Swift, SwiftUI and AppKit
Modern Swift with SwiftUI for speed, and AppKit where complex documents, text or drawing need finer control.
Swift, SwiftUI and AppKit
Mac Application Development for Studios and Software Teams
Mac users are particular, and they should be. They expect menus in the right place, keyboard shortcuts that work, smooth performance on Apple silicon and an app that feels like it belongs on macOS. Neon Manatee builds native Mac apps in Swift with SwiftUI and AppKit for creative studios, media teams and software companies, notarized for direct download or published to the Mac App Store. You own the code and the developer account.
Made for macOS
Mac App Development That Feels Native from the First Click
There is a quick test for any Mac app. Open it, press Command and comma, and see whether the settings window appears. Then try Command Z after an edit, drag a file onto the Dock icon and tile the window to half the screen. Native Mac apps pass those small tests without anyone thinking about it, and users trust them for it. Apps that were ported carelessly from another platform fail them in ways people feel within a minute.
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Our macOS app development work is built on Swift and Apple frameworks. SwiftUI handles most modern interfaces quickly and can share code with iPhone and iPad versions when that helps. AppKit is still the right tool for complex document apps, precise text editing, custom drawing and advanced table views, and we mix the two where each is strongest. The result is a native Mac app that runs efficiently on Apple silicon and respects system features such as dark mode, accent colors, VoiceOver and Shortcuts.
Distribution has its own rules on the Mac. Apps sold through the Mac App Store run in a sandbox and go through Apple review. Apps distributed from your own website must be signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, or Gatekeeper will warn people when they try to open them. We handle both paths, including automatic updates for direct downloads, so the first launch on a customer machine is clean.
We also help with older projects. Some teams still maintain Objective C code or apps that started life in the OS X era, and that software usually needs care rather than a full rewrite. This is where OS X app development experience still matters: we modernize the build, move it to Apple silicon, replace deprecated APIs and introduce Swift gradually so the app keeps shipping while it improves.
Because the platform is focused, scope tends to be clear. Simple Mac apps start at $1,200 in our online estimator, logic heavy apps with accounts, sync, payments or integrations start at $15,000, and complex, secure software starts at $25,000. You start with 30 percent down at checkout, and estimates above $60,000 begin with a conversation with a senior strategist.
What we build
Native macOS Engineering, Down to the Menu Bar
These are the macOS capabilities that make an app feel at home on a Mac, and they are the ones quick ports most often leave out.
Apple Silicon Performance
Native builds profiled with Instruments, using Metal and Core ML when graphics or on device AI need the extra power.
Document Based Apps
Open, save, versions, autosave, iCloud Drive and drag and drop that behave exactly the way Mac users expect.
Menu Bar and Extensions
Menu bar utilities, Share and Finder extensions, Quick Look previews, widgets and Shortcuts actions.
Notarized and Signed
Developer ID signing, hardened runtime and Apple notarization for clean installs outside the App Store.
Mac App Store Launch
Sandboxing, in app purchases or subscriptions, listing assets and App Review handled through your account.
Mac teams in South Florida
Mac Apps for Miami Creative, Media and Software Teams
Miami has a deep bench of Mac heavy businesses. Production companies and post houses handle footage and color work, music studios and podcast teams record and mix, architecture and interior design firms in Coral Gables and the Design District present to clients on large displays, and creative agencies across Wynwood and Little River do nearly everything on Macs. Those teams often need a small custom tool that fits between the big professional apps they already use.
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Typical projects include asset managers that tag and move media between drives and cloud storage, review tools that collect client notes on frames or layouts, menu bar utilities that automate repetitive export and naming steps, and internal apps that pull project data into one window. We integrate with the file system, Photos, AppleScript and Shortcuts where it helps, and with the cloud services your team already pays for.
Software companies in Brickell and across Miami-Dade and Broward come to us for a different reason: their customers want a native Mac client, not just a browser tab. A Mac app can work offline, live in the menu bar, respond to global shortcuts and work with local files in ways a website cannot, while sharing accounts and data with the web product.
We are based in Florida and work with clients across Florida and the United States, mostly remotely. Neon Manatee is the openly stated sister brand of Best Website Builder Group, so you get the same team, the same process and the same pricing wherever your studio is.
How it works
How We Build a Mac App
A short discovery, a native design and signed builds your team can install on their own Macs as we go.
Before you pay
Estimate
Choose your features in the app estimator and start with 30 percent down at checkout.
Weeks 1 to 2
Discovery
We study workflows, files, integrations and whether the app ships through the Mac App Store or direct download.
Weeks 2 to 4
Design
macOS native layouts, menus and shortcuts, prototyped and reviewed with real users.
Sprints
Build
Swift development in sprints, with test builds shared through TestFlight for Mac or signed direct links.
Release
Ship
Notarization or App Review, launch, an update channel and crash monitoring, then ongoing support.
Why Neon Manatee
Why Mac Users Notice the Difference
Mac users have a long memory for apps that feel wrong. A settings screen without standard shortcuts, a window that ignores full screen, text fields that skip system spelling and services: each one chips away at trust. We design and review every screen against the Apple Human Interface Guidelines for macOS, not just the iPhone patterns most teams know best.
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We are realistic about platform choices. If you need Windows and Mac together on one budget, cross platform desktop app development with Electron, Tauri or .NET can be the right answer, and our desktop team will recommend it when it fits. When the Mac experience is what matters most, native Swift delivers a smaller, faster app that is lighter on battery and integrates more deeply with macOS.
Accessibility is part of the build. We test with VoiceOver, full keyboard access, increased contrast and reduced motion settings, and we meet WCAG 2.1 AA for color contrast, so the app works for every person on your team or among your customers.
Ownership stays with you. Your Apple Developer account, signing certificates and source code are yours, and the build and release steps are documented. Support plans keep the app current with each new macOS release, which Apple ships every year.
- Native Swift, SwiftUI and AppKit
- Built for Apple silicon
- Notarized or App Store ready
- VoiceOver and keyboard tested
- Your developer account and code
Native or not
Choosing the Right Approach to Mac Application Development
The first decision in any Mac application development project is whether the app should be native at all. It is a fair question, because cross-platform desktop frameworks have improved and plenty of popular Mac apps are built with them. The honest answer depends on who uses the app, how often, and what it needs from the operating system.
Native Swift makes the most sense when Mac users are the primary audience, when the app works with files, media or text in demanding ways, or when it needs macOS features such as the menu bar, Finder, Shortcuts, Spotlight or system extensions. Native apps also tend to be smaller and lighter on memory and battery, which matters for tools that stay open all day on a laptop.
Cross-platform frameworks make sense when the app must run on Windows and Mac with the same features, when the team already has strong web skills, or when the budget only allows one codebase. In those cases we look at Electron for maturity, Tauri for a smaller footprint and .NET when the Windows version is the priority, and we add native touches on the Mac side where they count.
A hybrid route is often the practical choice. A native Mac app can share its backend, accounts and data model with a web app, while the interface is written specifically for macOS. Product companies get a Mac client that feels right without duplicating server logic, and the web app keeps serving everyone on Windows and Linux.
Whichever route you choose, settle distribution early. Mac App Store sandbox rules, notarization, automatic updates and licensing all affect architecture, so we decide them during discovery. That way the first public build launches cleanly instead of failing review or triggering Gatekeeper warnings on day one.
How much does Mac application development cost?
Simple Mac apps start at $1,200, logic heavy apps with accounts, sync, payments or integrations start at $15,000, and complex, secure apps start at $25,000. The online estimator prices your feature list, and estimates over $60,000 begin with a senior strategist conversation.
Should we sell through the Mac App Store or our own website?
The Mac App Store handles payments, installs and updates and adds discovery, but it requires sandboxing and Apple review. Direct distribution gives more freedom for system level features and your own licensing, but needs notarization and an update mechanism. We help you choose based on what the app has to do.
What is notarization and do we need it?
Notarization is an automated Apple check for apps distributed outside the Mac App Store. Without it, Gatekeeper warns or blocks people when they open the app. We sign every direct download build with Developer ID and notarize it.
Can you share code with our iPhone and iPad app?
Often, yes. SwiftUI and shared Swift packages let Mac, iPhone and iPad apps reuse models, networking and many interface components, while each platform keeps its own navigation and layout.
Can you update an old Objective C or OS X era app?
Yes. We modernize the build, move it to Apple silicon, replace deprecated APIs and introduce Swift step by step, so the app keeps shipping while it improves.
Do you build menu bar apps and Finder extensions?
Yes. Menu bar utilities, Finder and Share extensions, Quick Look previews, widgets and Shortcuts actions are all part of our Mac work.
Should we build native or cross-platform?
If Mac users are your main audience or the app needs deep macOS integration, native Swift is usually best. If you need Windows and Mac on one budget with similar features, a cross-platform framework may fit better, and we will explain the tradeoffs.
How long does a Mac app take?
Focused utilities can be ready in a few weeks, while document apps, sync and commercial products typically take a few months. Your estimate defines the scope, and you install test builds throughout.
Can a Mac app include AI features?
Yes. Mac apps can run models on device through Core ML or connect to cloud AI services for search, summaries and assistants, with clear controls over what data leaves the machine.
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