How it works
Xcode bundles the Swift compiler, a code editor, SwiftUI previews, Interface Builder, the iOS Simulator, the Instruments profiler and the tools that sign apps and upload them to App Store Connect. Every iOS build, including those from Flutter, React Native or Capacitor projects, ends up going through Xcode's build tools.
Signing uses certificates and provisioning profiles, which Xcode can manage automatically for a developer account. Xcode Cloud, Apple's CI service, builds and tests in the cloud and delivers builds to TestFlight. Teams without a Mac rely on cloud Macs or services such as EAS Build.
Xcode pricing
Free
Free from the Mac App Store. Xcode Cloud includes 25 compute hours a month with the Apple Developer Program; 100 hours cost about $50 a month.
Xcode pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Related terms
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