer Program, which you need to publish apps to the App Store, costs $99 per year and renews annually.
How do I create a free Apple Developer account?
Go to developer.apple.com, click Account, sign in with your Apple ID (or create one), and accept the Apple Developer Agreement. The whole process takes a few minutes.
Can I run iOS apps on my iPhone without paying?
Yes. With a free account added to Xcode, you can install and run your own apps on your iPhone. On a free account the app signature renews every 7 days, so you re-run the app to keep it active.
Do I need a Mac to create an Apple Developer account?
No, creating the account only needs a web browser and an Apple ID. You do need a Mac with Xcode to build and run apps the traditional way, or you can use a no-code builder like Appy Pie AI to build an iOS app without a Mac.
What is the difference between a free account and the Apple Developer Program?
A free account lets you run your own apps on your own devices for testing. The paid Apple Developer Program ($99/year) lets you publish to the App Store, use TestFlight, and access App Store Connect.
How do I create an Apple Developer account for my company?
Choose the Organization enrollment type instead of Individual. You need your company’s legal name, a D-U-N-S number, and authority to sign agreements on the company’s behalf. Apple verifies the entity before approving, so it takes longer than an individual enrollment.
Do I need a D-U-N-S number for an Apple Developer account?
Only for Organization enrollment. Individual and sole-proprietor accounts do not need one. The number is free from Dun & Bradstreet and must be active before you begin enrollment.
How long does Apple Developer account approval take?
A free account is active immediately. Individual Program enrollment is often approved within 48 hours. Organization enrollment takes longer because Apple verifies your company details independently.
Can I publish more than one app with a single Apple Developer account?
Yes. One $99 membership covers as many apps as you want to publish. The fee is per account per year, not per app.
Do I need the Apple Developer Program to install an app on my own iPhone?
No. Xcode and a free Apple Account are enough to install your own app on your own device. You only need the paid program to distribute apps, access beta software, or use capabilities such as Siri, Apple Pay and iCloud.
Is there an Apple Developer Program discount for students?
No, Apple does not run a student-specific program or a student discount. Learning to build apps needs only an Apple Account, which already gives you Swift Playground, Xcode, documentation, sample code and the ability to test on your own devices. You join the paid program only when you want to distribute.
What happens if I do not renew my Apple Developer Program membership?
Apps you have published are removed from the App Store once the membership lapses, and they return when you renew. Your Apple Account and your ability to build and test on your own devices are unaffected.
Free to Build, $99 to Publish
A free Apple Developer account is all you need to build and run your own iOS apps. When you are ready to reach the public, the $99/year program unlocks the App Store. And if you would rather skip the Mac and the code entirely, Appy Pie AI builds and publishes your iOS app for you.
Build Your iOS App With Appy Pie AI →Build Your iOS App Without a Mac or Code
Appy Pie AI app builder turns your idea into a native iOS and Android app and helps you publish to the stores.
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