Zoraiz Ejaz, AI Mobile EngineerAvailable for new projectsPakistan, UTC+5
I build AI mobile apps that reach the App Store, and I stay to keep them working.
Freelance mobile app developer and AI mobile engineer for founders and startups. 10+ years, 50K+ downloads on apps I’ve shipped, and two products of my own, SlimAI and Keke Kids, live in both stores. Most of my career has been MVPs started from zero: I turn an idea into a launched app in weeks, add AI that does a real job inside it, and keep the releases moving after launch.
Top Rated Plus on Upwork20 jobs, every review 5.0Store figures as of September 2026
SlimAIv1.3.17My product
Free photo scans now counted on the server. Voice and typed logging improved.
Live
Cru SocialRelease
Pilot profiles, flight posts from the logbook and push notifications, through the team’s code review.
Live · rated 4.8
Who I work with
Three situations I’m hired for most: MVP development for startups, AI app development for live products, and app maintenance and takeover. App development for startups is most of my career; each row links to the service and its typical budget.
A founder with an idea
You need a first version in real users’ hands in weeks, with sign-up, the core journey and the store launch handled, and someone who tells you what to leave out.
A startup with a live app
You want AI in the product, a meal from a photo, a product from a picture, a voice note turned into data, without breaking what works or blowing up the API bill.
A team whose app is stuck
The developer left, Apple rejected the update, or every release breaks something else. You need an engineer who owns it, not another agency.
AI apps rarely fail at the model. They fail around it.
The AI gets it wrong and the user can’t fix it.
Every AI result is editable before it’s saved. In SlimAI a miss costs the user two taps, not their trust.
The AI bill grows faster than revenue.
Free limits counted on the server, not the phone, and a paywall around heavy use. Reinstalling doesn’t reset the meter.
API keys shipped inside the app.
Model calls go through a backend you own. The app never holds the key, and a feature only sends the data it needs.
It works in the demo, not with real users.
Camera flows, slow networks, failed calls and odd inputs get designed, not discovered. A failed request shows a message, not a broken screen.
App Store review rejects the feature.
Privacy details, content rules and account deletion are handled before submission, and I answer the reviewer when they push back.
That gap, between a demo that works and an app people keep using, is what I get hired for.
Every fix above is running today in SlimAI, my AI calorie tracker, and in Spyra Beauty’s AI product scanning.
My own products, not client work.
Running my own apps is where I learn what a launch really costs: store review, AI bills, real users. It’s what I bring to every client build.
SlimAI
My productAn AI calorie tracker. Log a meal by photo, voice or text and get calories and macros in seconds. An AI body assessment from two photos. A coach that reviews your week and suggests one next step.
- Live on the App Store and Google Play since October 2025
- 10K+ downloads · 4.4 rating on the App Store · 7 languages
- Version 1.3.17, September 2026
Keke Kids
My productPreschool learning games for small hands. Trace letters, numbers and shapes, match, colour and create, pop balloons to count. No reading required, no ads.
- Live on the App Store and Google Play since May 2026
- 500+ downloads on Google Play
- Built, published and run by me
Selected work
All workOct 2025 – today
SlimAIv1.3.17My productMy own AI nutrition app. Snap a meal, get calories and macros; log food by voice. 7 languages.
Live
10K+ downloads
Jan 2026 – today
Keke KidsMy productMy own preschool learning app. Trace letters, numbers and shapes, match, colour, pop balloons. Built for small hands.
Live
500+ downloads
Dec 2024 – Oct 2025
Sep 2025 – today
A gamified personal-growth app. Ten months of end-to-end ownership of a complex product.
In development
End-to-end ownership
Dec 2020 – today
No Yellingv3.1.8The app driving instructors use to run their students and lessons. Built in 2020, still maintained by me.
Maintained since 2020
5+ years · rated 4.8
Aug 2025 – Jan 2026
A social network for pilots. I built the pilot profile, flight posts from the logbook, and push notifications.
Live
Rated 4.8 on the App Store
Ways to work together, with typical budgets.
Fixed in writing before work starts. Not sure which fits? Say so on the call. Ranges are drafts until I confirm them.
MVP, idea to both stores
A founder with an idea, designs or a prototype who needs a first version in real users’ hands.
Timeline4–8 weeks
Typical budget$3k–$5k
AI-powered app from scratch
An app where AI is the point: a meal from a photo, a product from a picture, a voice note into data.
Timeline6–10 weeks
Typical budget$5k–$10k
AI feature in a live app
A live app that wants photo, voice or scanning features without a rebuild.
Timeline1–3 weeks
Typical budget$1k–$3k
Takeover and maintenance
A live app whose developer left, that crashes after an update, or that Apple or Google rejected.
Timeline1–2 weeks to stabilise, then monthly
Typical budget$800–$2k, then $500–$1.5k a month
Fractional CTO
A non-technical founder with a team or agency to steer, not ready for a full-time CTO.
TimelineMonthly, part-time
Typical budget$1.5k–$3k a month
Code review and plan
A second opinion on an app, a codebase, or an estimate someone else gave you.
Timeline2–4 days
Typical budget$300–$700
Draft ranges Ranges are typical, not quotes. Every project gets a fixed price in writing after a 30-minute call, and the price only moves if the scope does. Add-ons are priced separately so a first version stays small. Figures as of October 2026.
How pricing worksFrom a call to a launch, and after.
A 30-minute call.
You tell me about the product and who it’s for. I ask about what could break it: the tricky flows, the payments, what happens at scale.
A written plan and a fixed price.
What gets built first, what waits, the risks I see, and the price. Nothing starts until you’ve read it.
Builds on your phone.
Written progress updates and test builds you can install, every week or two. No going quiet for a month.
Store launch.
Listings, privacy details, builds, review questions and rejections, all under your own developer accounts.
Handover.
Full source code, setup instructions, and every account in your name.
And after.
Fixes, OS updates, store policy changes and the next version, if you want me to stay. No Yelling has worked this way since 2020.
Rather watch? The 75-second version.
Who I am, the apps I’ve shipped, and three founders on what working with me is like. Captions included.
Every launch and release, dated.
From my CV, git history and store release dates. Two of these apps are mine; the rest I built or maintain for clients.
XenditTeam
Joined the merchant payments apps team: specs, builds, delivery.
Employed
What clients say
“His coding skills are top tier, but what truly sets him apart is his sense of ownership. He treats this project as if it were his own.”
“The MVP was completed even ahead of the original timeline… I especially appreciated how well they understood the vision of the app and helped keep the MVP focused without over-complicating things.”
“He helped handle a lot of very complicated tasks and did so in a timely and efficient manner. I would highly recommend…”
Top Rated Plus on Upwork, 20 completed jobs. Every review below is rated 5.0, quoted exactly as written.
All reviewsMobile App Developer for Arts Based App for Kids
“He’s committed, thorough, professional and great to work with. Highly skilled. I recommend.”
Cru Social Flutter
See the case study“Zoraiz was very thoughtful and diligent in helping to think through features and UX on our app. I would recommend him for front end flutter development”
Rapid flutter development with ai
See the case study“Zoriaz really goes above and beyond the make sure work is completed. Would highly recommend”
Spend Tracker App
“Zoraiz’s performance was excellent, and I highly recommend him to other potential clients on Upwork. Zoraiz developed a financial tracking mobile app using Flutterflow for me. He did a great job: - He reviewed my rudimentary requirements spreadsheet, pointed out gaps and helped me to refine them - His time estimates were reasonable and included the rationale behind the estimate - He quickly delivered some fairly complex requirements (e.g. implementation of a Syncfusion charts packages to provide financial bar charts, implementation of an FX Rate api for currency conversion) - His written and spoken English is excellent. - He provided regular updates on his progress I plan to work with Zoraiz on future phases of the app or on other projects”
Figma to FlutterFlow
“Zoraiz worked very hard to deliver his work ahead of schedule. I was very impressed with how quickly he was able to make progress. I was also able to leverage his network via introductions he made to other developers that helped me make further progress. I would definitely work with Zoraiz again.”
Flutter app maintenance and improvement
“Amazing. Professional. Consistent. Became family and would recommend to all.”
About
I’m Zoraiz Ejaz, an AI mobile engineer. I’ve built mobile apps for more than ten years: first inside product companies, including three years on merchant payments apps at Xendit, and now as a freelancer working directly with founders. On Upwork I’m Top Rated Plus, with 20 completed jobs and every review at 5.0.
I also build my own products. SlimAI, an AI calorie tracker, and Keke Kids, a preschool learning app, are both live in both stores. Running them taught me more about AI costs, store review and real users than any client project could.
I’m based in Pakistan and work with clients in the US, Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Technology changes every few years. The job doesn’t: understand the problem, ship something people use, and keep it working when real users arrive.
Questions founders ask first
How much does it cost to build an app?
Freelance app developers charge by the hour or by the project; I quote fixed prices. An MVP, the core app on both stores, typically runs $3k–$5k and takes 4–8 weeks. Payments, a second user type, AI features, chat or an admin panel are add-ons priced on top, only if you need them. An AI-powered app from scratch is $5k–$10k; adding an AI feature to a live app is $1k–$3k; taking over an app is $800–$2k, then $500–$1.5k a month. I give a fixed price in writing after a short call. These are draft ranges until I confirm them.
- The number of user types, for example patient and doctor, or rider and driver.
- Payments and subscriptions.
- Real-time features like chat, maps or video.
- AI features, and how often users trigger them.
- Whether you already have designs and a backend.
How long does it take to build an app?
A focused first version is usually 4–8 weeks, not months. The biggest factors are how many screens and user types there are, third-party integrations, and how quickly decisions get made on your side. Pop-out’s MVP landed ahead of its original timeline because the scope stayed tight.
How do I find and hire a freelance app developer?
Look for live apps, not portfolios of mockups: store links, ratings, and how long the apps have been maintained. Read the reviews on Upwork or elsewhere, then ask how the developer scopes, prices and hands over work. A 30-minute call tells you most of what you need. You can hire me directly or through Upwork, where I’m Top Rated Plus with every review at 5.0.
Can ChatGPT build me an app, or do I need an app developer?
For a prototype, often yes. For an app with real users, payments and App Store review, usually not. Builders get you a demo quickly, then struggle with edge cases, security, store rejections and changing things six months later. I often start from a founder’s prototype and turn it into something that holds up.
Are SlimAI and Keke Kids client apps or your own?
My own. I built both and I run both: the apps, the AI features, the subscriptions and every release. They’re on the site as proof of what I ship when the product is mine, and they’re where I test what I later recommend to clients.
Will I own the code?
Yes. You get the full source code and setup instructions, and your app is published under your own store accounts, with every other account in your name too.
What time zone are you in, and how do we communicate?
I’m in Pakistan (UTC+5) and work with clients from the US to Australia, so calls are arranged to suit your time zone. Between calls you get written progress updates and test builds. Clients mention those updates in their reviews more than anything else.
Can you take over an app another developer built?
Yes. I’ve joined several live apps mid-flight. I start by reading the code and mapping how it works before changing anything, so fixes don’t break what already works.
Do you publish the app to the App Store and Google Play?
Yes. I prepare the store listings and builds, handle review questions and rejections, and manage releases after launch.
What technology do you build with?
Whatever fits the product. Most of my recent apps use Flutter, so iOS and Android share one codebase, with Firebase or Supabase behind them, Stripe or RevenueCat for payments, and Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s GPT models for AI features. The tool matters less than whether the app solves the problem and keeps working, and I’ll explain the trade-offs in plain terms.
What happens after launch?
I stay on if you want me to: bug fixes, OS updates, store policy changes and new features. No Yelling is a good example. I built it in 2020 and still ship its updates.
Can I hire you through Upwork?
Yes. I’m Top Rated Plus there, and many clients prefer it for milestone payments and protection on both sides.
Tell me what you’re building.
A 30-minute call is enough to know whether I’m the right fit, what I’d build first, and roughly what it will cost.
Prefer Upwork? Hire me on Upwork