Native iOS apps can be developed only on Mac. … Alternative IDEs for iOS development require Xcode. You don’t need to run it, but you should have it installed. Signing and uploading apps to the App Store (or Test Flight) can be done from the command line (see below), but you need to have Xcode installed.

Is Xcode used to make apps?

Xcode is the only supported way to develop apps by Apple. So if you’re interested in building iOS or MacOS apps you must use it. There are third-party solutions that don’t require you to use Xcode, however these are not supported by Apple and there are often issues with these solutions.

Can you develop iOS apps without a Mac?

It is possible to develop iOS (and Android at the same time) application using React Native + Expo without owning a mac. You will also be able to run your iOS application within iOS Expo app while developing it. (You can even publish it for other people to access, but it will only run within Expo app).