Why EAS Build Instead of Local Build
Building a production iOS app locally requires Xcode on a Mac, an Apple Developer account, provisioning profiles, and signing certificates - a setup that takes hours and breaks constantly. EAS Build moves all of that to the cloud. You run one command, and Expo's servers compile your app using properly configured Mac and Linux build machines. The output is an IPA (iOS) or APK/AAB (Android) file ready for store submission.
Setting Up EAS Build
Install EAS CLI: npm install -g eas-cli. Log in: eas login. Configure: eas build:configure. This creates an eas.json file with build profiles (development, preview, production). For your first submission build, you want the production profile. Run eas build --platform ios --profile production or the same for android. EAS will prompt you to handle credentials - choose 'let EAS manage' for the easiest path.
What Happens During a Build
EAS clones your project, installs dependencies, runs any prebuild scripts, compiles native code, bundles your JavaScript, and packages everything into the final binary. You can watch the build log in your browser at expo.dev or in the terminal. Common failure points: missing environment variables, native package incompatibilities, and incorrect app.json configuration.
- Check your app.json for correct bundleIdentifier (iOS) and package (Android)
- Make sure all environment variables your app needs are set in eas.json or the Expo dashboard
- If a build fails, read the log from the top - the root error is often buried above a cascade of failures
After the Build
Download the IPA or AAB from the Expo dashboard or by following the terminal link. For iOS, submit with eas submit --platform ios (which uploads to App Store Connect automatically). For Android, submit with eas submit --platform android. Both require you to have an existing app entry created in the respective store developer console first.
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Frequently asked questions
Does EAS Build cost money?
EAS Build has a free tier with limited monthly build minutes. For one app with occasional builds, the free tier is usually enough. Once you are building frequently, the paid plans start at $29/month.
Do I need a Mac to build an iOS app with EAS?
No. EAS Build runs on cloud Mac machines. You can trigger an iOS build from Windows or Linux without any Mac hardware.
How long does an EAS Build take?
iOS builds typically take 10-25 minutes. Android builds are usually faster, 5-15 minutes. Builds with heavy native dependencies take longer.
What is the difference between a development build and a production build?
A development build includes the Expo dev client so you can run it with hot reload and debugging tools. A production build is stripped of development tooling and optimized for the store. You submit production builds.
Last reviewed by David on August 2, 2026
