Skip, a tool for building iOS and Android apps from a single Swift codebase, is now free and open source. With the release of Skip 1.7, all licensing requirements have been removed. The core engine, skipstone, is available on GitHub, eliminating the need for license keys and paid subscriptions for all developers.

The shift addresses developer expectations for free tools and concerns about vendor lock-in. Bootstrapped without venture capital, Skip aims to compete with legacy cross-platform frameworks by offering a no-compromise native experience. Making the tool open-source mitigates the risk of a company pivot or shutdown, ensuring the community can maintain the technology.

Current subscribers will transition to free tiers, and the team is encouraging support via GitHub Sponsors and corporate sponsorship to fund ongoing development. The move positions Skip as a community-driven alternative for building modern mobile apps. Next, the focus will be on sustaining development through community backing as the project evolves.