A set of practical checklists for iOS developers to prepare their apps (new or updates) for App Store Review and avoid common rejection reasons. Based on my experience (10+ apps live in the App Store), I put this together as a way to avoid unnecessary rejections and save time.
As an indie developer, I’ve submitted quite a few apps to the App Store. Even after 10+ launches, it’s easy to overlook something—big or small—and lose days to a rejection that could have been prevented.
These checklists grew out of my own workflow as a way to catch and prevent App Store review issues before hitting “Submit.” I’m sharing it in case it helps others avoid the same mistakes, especially if you’re shipping solo or on a small team.
- Pick the checklist below that matches your submission type.
- Run through that checklist before you submit your app for review.
- Check off each item, or make notes on what’s missing.
- If you spot something that should be added or improved, open an issue or pull request.
There are two checklists in this repo:
- Checklist for New App Submissions: Use this if you’re submitting a brand new app to the App Store.
- Checklist for App Updates: Use this if you’re submitting an update to an app that’s already live.
Pick the one that fits your situation and work through each item before you submit.
If you’re curious what I’ve built, here are some of my apps:
-
Compot: AI Assistant for iOS Developers
100+ SwiftUI components, in-app AI help, learning resources, and templates for iOS development. -
PromptKit
All-in-one prompt manager and AI playground on your iPhone. -
Heart2Heart
A privacy-first app for meaningful relationship conversations. -
Kindest – Relationship Tracker
Create actions and memories to build happy relationships. -
Locations – Travel Tracker
Log, organize, and revisit all your travel locations. -
Imaginarium – AI Art
Create unique AI-powered art and images with your imagination. -
CardsAI
Create stunning cards. -
TreeKit – Tree & Plant Identifier
Instantly identify trees and plants with a photo and AI. -
ChezAI – Interior Design AI
Get home and interior design inspiration using AI and your own photos.
If you want to follow my journey or grab your own “lucky app,” visit luckyapps.dev.
These are "living" checklists—if you have ideas or suggestions, please open an issue or PR. The more we share what gets our apps approved, the more we all save time and frustration.
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
If you found this useful or have a question, you can reach me at luckyapps.dev or @lukassoukup.
