Ben Dodson Freelance Apple Platforms Developer

Freelance Apple App Developer & Consultant

I'm Ben Dodson, a UK-based consultant who has been building native Apple apps since the App Store launched in 2008. I specialise in polished, fast, maintainable software for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, usually working directly with founders, product teams, agencies, and established brands that need senior hands-on expertise. I have also built and published several of my own apps including:

I have shipped apps for major broadcasters, startups, charities, publishers, healthcare teams, and global brands. My portfolio includes UKTV Play and Channel 4 Horse Tracker (both of which reached #1 on the App Store) along with work for NBC, Natural Cycles, Foodim, Friends of the Earth, L'Oreal, Glenfiddich, Calm Radio, Oxford University, and DrinkCoach.

I maintain a weblog and newsletter about my work and interests. You can learn more about me, browse my own apps, or view my online projects including a popular suite of artwork finders. Please feel free to contact me for more information or to find out more about my services.

Notable Apps

  • U App Icon

    U (formally UKTV Play)

    I built the native tvOS app including priviledged connectivity with the Apple "TV" app. The app reached #1 on the App Store within 24 hours and is now pre-installed on every Apple TV device in the UK. Following this success, I was commissioned to rebuild the iPhone and iPad apps all of which I maintain to this day.

  • Music Library Tracker App Icon

    Music Library Tracker

    A self-published app that monitors your Apple Music library for additions, deletions, metadata changes, and Spatial Audio upgrades. It has been covered extensively by outlets such as MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and TechRadar.

  • Channel 4 Horse Tracker App Icon

    Channel 4 Horse Tracker

    I worked with Monterosa Productions as the sole iOS developer for Channel 4's Grand National app. It delivered a live second-screen experience with horse position, speed, and distance data, and reached #1 in the App Store charts.

  • Foodim App Icon

    Foodim

    I built the food photography and social network app as the sole iOS developer in partnership with Nigella Lawson including a custom depth-of-field implementation to match the cinematography of her cookery shows.

  • Glenfiddich App Icon

    Glenfiddich Residence Changi

    I worked with Verb Digital to build a unique iPad app experience that powered a physical weather chamber with fog, wind, and rain to simulate the live weather at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland.