To get App Store approval and get your app approved on Google Play, you need a developer account on each store, a build that meets the latest technical requirements, complete store listing details, and a privacy policy. Then you submit it for review: Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours, and Google usually within a week.

When the major development part is over, it’s time to publish your product. It doesn’t matter whether you built it natively or as a cross-platform app. Whether you deploy it on the App Store, Google Play, or both, you must follow a specific procedure before release.

This stage relies not just on developers but on you as the app owner. That’s why we put together an overview of the app approval process and the nuances that can affect the outcome.

Let’s start with a quick comparison of both stores, and then go through the requirements you need to meet before submitting your app.

App Store vs Google Play Approval at a Glance

Both stores check your app before it goes live, but their rules, costs, and timelines differ. Here’s a quick comparison:

Requirements as of November 2026.

Requirements For The Application Submission

For both the App Store and Google Play, the checklist is quite long. All apps should follow the guidelines if you want your app submission to go well. Otherwise, you risk rejection and having to resubmit everything.

The requirements include a basic description of the app, its unique name, functionality, and so on. On top of that, you’ll need test account details, a privacy policy, and data privacy details (App Privacy on Apple, Data Safety on Google Play). The exact list depends on the platform, so let’s break it down into an app store submission checklist for each one.

App Store Requirements

• Build made with Xcode 26 and the iOS 26 SDK. Apple has required this for all uploads since April 28, 2026.
• Unique app name. Make sure no other app already uses it. If it’s taken, add a word or two that describes what your app does.
• Icon. Prepare your logo in the size and format required on the Apple Developer site.
• Screenshots. You need at least one set for iPhone in a required display size, such as the 6.9-inch display, and 13-inch iPad screenshots if your app runs on iPad. You can upload up to 10 per device size (see Apple’s screenshot specifications). Use them to show the value of your app, not to hide its interface.
• Description. Write and edit the text in advance, so it fits the length limit and speaks to your target audience.
• App owner’s name and contact details.
• Category. Choose the category that best describes your app. It affects how people find your app in the store.
• Keywords. This is your chance to manage your app’s search visibility, so don’t skip it.
• App Privacy details. Tell users what data your app collects and why.
• Privacy manifest for apps and SDKs that use required-reason APIs. Apple has required it since May 1, 2024.
• Age rating. Answer the updated age rating questions in App Store Connect honestly. Apple’s current ratings are 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, and 18+.
• Account deletion. If users can create an account in your app, they must be able to delete it in the app too.
• Demo account and notes for the reviewer. Add login details for a test account, so the review team can check every feature of your app.
• Privacy policy URL and support URL.

Google Play Requirements

• Android App Bundle (AAB). It’s been required for new apps since August 2021.
• Target API level 36 (Android 16). New apps and updates must meet it since August 31, 2026. Wear OS and Android Automotive OS apps need API 35, and Android TV and Android XR apps need API 34.
• Closed testing. New personal developer accounts (created after November 13, 2023) need at least 12 testers opted in to a closed test for 14 days in a row before they can apply for production access.
• Unique app name. You can change this title later, so don’t worry about a mistake.
• Default language. Pick the primary language for the user interface.
• Graphics. An icon of 512×512 px, a feature graphic of 1024×500 px, and screenshots of the main functionality.
• Countries for distribution. You can share your app with the whole world or target specific countries.
• Short and full descriptions. The short one should both describe and sell your app, while the full one goes deeper into its features.
• App content declarations. Fill in the content rating questionnaire, declare your target audience, and say whether your app shows ads.
• Data safety form and a privacy policy link.
• Price and payment details. In case your app is not free, set up your prices and a payments profile.

How to Submit Your App for Review

Once you’ve gathered everything from the checklists above, you can start the submission. You do it in each store’s developer console: App Store Connect for Apple and Play Console for Google.

App Store. Here’s how to publish an app on the App Store. First, you need an Apple Developer Program membership. As for the Apple developer account cost, it’s $99 a year, and Apple doesn’t charge extra for each submission.

Then archive your app in Xcode and upload it to App Store Connect. There, you fill in all the info blocks about your app and submit it for review.

Google Play. Now let’s look at how to publish an app on Google Play. The Google Play developer account cost is a one-time $25 registration fee, with no extra charge for each app you publish.

The submission works similarly to the App Store. You create your app in Play Console, fill in the store listing, and upload a signed Android App Bundle. Google then signs the release for users with Play App Signing. If you plan to publish paid apps or sell in-app items, you’ll also need a payments profile in Play Console.

App Review

App review is a check of your build and store listing against each store’s rules before the app goes live. Apple’s App Review team checks apps manually with the help of automated tools, while Google combines automated checks with manual review.

So, you’ve submitted your product, and now all you need to do is wait for app approval. Let’s see how the app review process works in each store.

App Store Review Process

You can track your review status in App Store Connect on the web or in the App Store Connect app for iPhone and iPad. According to Apple, App Review aims to check at least 50% of submissions in less than 24 hours and 90% in less than 48 hours.

So, how long does App Store review take? For most apps, App Store review takes a day or two. The exact App Store review time depends on the app, its features, and its size. If you submit an incomplete app, the review may take longer, or your app may be rejected.

For a critical bug fix or a time-sensitive event, you can request an expedited review. Once the status changes, you’ll get a notification with the result.

Google Play Store Review Process

Google first uses automated checks to pre-screen submitted apps for policy violations and malware. After that, many apps also go through a manual review by Google’s team.

According to Play Console Help, the review can take up to seven days, or longer in exceptional cases. So, plan your Google Play review time into your launch schedule.

If you have a new personal developer account, there’s one more step before that. You first need to run 14 days of closed testing and then apply for production access.

Reasons For Application Rejection

Rejections are common: in 2025, Apple reviewed about 9.1 million app submissions and rejected about 2.1 million, according to its App Store Transparency Report.

But a rejection doesn’t mean something is wrong with your app as a whole. Often, it’s a few minor issues you can fix quickly. The reasons also differ between the App Store and Google Play.

Here are the most common App Store rejection reasons:

• Crashes and bugs. Thorough QA testing before submission catches most of them.
• Incomplete metadata or placeholder content.
• Broken links, for example, a privacy policy or support URL that doesn’t open.
• No demo account, so the reviewer can’t access features behind a login.
• Privacy issues, such as a missing privacy policy or undisclosed data use.
• Misleading descriptions that don’t match what the app actually does.
• In-app purchases outside Apple’s system when Apple requires its own payment system.

For Google Play, the main focus is following its Developer Program Policies. Common reasons for rejection include:

• Policy violations, such as sexually explicit content, bullying, harassment, or hate speech.
• A Data safety form that doesn’t match how the app really uses data.
• A target API level below the current requirement.

To avoid surprises, check your app against the App Store Review Guidelines and Google’s policies before you submit.

How to Act in Case of Rejection?

If your app gets rejected, you’ll receive a message from the store team with details on what you need to change to get app approval. For each issue, you can also find guidance on what to adjust on the App Store and Google Play support pages.

So, your plan should look like this:

On the App Store, you can also reply to the reviewer in App Store Connect if something needs clarifying. If you think the decision is wrong, you can file an appeal with the App Review Board.

It may take a while before your app is finally approved and published. But with each submission, the process gets easier.

To Conclude

Getting app approval takes focus and preparation. It’s better to check everything twice than to spend a few days waiting for a rejection.

And if your app does get rejected, treat it as a useful review by professionals. It helps you find weak spots and make your product even better for your users. With a trusted technology partner who has done this many times, the process can go a lot faster. For example, our React Native developers can prepare and submit your app for both stores.