Desktop App Development for Mac & Windows
Some software belongs on the desktop — heavy files, offline work, deep OS integration, all-day tools. We design and build desktop applications that feel native, update themselves, and pass platform signing requirements.
For the work a browser tab cannot do.
Web apps are the default — but some products outgrow the browser. Tools that crunch big local files, work offline in the field, integrate with hardware, sit in the menu bar or system tray all day, or need real keyboard-first speed for power users. For those, a desktop app is not nostalgia — it is the right engineering call.
We ship desktop software for macOS and Windows from a single codebase where it fits (Electron or Tauri), or native where performance demands it. That includes the unglamorous parts that make desktop software feel professional: code signing, macOS notarization, auto-update channels, crash reporting, and installers that just work. Your team installs it once and it quietly stays current forever.
Installed, signed, and updating itself.
- macOS and Windows builds from one maintained codebase
- Code signing + macOS notarization handled (no scary install warnings)
- Auto-update system — ship a fix, everyone has it tomorrow
- Offline-first data with sync when a connection returns
- System integration: tray/menu bar, global shortcuts, file associations, notifications
- Crash reporting and usage analytics
- Installer + onboarding experience
- Full source code — yours forever
Desktop software, shipped like clockwork.
- 01
Discovery
What does the desktop unlock that the browser cannot? We scope around that advantage — offline, hardware, performance, or presence.
- 02
Proposal
Fixed quote, target platforms, and a written timeline within 48 hours.
- 03
Build
Installable dev builds from the first weeks. Real data, real machines, your actual workflows.
- 04
Harden + sign
Signing certificates, notarization, auto-update channel, crash reporting — the production plumbing most builds skip.
- 05
Ship + support
Rollout to your team or your customers, then optional retainer for features and OS-update compatibility.
The right runtime per app.
Who needs desktop.
- Operations teams running on spreadsheets that deserve a real internal tool
- Products that must work offline — field work, events, unreliable connections
- Founders shipping a commercial Mac/Windows product
- Workflows touching local files, hardware, or system automation
Fixed quotes, desktop included.
Internal desktop tools typically start around $8–15k fixed-quote; commercial-grade products with licensing, updates, and polish scale from there. Signing and update infrastructure are always included — never an add-on invoice.
Desktop app questions.
Electron or native — which will my app be?
Depends on the job. Electron/Tauri gives you Mac + Windows from one codebase at a fraction of the cost — right for most business tools. Native (Swift) wins when you need maximum performance or deep OS features. We recommend based on your app, not our preference; Tauri in particular ships tiny, fast binaries.
How much does a desktop app cost to build?
A focused internal tool: $8–15k. A commercial product with licensing, auto-updates, and polish: $20k+. Fixed milestone quotes, and you see installable builds early.
Will it work on both Mac and Windows?
Yes — one codebase, both platforms, both installers, both signed. Linux builds are possible too when your audience needs them.
Can it work offline?
Offline-first is one of the main reasons to go desktop. Local database, full functionality without a connection, clean sync when you are back online. We design the conflict handling so field data never gets lost.
What about the Mac App Store gatekeeping and security warnings?
We handle Apple Developer signing and notarization so macOS installs cleanly with no warnings, and Windows code signing likewise. App Store distribution is optional — direct distribution with auto-updates is usually faster for business software.
Can you modernize an old desktop app we depend on?
Yes — we rebuild legacy internal tools (old .NET, Access databases, ancient Java apps) into modern, maintainable software while preserving the workflows your team already knows. Data migration included.
Ready to start?
Tell us what you're trying to build. Free 30-minute call. Written proposal with fixed pricing within 48 hours.