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Key takeaways
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- Apple TV app development presents startups with a large, diverse audience and various opportunities to monetize the idea quickly.
- Successful iOS video streaming apps leverage audience engagement tools, such as personalized recommendations and monetization strategies, to create engaging user journeys and build long-term loyalty.
- Apple TV apps cost approximately $X and take around X weeks to develop with an outsourced team.
What is Apple TV app development and why is it important
Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole developed by Apple. This hardware plugs into a smart TV or any external display to stream shows and movies, play games, screen-mirror a phone, or even broadcast live radio.
Apple TV box comes with a separate remote control, and users just need an HDMI cable to access video content.
Apple TV apps let users download an app on a marketplace and stream on-demand video content on their TV.
Here is an example: Gaiam TV Fit & Yoga, an Apple TV app that offers home workouts, yoga, and fitness programs for all levels. Users just find a program they like, hit “Play” and follow the instructor on their TV.
At-home fitness is just one of the many ideas for Apple TV app development
Apple TV apps are a popular niche for many startups who aim to tap into the streaming market. Here are just a few benefits that tvOS development offers.
Wide reach in the streaming market
With over 32 million Apple TV consoles sold, the platform offers an opportunity to showcase video content or innovative services to a large global audience. Whether it’s a niche entertainment platform or an educational app, Apple TV helps companies deliver high-quality, immersive experiences right to users’ homes.
Diverse audience engagement options
Apple TV apps provide many tools for audience engagement, from features like personalized recommendations to in-app notifications and integration with Apple’s ecosystem. This opens up an opportunity to create engaging user journeys and build loyalty over time.
Various monetization opportunities
Apple TV apps can use different models to make money: subscriptions, in-app purchases, premium content, or advertising. Early startups can take advantage of this flexibility while they find the right app’s revenue model and refine the business goals.
Prime Video allows users to rent or buy a movie if they don’t have a Prime subscription
6 key Apple TV app features
Key features make Apple TV apps highly versatile and user-friendly, offering startups opportunities to create engaging, tailored experiences with their own Apple TV app. Here’s a look at the most essential ones:
1. Voice search and Siri support
With voice and Siri integration, users can quickly find content by speaking to the remote. This hands-free navigation makes browsing fast and intuitive, improving accessibility and ease of use.
On Apple remotes, there is a Siri button on the side that activates voice assistance within seconds
2. Integration with the Apple ecosystem
Features like iCloud syncing and AirPlay integrate other Apple services and devices that enhance the app’s functionality. Users can easily share or access content stored on iCloud directly from the TV.
3. Multi-user profile
An Apple TV app can cater to households with multiple users by offering personalized profiles and providing customized experiences. Each user gets their own tailored recommendations, watch history, and preferences.
The first thing Netflix users do is select who’s watching
4. Parental controls
Built-in parental controls in an Apple TV app allow families to restrict access to certain types of content. This ensures a safe viewing environment, particularly for apps targeting kids or family audiences.
5. Personalized recommendations
Integrate advanced algorithms that can analyze user preferences and offer tailored recommendations. This keeps users engaged with an Apple TV app and encourages them to explore more content.
6. Gamification elements
Interactive features like achievements, leaderboards, or rewards turn streaming into an engaging experience. Work in gamification right away during Apple TV app development to add value, particularly for fitness, education, and gaming apps.
| ⭐Our experience: Kaiju: a crypto wallet with games
Gamification elements can spice up any app. Our client from Singapore agreed and asked us to come up with built-in games for the crypto wallet. We created a 2048-style game to attract new users. The goal is simple: players can gain daily rewards in cryptocurrency and tokens, but to redeem them, they’d need to register the wallet.
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7 steps to create an Apple TV app
To create an Apple TV app and successfully release it in the competitive streaming market, we recommend outsourcing the project to a development company. They will ensure that the app matches user needs, accounts for different screen dimensions, and complies with marketplace requirements.
Here are the seven essential steps of the Apple TV development process that we are accustomed to.
1. Analysis and market research
Before diving into development, our team starts with a thorough survey to understand the idea, target audience, and competitors. They can also propose a project discovery phase — more in-depth research to identify gaps in the market, trends in user behavior, and calculate unit economics for a future Apple TV app. This analysis helps define the app’s value proposition and position it effectively.
| ⭐ Our experience
One of our clients went through the product discovery process to find out if there is a demand for a new travel planning app on the market. Our team used the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and find out travelers’ pain points, such as time-consuming trip planning and information overload. Based on the insights, we confirmed the potential of the idea, developed a roadmap for an effective MVP, and created a portrait of audience segments potentially interested in the product.
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2. Project planning
With a clear understanding of the market, it’s time for project planning. At this step, the team outlines the Apple TV app’s core features, defines a realistic timeline, and allocates resources like budget and people. This step also involves deciding on the tech stack and creating a roadmap for development, ensuring the process stays organized and efficient.
3. UI/UX design
Design is one of the most crucial steps for an engaging Apple TV app experience. Here, the team focuses on simplicity and intuitive navigation of the interface. As a result, you also get a UI kit with all the visual elements of the solution — fonts, colors, buttons, and graphics.
An example of a UI kit for an app we developed
4. Development
During the development phase, Apple TV app developers will write the code and integrate the app’s features. At Purrweb, we split all the work, including this stage, into two-week sprints to track intermediate results and fix problems right away. After each sprint, we send reports to a client and have a check-in with the team to make sure the development is on track.
5. QA testing
Quality assurance ensures the app runs smoothly and meets Apple’s strict standards. The team usually tests the app on different Apple TV models, checks for bugs, and evaluates performance under various conditions. At Purrweb, we prefer to perform testing throughout the development stage to catch bugs early on and use the resources of our clients as efficiently as possible.
6. Release
Once the Apple TV app is ready, it’s time to release it on the marketplace. The team prepares a compelling description page with screenshots and promotional videos that attract users. Then the app gets submitted for Apple’s review process. Once it’s approved, congrats on a successful launch!
7. Maintenance
The release is not the end of the road, though. Post-launch maintenance is crucial to keep your Apple TV app running smoothly and retain customers. If you opt for the service, our team will help you regularly update the app to fix bugs, add new features, and improve performance based on user feedback.
How to find Apple TV app developers: tips
Hiring the right Apple TV app developers to create an Apple TV app is essential for a successful product. Here are four key factors to consider:
Check technical expertise
Ensure the developers have strong knowledge of Apple TV’s tools like Xcode, Swift, and TVOS SDK. Familiarity with Apple TV-specific features, such as Siri integration, in-app purchases, and AirPlay, is a plus for creating a high-quality iOS video streaming app.
Review portfolio and experience
Review the portfolio to see if they had past projects related to Apple TV or Android TV app development. A team with relevant experience can bring valuable insights and proven problem-solving skills to the project.
Ask about process transparency
Look for a team with a clear and structured approach to development. They should provide detailed project timelines, cost breakdowns, and regular updates to keep a client informed at every stage of the iOS video streaming app development.
Pay attention to their communication
Effective communication ensures a smooth collaboration. We recommend choosing developers who use tools for project tracking, offer regular check-ins, and are responsive to feedback.
How much does it cost to create Apple TV app
The costs of an Apple TV app project can depend on many factors: the payment model you choose, the complexity level, the functionality, and the location of the development team. To leave you with some clarity, we calculated the average development cost for a smart TV app built by our dedicated team.
🚨 Disclaimer: The estimation of software development services is provided by Purrweb and can vary from team to team. We don’t guarantee that other companies provide the same quotes and timeframes for similar projects.
| Stage | Scope | Time (≈) | Cost (≈) |
| Initial meeting | Define project requirements and estimate resources needed | 1 day | Free |
| UI/UX design | Map user journeys, create interface concepts, and get approval | 7 weeks | $8,000 |
| Development | Built on architecture and the interface on both the client and server side | 10 weeks | $60,000 |
| QA Testing | Test the code to locate bugs and fix them before the release | concurrently with the development | $12,000 |
| Project management | Manage the development process and control deadlines | during the whole project | $9,000 |
Overall, the estimated cost for an Apple TV app is around $89,000.
About us
At Purrweb, we provide development services with user-centered and simple UI/UX to elevate interactions with our software. We help startups and existing companies build an MVP and test a business idea with real-world customers.
We have extensive experience with developing smart TV apps. ⬇️
| ⭐Our experience: an IPTV app
Our team was approached by a client who wanted to develop a cross-platform IPTV app, transforming chaotic playlists into a user-friendly interface similar to streaming services. We didn’t have prior experience with playlist resellers but managed to navigate challenges, including integrating subtitles, voice-overs, and content-filtering features. As a result, we created a sleek, functional app with innovative tools like language-based filters and parental controls, setting it apart in the competitive IPTV market.
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At Purrweb, we can accommodate different budgets and make sure custom software development costs meet your expectations. Check out our portfolio for the latest cases.
