Individual Developer

An individual developer account is the simplest way to join the Apple Developer Program. It is intended for solo developers who want to publish apps under their own personal legal name. The membership costs $99 per year, the same price as an organization enrollment, and provides access to the same distribution tools and APIs.

When to Use It

Individual enrollment is the right choice when you are a solo developer without a registered legal entity, when you want to get started quickly without the D-U-N-S verification process, or when you are comfortable having your personal name displayed publicly on the App Store. The approval process is typically faster than organization enrollment because it requires fewer verification steps.

Limitations

The most visible limitation is that your legal first and last name appears as the developer on all your app listings. You cannot use a brand name, trade name, or DBA. There is also no team management capability, meaning you cannot invite other people to help manage your apps, metadata, or finances through App Store Connect. All account responsibilities fall on a single person.

When to Upgrade

Consider switching to an organization enrollment if you form a legal entity, need to add team members with role-based access, or want a company name on your listings. The developer name change that comes with upgrading can benefit ASO by displaying a more recognizable or keyword-relevant brand name to users browsing the App Store.