# How to join the Apple Developer Program

> Learn how to join the Apple Developer Program, the $99 per year membership you need to publish your apps to the App Store and access private betas.

Author: Flavio Copes | Published: 2021-09-01 | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/apple-developer-program/

The Apple Developer Program is the way you'll get access to distributing your apps through all the Apple App Stores.

The membership currently costs $99 per year.

It's not essential to create Swift applications, but it's essential to publish them. And to access the private betas of macOS and Xcode.

To join the Apple Developer Program, go to the [Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com) website and click **Account** on the top menu.

![Apple Developer website homepage with WWDC21 avatars, Account link in navigation, and App Store and SharePlay feature cards](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_17.50.56.jpg)

You'll be shown a login form. Enter your Apple ID, or create one if you don't have it already.

![Apple ID login form showing Sign in to Apple Developer with Apple ID input field and Remember me checkbox](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_17.51.23.png)

After logging in, you'll see a page similar to this:

![Apple Developer Account dashboard showing Getting Started section with Download Tools, Build Your First App, and Join Apple Developer Program options](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_17.52.25.png)

Hover the Join the **Apple Developer Program** menu. A new page will tell you everything you'll gain by joining the program:

![Apple Developer Program enrollment page showing MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch with coding interface and From Code to Customer heading](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_17.53.18.png)

Click the **Enroll** button on top. 

I had to fill a form:

![Apple Developer Program enrollment form requesting personal information including first name, last name, phone number and address fields](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_18.00.06.png)

You'll then choose to enroll as an individual, or as a company or nonprofit. I chose the first option.

I then agreed to the **Apple Developer Program License Agreement** and went on to the payment.

The payment auto-renews each year, until you decide to cancel.

After the payment, there will be a little waiting time until things are set up. They say up to 48 hours of processing time.

Meanwhile the account is pending.

For me, it took 10 minutes to get set up for the Apple Developer Program.

I got an email and I was able to see the App Store Connect and the downloads of the private beta software.

![Beta Software Downloads page showing macOS Monterey beta 6 and iOS 15 beta 7 available for download with Install Profile buttons](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_18.27.01.png)

![Beta Software Downloads page showing Xcode 13 beta 5 and Schoolwork 2.2 beta 2 available for download with action buttons](https://flaviocopes.com/images/apple-developer-program/Screen_Shot_2021-08-31_at_18.27.04.png)