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Build a working iOS app from a text description — no code, no install, no Mac required. Estimated time: 5 minutes By the end of this guide, you’ll have a live app running in a cloud iOS simulator and a preview link you can share.

Build on Bilt

Open the dashboard and follow along — free to start.

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Step 1: Create an account

Sign up at bilt.me/sign-up. You’ll land on your dashboard, ready to build.

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Step 2: Describe your app

Type a description of what you want to build in the prompt box on your dashboard. Be as specific or general as you like:
The dashboard prompt box where you describe your app
See the prompting guide for tips on writing prompts that get better results.

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Step 3: Watch it build

Bilt’s AI generates your app in real time. You’ll see:
  • Live code generation — The AI writes React Native code as you watch
  • Live preview — Your app appears in a live preview right in the browser
  • Progress updates — Status messages show what the AI is working on
Chat view during a build, with the agent summarizing the screens it created
No Xcode, no local setup, no waiting for builds. The app runs live as it’s created.

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Step 4: Iterate with chat

Your app is live — now refine it by chatting with the AI:
Each message triggers a new build cycle. The preview updates in real time so you can see changes instantly.
Workspace with chat on the left and the live phone preview with QR code on the right

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Step 5: Share or ship

Once you’re happy with your app:
  • Share a preview link — Send a live link to testers or stakeholders
  • Push to GitHub — Connect a repo to keep your code in version control
  • Publish your app — Submit to the App Store, Google Play, or both directly from Bilt
  • Export the code — Download the full React Native source and continue on your own

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What just happened?

Behind the scenes, Bilt:
  1. Interpreted your description and planned the app architecture
  2. Generated production-ready React Native code
  3. Built the app in a cloud sandbox
  4. Showed your app in a live preview in your browser
  5. Applied your chat messages as iterative updates
All of this happens in the cloud — nothing installed on your machine.

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Next steps

Prompting guide

Write better prompts for better apps

Connect a backend

Add sign-in, a database, and file storage with Bilt Cloud

Push to GitHub

Version control your app code

Publish your app

Ship to the App Store, Google Play, or both
Prefer working from an AI agent? See the MCP quickstart to connect Bilt to Claude, Cursor, or OpenClaw.