Updated February 12, 2026

Creators earning mid-five-figure MRR face a consolidation problem. You manage Zoom links, course content on web builders, community in Facebook Groups, and payment links in Instagram DMs across five logins. Algorithm changes threaten reach. Completion rates stay flat because email reminders do not drive mobile engagement the way push notifications do.

What Is a White-Label App Builder?

A white-label mobile app is a native iOS or Android application you publish under your brand in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You own the Apple Developer account ($99 per year) and Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time). The app listing, analytics, and user data belong to you. The platform provider remains invisible to your users.

Container apps work differently. Users download the platform's main app, then search within it to find your content. You do not own the listing. If the platform gets removed from stores, your app disappears. For creators building long-term businesses, true white-labeling provides audience ownership and platform independence.

Evaluation Criteria: How to Choose a Platform for Scale

I focus on the factors that determine whether your app becomes a revenue asset or an operational burden. These criteria reflect what enterprise creators need to consolidate tools, reduce churn, and scale subscriptions without hiring developers.

Speed and done-for-you scope: Can you launch in weeks? Does the platform handle Apple App Store and Google Play submission? The typical Apple review process shows that 90% of apps are reviewed within 48 hours, but first-time creators often face rejections for incomplete metadata. Platforms offering white-glove submission support save you 1-3 weeks of back-and-forth.

Mobile-first engagement features: Does the app include native push notifications, offline content access, and in-app community? Push notifications boost engagement by 88% and increase retention rates by 3-10x. Sending one push notification to a new user in their first week can increase retention by 71%. We see creators drive a 20% course completion boost with push at 90% delivery rates. Web-first platforms that wrap your site in a mobile browser view cannot send native push or enable offline mode.

Revenue model flexibility: Does the platform support both in-app purchases (IAP) for mobile convenience and web checkout for margin protection? Apple takes 15-30% on IAP depending on your revenue tier. Google applies similar fees. Web checkout via Stripe typically costs 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction plus platform fees. Platforms that lock you into IAP-only monetization eat your margin on high-ticket offers.

Security and data ownership: Does the platform offer two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts, encryption in transit, and clear data export policies? Apple requires 2FA for developer accounts. Google mandates 2-step verification for Play Console access. Can you export your user list and content?

Post-sale support quality: Do you get a named success manager with SLAs, or generic email support? For creators managing five-figure monthly launches, a 48-hour support delay costs thousands in lost conversions.

Top White-Label App Builders Compared

1. Passion.io

We built Passion.io as a no-code platform for creators who want a true branded mobile app (iOS, Android, and web) with the training and support to launch paid programs in weeks. We focus on mobile-first engagement: native push notifications, offline content access, in-app community channels, and interactive lessons with quizzes and drip schedules.

Our pricing tiers:

• Launch plan: $99/month annual - 100 subscribers, 100 videos, 1,000 push/month, core monetization (subscriptions, one-time, freemium), drip content, 1:1 messaging, email support
• Scale plan: $239/month annual - Adds Zapier integrations, automated DMs, advanced community, white-label removal, team access, chat support
• Expand plan: $599/month annual - App Store Listing support, Apple Pay/Google Pay, unlimited users/videos/push, offline mode, video calls, enhanced support

For creators who want a fully done-for-you experience, PassionPlus offers white-glove setup with a dedicated success manager to assist with app building, content migration, App Store and Google Play submission handling, and go-to-market coaching. We can possibly launch in as little as 30 days. Pricing is custom based on scope.

Watch our 3-minute platform walkthrough to see the builder interface, push scheduler, and community features in action.

We charge a 3.9% platform fee on web checkouts processed through PassionPayments (Stripe-powered), plus Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee. In-app purchases via Apple or Google incur the platform's 15-30% fees with no additional Passion platform fee. On the Scale plan and above, you can use external checkout methods and pay 0% to Passion (only your payment processor's fees).

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you cancel within the first 30 days, you receive a full refund.

"Passion.io is legit. They are professional, helpful, and incredible. I could NOT have launched my app without their help. Even with their platform, and their incredible guides of step by step to do, I still needed hand-holding in the process." - Kirsten Larsen

Best for: Choose Passion.io if you are a coach or educator in fitness, wellness, mindset, skills training, or business coaching and you need to launch in 30-60 days with mobile engagement tools (push, offline, community) that drive retention and recurring revenue. Our case studies show success across diverse niches.

2. Kajabi

Kajabi is a web-first all-in-one platform built for marketing funnels, email automation, and course sales. The platform includes landing pages, checkout flows, membership sites, and a mobile app add-on. Kajabi's mobile app is available as a branded app option, but it costs an additional $199/month on top of the base subscription.

Current Kajabi plans (annual billing equivalents):

• Basic: ~$143/month (billed annually)
• Growth: ~$199/month (billed annually)
• Pro: ~$399/month (billed annually)

Kajabi also offers a Kickstarter entry plan (~$89/month) for new creators with limited features and lower contact counts.

Branded mobile app costs: Kajabi’s mobile app and branded experience (your app with your logo) usually require a mobile app add‑on or higher plan features, usually around $199/month extra if not included in your tier.

3. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a community‑focused platform that lets creators build communities, sell memberships, host courses, and engage members directly on web and mobile. Branded mobile apps (your own iOS/Android apps) are offered through the Mighty Pro tier with custom pricing, you need to contact the sales team to get a quote rather than a published flat rate, and pricing is tailored to business needs.

Mighty Networks pricing tiers (annual billing equivalents):

• Community Plan: ~$49/month (entry‑level community tools)
• Courses Plan: ~$109–$129/month (includes course tools and community)
• Business Plan: ~$179–$219/month (advanced features, analytics, automation)
• Growth Plan: ~$360–$430/month (premium support, high limits, lower transaction fees)
• Mighty Pro: Custom pricing (branded mobile apps, dedicated strategy, enterprise features)

4. BuddyBoss

BuddyBoss turns WordPress sites into social networks with mobile apps via the BuddyBoss App. The WordPress foundation offers infinite customization through plugins but requires ongoing maintenance: core updates, plugin conflicts, security patches, and hosting management. You need either an in-house developer or an agency retainer to manage the stack.

The mobile app relies on the stability of your WordPress installation. If a plugin breaks or a theme update causes conflicts, the app can break too.

5. Uscreen

Uscreen is a video-first platform optimized for video-on-demand (VOD) streaming services or OTT apps similar to Netflix. The platform excels at video delivery, live streaming, and multi-screen experiences (TV apps, web, mobile). Uscreen provides live streaming options for classes and coaching, which Passion.io handles via Zoom or YouTube integrations.

The platform is less focused on interactive courses, community discussion, or non-video content types. If your programs include PDFs, audio files, quizzes, and text-based lessons, you will find the content architecture more limited.

6. Custom Development Agencies

Hiring a custom development agency means you build your app from scratch with a team of designers, iOS developers, Android developers, backend engineers, and project managers. You get infinite customization: any feature you can describe, they can code.

Custom app development costs range from $30,000 for basic apps to $400,000+ for complex solutions, with surveys increasingly citing $150,000-$500,000+ as a realistic range for fully custom, feature-rich mobile products. Hourly rates in North America commonly range from $70-$180+ per hour for senior mobile teams. The timeline typically spans 4-9 months from kickoff to App Store launch.

Deep Dive: Passion.io vs. Kajabi vs. Custom Dev

I built a decision matrix based on the criteria that matter most for scaling creators. This table reflects real costs, timelines, and feature availability as of February 2026.

Analysis: We built Passion.io for mobile-first engagement. Our offline mode and in-app community features drive the retention that web-first platforms treat as secondary. Kajabi excels at email marketing funnels and evergreen course sales pages, making it a strong choice if your funnel lives on web and your audience converts via email sequences.

Custom development delivers infinite flexibility but at a cost and timeline that only makes sense if you have unique technical requirements and a product manager to own the roadmap. For creators earning mid-five-figure MRR with churn concerns, Passion's native push and in-app community directly address the retention ceiling that web-first platforms cannot solve.

Proof: Creator Revenue Outcomes

Enterprise creators need verifiable success, not just feature lists. Here are the metrics:

A fitness creator on Passion.io moved a 30-day challenge into her branded app and grew business engagement by adding push-driven accountability and offline workout access. She reduced churn from 8% to below 6% by consolidating her Facebook Group, Zoom calls, and Vimeo library into one mobile hub. In-app community platforms help creators boost course completion 15-30% by unifying content and conversation. Studies show that messaging a user even once in the first 90 days delivers a higher chance of retention.

The common pattern: creators who consolidate tools and add mobile-first engagement (push, offline, in-app community) see 15-30% completion lifts and 10-20% MRR growth within 90-180 days. Explore more creator success stories and fitness-specific examples.

The Economics: ROI and Total Cost of Ownership

Let me break down the real numbers for a creator running a $60k MRR ($720k annual) coaching business selling at $497 one-time or $97/month ongoing access.

Passion.io TCO (Year 1):

Expand Plan Annual:

• Platform subscription: $599/month × 12 = $7,188
• Developer accounts: $99 (Apple) + $25 (Google) = $124 first year
• Payment processing: PassionPayments 3.9% platform fee + Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (variable based on revenue and payment method chosen)

Year 1 Total: $7,312 + variable processing fees

If you route sales through external checkout on the Scale plan or above (0% Passion platform fee), you save the 3.9% platform fee and pay only Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30.

Custom Development TCO (Year 1):

Moderate Complexity App:

• Development: $100,000 (mid-range for fully custom app)
• First-year maintenance: $100,000 × 18% = $18,000
• Developer accounts: $124
• Payment processing: Your processor's fees

Year 1 Total: $118,124 (before processing fees)

Year 2+ Ongoing:

• Maintenance: $18,000+/year
• Developer accounts: $99/year (Google is one-time)
• Feature additions: Billed separately per project

ROI Consideration:

Assume your app increases course completion by 20% (a conservative estimate based on push notification data) and that higher completion drives 15% more referrals and upsells. On $720k annual revenue, that is $144,000 in incremental revenue. Passion.io can lead to break-even within a few months. Custom development can take years to break even on the same incremental lift.

The TCO math shifts if you have a multi-million-dollar business with unique technical needs that justify custom infrastructure. For most creators earning five- or low-six-figure revenue, the no-code platform TCO is an order of magnitude better. Learn more about creator course metrics like LTV and CAC.

Security, Data Ownership, and Risk Mitigation

When you move your audience from social platforms into your own app, you own responsibility for data security and user trust. Evaluate platforms for baseline protections and transparent policies.

Two-factor authentication (2FA): Apple requires 2FA for all developer accounts. Google mandates 2-step verification for Play Console access. Enable 2FA on your platform admin account immediately.

Data ownership and portability: Confirm that you can export your user list, content, and transaction history in standard formats (CSV, JSON). White-label platforms should include data portability clauses in their terms. If the platform folds or you decide to migrate, you need the ability to extract your data without negotiations.

Compliance with privacy regulations: GDPR requires user consent for push notifications and clear policies on how data is collected and used. Your app's privacy policy must disclose data practices. Most app builder platforms provide template policies, but you should have a lawyer review yours if you operate in the EU or handle sensitive user data.

Payment security: If you use the platform's integrated payment processor (like PassionPayments on Passion.io), the processor handles PCI DSS compliance. If you connect your own Stripe or PayPal account, those processors manage card data security.

Platform security posture: For creators handling sensitive client data (health coaching, therapy, financial advice), ask whether the platform holds certifications like SOC 2 Type II. If your partners or clients demand that certification, confirm the platform has completed third-party audits before you commit.

Risk mitigation checklist:

1. Enable 2FA on all admin accounts (platform, Apple, Google, payment processor)
2. Use strong, unique passwords and store them in a password manager
3. Confirm data export capabilities before you commit to a platform
4. Review the platform's privacy policy and terms of service for data ownership language
5. Add your own privacy policy to your app (required by Apple and Google)
6. If you handle sensitive data, ask the platform for SOC 2 reports or security audit results

Beyond technical controls, enterprise creators value expert access and hand-holding during complex processes like App Store submission.

"Passion.io customer service is amazing! They responded within 2 days and handled my issue promptly with much satisfaction!" - Sheldonahue on Trustpilot‍

If you are ready to own your audience and scale recurring revenue without developer headaches, book a platform demo or start with our Launch plan and the 30-day money-back guarantee. For white-glove setup with a named success manager, ask about PassionPlus during your demo. Explore our community app features, course creation tools, and join the PassionFighters community to learn from other creators.

Frequently Asked Questions About White-Label Apps

Do I need my own Apple Developer Account and Google Play account?
Yes, for true white-label apps. Apple charges $99 per year and Google charges $25 one-time. You own the accounts and the app listings.

How long does App Store approval take?
Apple usually reviews 90% of apps within 48 hours. Google Play typically reviews within a few days. First-time submissions often face rejections for incomplete metadata or privacy policy issues, delaying approval even further. During busy periods, wait times can stretch longer.

Can I migrate my Facebook Group into the app?
Yes. Create matching channels in Passion's in-app community, pin a welcome post with the app download link in your Facebook Group, and send a direct announcement to all members. Offer an incentive (exclusive content, early access to new programs) for the first 100 members who join the app.

What happens to my app if I cancel the platform subscription?
Your app will stop functioning because the platform hosts the backend. You own the developer accounts, so you can hire another builder or agency to rebuild the app, but you will lose the content and user data unless you export it first.

Can I sell through the app and avoid Apple and Google's 15-30% fees?
Yes. Route users to web checkout for purchases. Apple and Google only take a cut of in-app purchases made via their payment systems. On Passion.io, you can use external checkout on Scale plan and above with 0% platform fee.

What if I need a feature Passion.io does not offer?
Submit a feature request through the Passion community. We prioritize requests from Expand and PassionPlus customers. For unique technical requirements (bespoke integrations, complex user permissions), custom development may be the better path, but 90%+ of coaching and course businesses fit within our platform's feature set.

Key Terms Glossary

White-label app: A native mobile app built by a third party but published under your brand name in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You own the developer accounts and the customer relationship.

Container app: A mobile app published under the platform provider's name that hosts multiple creator apps inside it. Users download the platform's app, then search for your content within it.

Native push notifications: Alerts sent directly to a user's device lock screen or notification tray, even when the app is closed. Native push drives higher engagement than email or in-app messages.

In-app purchases (IAP): Transactions completed inside the mobile app using Apple Pay or Google Pay. Apple and Google charge 15-30% fees on IAP.

PassionPlus: Passion.io's white-glove service that includes dedicated success management, content migration, App Store submission handling, and go-to-market coaching. Guaranteed launch in 30 days or less.