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Desktop apps for Mac and Windows, built and shipped properly.
We design and build cross-platform desktop applications with installers, automatic updates and store listings, the same way we build and ship our own app, SEOSage.
- Free first consultation
- Written plan and quote
- Reply from a real person
What you get
- Product planWe agree what the app must do, who it is for and what the first version leaves out.
- One app for Mac and WindowsA single cross-platform codebase, so both versions get every feature at the same time.
- Installers and store listingsMac builds for Apple silicon and Intel, a Windows installer, and help with the Microsoft Store and Homebrew.
- Automatic updatesUsers get fixes without downloading the app again, with a setting to turn updates off.
Get a free plan
Tell us about your business. We will send a short, honest plan and a quote.
Overview
Desktop App Development, explained.
A desktop app runs on the user's own computer. That makes it the right choice for heavy or private work: long tasks and large files without a server bill, data that stays on the device, and work that carries on offline. We build cross-platform desktop applications for Mac and Windows from one codebase, and take care of the parts that are easy to get wrong: installers, automatic updates, store listings and licences. Our own desktop app, SEOSage, is built and shipped this way.
What is included
What we do for you.
Each part of the work has a clear purpose, and you see the result in your monthly report.
Product plan
We agree what the app must do, who it is for and what the first version leaves out.
One app for Mac and Windows
A single cross-platform codebase, so both versions get every feature at the same time.
Installers and store listings
Mac builds for Apple silicon and Intel, a Windows installer, and help with the Microsoft Store and Homebrew.
Automatic updates
Users get fixes without downloading the app again, with a setting to turn updates off.
Testing, licences and support
Automated tests before each release, licence keys if you sell the app, and fixes after launch.
See it in a real product. SEOSage, our desktop SEO audit app, runs on Mac and Windows and has had more than 600 updates since version 1.0. Read the SEOSage case study
How we work
From first call to first report.
Plan the first version
We write down what the app must do, who uses it and what waits for later, so the first release is small and useful.
Build in short releases
You get working builds early and often, and see each change in a plain changelog.
Package and ship
We make the Mac and Windows installers, set up automatic updates and prepare store listings.
Update and support
We fix what users report, test each release before it goes out, and keep the app working as Mac and Windows change.
The guide
A plain guide to Desktop App Development.
Desktop app or web app?
Choose a desktop app when the work is heavy or private, such as crawling thousands of web pages, editing large files, or data that should stay on the user's computer. Choose a web app when many people need to share the same data live, or use it on their phones.
Why one codebase for both platforms
Separate Mac and Windows apps double the work and the bugs. A cross-platform framework such as Electron lets one team ship both at once, while keeping platform details right, such as the Mac menu bar and Windows installers.
Plan updates from day one
Without automatic updates, users stay on old versions with old bugs, and you end up supporting every version at once. Build the update system into the first release.
Shipping is more than building
Each platform has its own installer formats, store rules and review steps. Mac apps need builds for Apple silicon and Intel chips, and the Microsoft Store has its own packaging and certification.
Is it right for you?
When we are a good fit, and when we are not.
Good fit if
- Your users work with large amounts of data or need to work offline
- You want one app for both Mac and Windows
- You sell software and need licences and updates
- You are happy to start with a small first version and grow it
Not the right fit if
- You need an iPhone or Android app. We build for desktop.
- You only need a website. Our web design service fits better.
- You want a fixed price for a product nobody has defined yet. We scope the first version first.
What we report on
- Releases shipped and what changed in each
- Crash and error reports
- Installs and updates by platform
- Open issues and how fast they are fixed
- Test results before every release
Pricing
How pricing works.
Desktop apps are quoted per project after a short scoping call. Before work starts we agree in writing what the first version does, what it leaves out, the timeline and the price. Later features and ongoing support are quoted separately.
What sets the price
- Number of features in the first version
- Platforms and stores you need
- Licences, accounts or payments
- Ongoing updates and support
Questions
Good to know.
Which framework do you use?
Usually Electron, the framework behind many well-known desktop apps. We pick what fits your app and explain why before we start.
Can you publish to the Microsoft Store and Homebrew?
Yes. We package the app for the Microsoft Store and take it through certification, and can publish a Homebrew install for Mac users. SEOSage is available both ways.
How long does a first version take?
It depends on the features. We agree a small first version and a timeline in writing before work starts.
Who owns the code?
You do, once the project is paid for.
Ready to get started?
Send us your details above, or call us. We will reply with a clear plan and a quote.