How to build a fasting tracker app for iOS
What a fasting tracker app needs
- Protocol presets such as 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD, and 5:2, plus a custom option
- A start and stop timer showing elapsed time and time remaining in the current fast or eating window
- A history log with streaks and weekly or monthly stats
- Notifications for when a fast completes and when the eating window opens
- A Live Activity and Dynamic Island view for the active fast
- A Home Screen widget and an optional weight or notes log
Keep the first version focused on the timer and history. Reliable timing and clear notifications matter more than extra charts.
How to build it with AppFlight
Describe it in plain English, for example: "An intermittent fasting tracker with presets for 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD, and a custom schedule. I tap start to begin a fast, see elapsed and remaining time on a ring, get a notification when the fast ends and when the eating window opens, and see a history of past fasts with my current streak. Show the active fast as a Live Activity on the Lock Screen." AppFlight plans the screens, generates native SwiftUI, and launches it in a live simulator so you can start a fast and watch the timer immediately. You iterate by asking for changes in plain language.
Monetization for a fasting tracker app
The proven model is a free timer with a paid upgrade. Free users get the core fast timer; the subscription unlocks extra protocols, detailed stats and trends, custom reminders, a weight log, and themes. Add a RevenueCat paywall for subscriptions, and use Superwall if you want to test paywall designs without shipping an update. One consideration specific to this niche: fasting is a health topic, so keep your copy informational and avoid medical claims, and if you read body data through HealthKit, request only what you use and explain why.
Shipping it to the App Store
When the app is ready, AppFlight signs the build, uploads to TestFlight so you can run a real fast on your own device, then submits to the App Store with metadata and screenshots from the simulator. If Apple rejects the build, AppFlight reads the reason, fixes the issue, and resubmits. Apple reviews every app, so a submission is not the same as an approval, but the whole pipeline runs without you opening Xcode.
FAQ
Do I need to code to build a fasting tracker app?
No. You describe the app in plain English and AppFlight generates native Swift and SwiftUI, including the timer logic and the history log.
Can the active fast show on the Lock Screen?
Yes. A fasting timer is a good fit for a Live Activity and the Dynamic Island, which AppFlight can build so the current fast stays visible without opening the app.
How do fasting apps make money?
Most use a free fast timer with a subscription that unlocks extra protocols, detailed stats, reminders, and a weight log. A RevenueCat or Superwall paywall is the common setup.