Top App Development Companies In New Zealand For 2027
Dominic Tarn
Head Writer - ReVerb
10.23.2026
Meta description: Compare 10 app developers NZ businesses hire for iOS, Android and cross-platform apps in 2027, with verified clients.
Quick answer: Sush Labs is the pick for banks, government and other regulated sectors, while PaperKite and Catch Design suit consumer apps for large New Zealand brands. Edition is built for venture-backed tech startups, Putti is the choice for rescuing a stalled project, and Lucid Media suits SMEs that want one Flutter or React Native codebase for iOS and Android.
New Zealand’s app developers range from enterprise studios behind banking and fuel apps to small regional teams that build practical iOS and Android tools for local businesses.
Kiwi companies have built some of the country’s most used mobile products at home, from fuel payment and mobile banking apps to blood donor and health record tools. That local track record matters. Working with app developers NZ-based rather than offshore gives you overlapping time zones, familiarity with local payment and identity systems such as RealMe, and a team that understands New Zealand privacy expectations. The trade-off is cost, so it pays to know which studios suit enterprise work and which are built for startups and smaller budgets.
This guide covers top app development companies in New Zealand, with what each one does best, who it works with and, where published, how it approaches native and cross-platform development.
New Zealand App Development Companies At A Glance
Company
Core Services
Best For
Sush Labs (Auckland and Wellington)
Native iOS and Android, Flutter, AI, digital identity
Banks, government and regulated sectors
PaperKite (Wellington)
App development, product strategy, UX, AI
Consumer apps for large NZ brands
Catch Design (Auckland and Wellington)
Native and React Native or Flutter apps, UX, accessibility
Utilities, telcos and government agencies
Cactuslab (Auckland)
Native and hybrid mobile apps, bespoke websites
Design-led consumer and property apps
Edition (Auckland)
iOS, Android, product design, brand, websites
Venture-backed tech startups
Putti (Auckland)
iOS, Android and cross-platform apps, custom software, AI agents
Mid-size businesses and project rescues
Lucid Media (Auckland)
Flutter and React Native apps, web, digital marketing
SMEs wanting one codebase for iOS and Android
Activate (Christchurch)
Apple and Android apps, web software, design
Canterbury startups and SMEs
UpShift (Nelson)
Android and iOS apps, scientific and medical apps, software
Research, health and sustainability projects
Apped NZ (Tauranga)
Custom iOS and Android apps, app hosting, design
Trades, agriculture and industrial businesses
Best App Development Companies In New Zealand
1. Sush Labs: Enterprise Mobile, AI And Digital Identity Studio
Sush Labs has more than 16 years of experience and works from offices in Auckland’s Generator building at 11 Britomart Place and at 30 Waring Taylor Street in Wellington, with a further office in Sydney. It builds native iOS and Android apps and uses Flutter when a cross-platform approach fits, alongside AI, cloud and digital identity work.
The client list leans toward regulated and high-trust sectors. Sush Labs lists Kiwibank, Westpac, NZ Blood, the Department of Internal Affairs, RealMe, LINZ and My Food Bag among its clients, and its portfolio includes the Kiwibank mobile banking app, the NZ Blood donor experience and a full mobile banking build for Debut.
Services: iOS and Android development, Flutter, AI solutions, cloud, digital identity modernization
Clients: Kiwibank, Westpac, NZ Blood, Department of Internal Affairs, RealMe, My Food Bag
PaperKite was founded in 2010 by Nic Gibbens as an app development company and has grown into a full digital agency based at 181 Vivian Street in Te Aro, Wellington. Its team of around two dozen covers discovery, product strategy, UX design, app development and AI implementation.
Its best-known work is the BPme mobile app, which PaperKite says lets 500,000 New Zealanders pay for fuel without queuing. Other projects include a My Health Record mobile app and an AI knowledge tool for Life Education Trust. Clients include bp New Zealand, Hell Pizza, Southern Cross Healthcare, Wellington City Council and Te Whatu Ora.
Services: Mobile app development, digital product strategy, discovery, UX design, AI implementation
Clients: bp New Zealand, Hell Pizza, Southern Cross Healthcare, Wellington City Council, Te Whatu Ora
Founded: 2010, Wellington
3. Catch Design: Native And Cross-Platform App Designers
Catch Design was founded in 2005 and has studios at 239 Ponsonby Road in Auckland and 24 Blair Street in Wellington. The team of 13 develops native apps for iOS in Swift or Objective-C and for Android in Java or Kotlin, and also builds with React Native and Flutter when one codebase makes more sense.
Work for Mercury, 2degrees and AA Smartfuel shows its strength with consumer apps for big service brands. Catch also covers user research, accessibility, testing and ongoing app improvement, and it is a supplier on the New Zealand government’s Pae Hokohoko marketplace, which simplifies procurement for public sector buyers.
Services: Native iOS and Android, React Native, Flutter, UX and UI design, accessibility, testing
Clients: Mercury, 2degrees, AA Smartfuel
Founded: 2005, Auckland and Wellington
4. Cactuslab: Independent Auckland Web And App Studio
Cactuslab is an independent web and app design studio founded in 2001, based at 22 Queen Street in central Auckland. It builds bespoke websites and full or hybrid native mobile apps, and its team of more than 16 includes designers, developers and mobile specialists.
The studio also creates its own products. It made Letterboxd, the social network for film lovers, after failing to find a good place to discuss films online. Client work includes a universal iOS and iPadOS app for Barfoot & Thompson, the Parentland parenting app, the YourRide mobile app and a digital wallet portal for NZ Funds.
Services: Native and hybrid mobile apps, bespoke websites, product design
5. Edition: Design-Led Product Studio For Tech Startups
Edition is a digital innovation studio headquartered at 582 Karangahape Road in Auckland, with an office in Melbourne. It was set up to support ambitious Kiwi tech founders, and it designs and builds digital products, apps, brand identities and marketing websites for technology companies.
Its mobile team works in Swift and Objective-C for iOS, Kotlin and Java for Android, and React Native or Flutter for cross-platform builds. Edition says it has worked with more than 100 technology companies that have together raised $1.7 billion, including Kernel, EROAD, Carepatron, LanzaTech and Tend.
6. Putti: Senior Auckland Team For Apps And Project Rescue
Putti has built iOS, Android and cross-platform apps, custom software and AI agents for New Zealand businesses since 2010. The Auckland team says it has delivered more than 100 projects since then and has rescued more than 20 projects that were stalled, over budget or at risk of failing.
That rescue work is a useful differentiator if an existing app has gone off track with another supplier. Putti works alongside internal IT teams and describes its offer as enterprise-grade capability without the enterprise price tag. Clients include Spark, Fletcher Building, Hilton, the NZ Herald and Hirepool.
Services: iOS, Android and cross-platform apps, custom web applications, AI agents, systems integration, project rescue
7. Lucid Media: Cross-Platform Apps For Growing Businesses
Lucid Media was founded in 2018 and is based at 60 Highbrook Drive in East Tāmaki, Auckland. It builds mobile apps in Flutter and React Native so one team and one codebase can serve both iOS and Android, an approach it positions as more cost-effective than separate native builds.
Because the agency also offers web design, SEO, paid advertising and automation, it suits small and medium businesses that want the app, website and launch marketing handled together. Lucid says it has delivered more than 150 projects, with clients such as TSB Living, Lendy, Cheeky Chapati and The Cookie Collective.
Services: Flutter and React Native apps, web design and development, SEO, paid advertising, workflow automation
8. Activate: Christchurch App And Web Software Developers
Activate Design has been developing apps since the first iPhone arrived in 2007 and works from the top floor of 205 Durham Street in Christchurch’s CBD. It builds Apple and Android smartphone apps along with custom web software, and it has been the design and development team behind several mobile app businesses.
The studio also covers website design, hosting, branding and print, which helps Canterbury startups that need an app plus the brand and site around it. Client work includes business systems for Scottech, property tools for Braziers with Trade Me integration, and development work for the Skool Loop app.
Services: iOS and Android apps, custom web software, website design, hosting, branding
Clients: Scottech, Braziers, Skool Loop, Starfish Swim School
Location: 205 Durham Street, Christchurch
9. UpShift: Nelson Studio For Science And Health Apps
UpShift was founded in 2013 and works from 62 Bridge Street in Nelson. It designs and builds mobile apps for Android and iOS as well as web software and ecommerce sites, with a small in-house team and no layers of account managers or offshore developers.
Its niche is scientific and medical apps that make complex data easy to understand. Projects include Lakes380 for lake scientists, DiabetesWise for medical researchers and KaiWise for nutritionists, and clients include the Cawthron Institute and Burkes Cycles. UpShift has held Climate Positive business operations certification with Ekos since 2019.
Services: Android and iOS apps, scientific and medical apps, software development, websites, ecommerce
Clients: Cawthron Institute, Burkes Cycles, Two Bees, Kerridge
Apped NZ is a Tauranga company that builds custom mobile applications for both iOS and Android, and says it has developed more than 150 apps. It handles design, development, publishing and hosting under one roof, which keeps things simple for businesses that do not have their own technical team.
Its client list is heavy on trades, agriculture and industry, reflecting the Bay of Plenty economy. Named clients include Giltrap AG, Wilson Contractors, SAM Machinery, Hustler, Omega and Swim Legion, and the company also offers ready-made app products alongside fully custom builds.
Clients: Giltrap AG, Wilson Contractors, SAM Machinery, Hustler, Swim Legion
Location: Tauranga
How To Choose An App Development Company In New Zealand
The right partner depends on your budget, your users and how long you plan to keep improving the app after launch.
Native Or Cross-Platform?
Native apps written in Swift and Kotlin give the best performance and access to new device features, which is why banks and large consumer brands often choose them. Cross-platform tools such as Flutter and React Native let one team ship to iOS and Android from a single codebase, usually at lower cost. Several studios here offer both, so ask which they would recommend for your project and why.
Have They Built Something Similar?
Look for apps in your sector that you can download and try. A studio that has shipped payment, booking or field service apps will already understand the edge cases, integrations and App Store review issues that come with them.
Who Owns The Code And Accounts?
Confirm that your business will own the source code, the App Store and Google Play developer accounts, and any cloud hosting. This matters if you later move to an in-house team or a different supplier.
What Happens After Launch?
Apps need regular updates for new iOS and Android versions, security patches and user feedback. Ask for a support and maintenance plan up front, including response times and how new features will be scoped.
Frequently Asked Questions About App Development In New Zealand
How Much Does App Development Cost In New Zealand?
None of the studios on this list publish fixed app prices, because cost depends on features, integrations, design complexity and platforms. As a general guide, a simple cross-platform app costs far less than a native banking or payments app with complex security and back-end systems. Ask for a paid discovery phase or a detailed quote before committing to a full build.
How Long Does It Take To Build An App?
A focused first version can take a few months, while complex enterprise apps often run longer and continue to evolve after launch. Discovery and design work at the start usually shortens development and reduces rework later.
Why Choose App Development NZ-Based Rather Than Offshore?
Local teams share your time zone, can meet in person, and understand New Zealand systems such as RealMe, local banks and payment providers, as well as the Privacy Act. Offshore teams can be cheaper per hour, but communication overhead and rework can erode those savings.
Should I Build For iOS Or Android First?
Check your own customer data before deciding. Many NZ businesses launch on both at once using Flutter or React Native, while others start with the platform most of their customers use and add the second later.
More New Zealand Lists
Comparing development partners or other New Zealand specialists? These ReVerb lists can help.
New Zealand’s app development scene covers everything from enterprise studios building banking, fuel and health apps used by hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders to regional teams in Christchurch, Nelson and Tauranga that deliver practical apps for local industries. Choosing among app developers NZ-wide starts with being clear on your platforms, budget and long-term plans.
Shortlist two or three companies whose past work resembles your idea, ask each about native versus cross-platform options, code ownership and post-launch support, and compare detailed proposals before you commit.
Bookmark this guide to make a well-informed decision. If you want to add your company to this list, drop us a line or submit a form in the Top Choices section. After a thorough review, we will decide whether it is an appropriate addition.
