How to Publish Your App on Play Store & App Store

To publish an app: create developer accounts (Google Play Console, with a one-time fee; Apple Developer Program, with a yearly fee), prepare store listings (icon, screenshots, description, privacy policy, data-safety details), upload a signed build, pass review and release. Plan 1–2 weeks for verification and reviews, and always publish under your own accounts.

Step 1: Create developer accounts (under your business)

Store	Account	Fee (approx., Sept 2026)	Notes
Google Play	Play Console	One-time registration	Organisation accounts need verification (for example a D-U-N-S number)
Apple App Store	Apple Developer Program	About ₹8,200/yr in India	Organisation enrolment needs a D-U-N-S number and legal entity details

Start early. Organisation verification can take days.

Step 2: Prepare store listing assets

App name and a short description
Full description: benefits first, features next, keywords used naturally
Icon: simple and recognisable at small sizes
Screenshots: phone (and tablet if supported); show the core value in the first two
Feature graphic (Play Store)
Privacy policy URL: required
Support contact: email and website
Category and content rating questionnaire

Step 3: Privacy and data declarations

Google Play Data safety form: what data you collect, why, and whether it's shared
Apple privacy "nutrition labels": similar disclosures
Permissions: request only what you need, with clear explanations in the app
Account deletion: apps with account creation must offer a way to delete the account

Step 4: Build and upload

Android: upload a signed Android App Bundle to Play Console; use internal and closed testing tracks first
iOS: archive and upload via Xcode or CI; test via TestFlight
Increment version numbers for every release

Step 5: Review, and common rejection reasons

Apple (stricter):

Crashes or broken features
Placeholder content
Missing demo login for reviewers
Unclear purpose or minimal functionality
In-app purchase rules not followed for digital goods

Google Play:

Policy violations in the listing or content
Incorrect data-safety declarations
Permission misuse
Required testing or track rules for new developer accounts

Step 6: Launch smart

Staged rollout on Play Store (for example 10% → 50% → 100%)
Phased release on App Store
Monitor crashes and reviews in the first week
App Store Optimisation (ASO): iterate on screenshots and description

Post-launch checklist

Crash reporting and analytics connected
Reply to reviews (especially negative ones)
Plan regular updates for OS changes
Promote: website banner, WhatsApp broadcast to opted-in customers, social media

How does RapBooster help?

RapBooster's app development tiers (Starter from ₹1,50,000, Professional from ₹5,00,000, Enterprise from ₹15,00,000; excl. GST) include store submission support under your accounts, with 100% source code ownership. See app development cost.

App Store Optimisation (ASO) basics

Getting approved is step one; getting found is step two.

Title and subtitle: include your brand plus a key benefit ("Glow: Skincare Shopping")
Keywords: research what users search for, and use them naturally in the description and (on iOS) the keyword field
First two screenshots: show the core value immediately, with short captions
Preview video: a 15–30 second demo of the main flow
Ratings and reviews: prompt happy users in-app at the right moment (after a successful order, not at first launch)
Localisation: Hindi or regional listings for Indian audiences, Arabic for GCC markets

Timeline planning

Task	Typical time
Developer account setup and verification	Several days to 2 weeks
Store listing assets	2–3 days
Internal testing (TestFlight, internal track)	1 week
Closed testing for new Play accounts (where required)	Plan extra time
Store review	Hours to a few days
Staged rollout	1–2 weeks

Start the accounts on day one of development, not the week before launch.

Common publishing mistakes

Publishing under the agency's account (you lose control)
Forgetting a demo login for reviewers
Placeholder text or broken links in the app
A privacy policy that doesn't match the app's actual data use
Requesting permissions the app doesn't need
No crash reporting at launch

Keeping your app healthy after launch

Update for new OS versions each year
Keep libraries and SDKs current (stores enforce minimum target versions)
Respond to reviews and fix recurring complaints
Track crash-free sessions and fix top crashes first

The bottom line

Publishing is mostly preparation: accounts, assets, privacy declarations and a stable build. Start verification early, give reviewers what they need, roll out gradually and keep improving after launch.

Quick answers

Questions readers ask.

How much does it cost to publish an app?

Google Play charges a one-time developer registration fee, and Apple charges a yearly Developer Program fee (about ₹8,200 a year in India, as of Sept 2026). Check current fees on their sites.

How long does app review take?

Google Play and Apple reviews often take from a few hours to a few days; first submissions and some app categories can take longer.

Should the app be published under my account or the agency's?

Your own. You should own the developer accounts. RapBooster publishes under your accounts and gives you 100% ownership.

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