Who owns the code and the app store listings after launch

This question does not come up as often as it should, usually because a first time client assumes the answer is obviously yes and finds out otherwise only when they try to switch developers or add a feature themselves and discover they cannot get access to their own code.

What ownership should actually mean

You should own the source code outright, with no license fee, no monthly retainer required to keep using your own software, and no dependency on the original developer staying in business. The App Store and Google Play listings should be published under your own developer account, not the agency's, so that if the relationship ends the app stays live and under your control. If any of that is unclear in a proposal, ask directly before signing anything.

Why some developers structure it differently

Retaining ownership or publishing under the agency's developer account creates ongoing leverage, a client who wants to switch developers or make a change has to come back to the original team, sometimes at a price. This is not always malicious, some agencies genuinely believe it protects their work, but it is worth naming clearly because it shapes every future decision you make about your own software.

What to check before starting a project

• Does the contract explicitly state you own the source code once final payment is made
• Will the app be published under your own Apple and Google developer accounts, not the agency's
• Can you get a full code handoff, including source files and documentation, if you switch developers later
• Is there a monthly fee required just to keep your own software running, separate from actual hosting costs

Every Volt project answers yes to all four by default, not as a negotiated concession. The code is yours, the listings are yours, and there is no retainer required to keep your own software alive.