Building and Launching an app is not an easy task. It requires technical expertise and industry awareness to reduce the cost of developing a mobile app. So you have likely finalized your app idea and are all set to invest in building one soon. And you want to know the app development costs. The truth is that no one can estimate the exact cost of app development until you have a detailed knowledge of app requirements. So first, you need to finalize your app requirement.
I’m here to share the lessons I have learned over the last decade and help you understand how the entire development cost breaks down into different categories and factors that affect the mobile app development cost.
1. App Features and Functionality
The app functionality is one of the crucial factors that affect the development cost. If the product has complex design and features, then it will take more time and effort in the development process, increasing the cost. Typically, we classify three kinds of apps based on their complexity: MVPs (minimal complexity), applications of moderate complexity, and advanced applications. The MVP with a minimal set of features typically requires 3-5 months to be developed, while a medium-sized app can take longer (approximately 7 to 6 months). However, a more complex application could take longer than nine months.
2. App Development Team and Its Location
The development team should be basic or highly skilled according to project requirements, which directly influences the cost of app development. The development team can be an in-house team, an external app development agency, and freelance developers. An in-house app development team may cost you more and require domain expertise to handle the team. However, hiring an external app development company can benefit you in various ways. They have various resources and expertise in multiple domains to deliver quality services. The most affordable option is hiring freelancer developers, though there is no guarantee of quality work. Also, finding the right freelancer developer is a very tough task. According to Vikram Seth, Co-founder of Simpalm, App development company in Chicago ‘The location of your app development team is also a vital factor influencing the product’s final price. The cost of creating an app in the USA will differ from the cost of app development in the UK and other regions.”
3. App Platforms
There are many platforms in the marketplace to develop apps. The choice of app development platform to build your app is the most crucial step. Each app development platform has its method of design and development that affect the price of the app development. A majority of companies develop their apps specifically for Android or iOS platforms. You can develop applications for other platforms like virtual assistants such as Alexa, Messaging, and IoT products.
4. Native or Hybrid Approach
After deciding on the mobile app development platform, you’ll also need to choose the right development approach for those platforms. Native and cross-platform development are the two most popular approaches for mobile app development. Many companies are looking to launch mobile apps that work for both Android and iOS, and in some cases, it is best to go for a cross-platform development approach to reduce the time and cost spent on development. Utilizing platforms for mobile apps can help reduce costs when developing multiple apps.
5. UI/UX Design
The mobile app UI design is the first thing potential customers come across; hence it should be attractive and appealing. The UX design will determine how users interact with it. Thus the app design is crucial for the success of any mobile app.
According to Thomas Park, Founder of Codepip “Many factors influence the cost of creating a mobile application. The number of screens in your app will impact how much work a designer has to do. Second, what type of screens does your app need? Are you looking to incorporate modern graphics elements into your UI? Or do you prefer to make the UX more user-friendly with lots of animations?”
6. Backend and API
Every app needs backends to host the data and store content and also requires an API built on any cloud-based service like AWS to enable interaction between an application and backend. Thus increasing the number of variables in Backend directly affects the price of developing apps. Each data source will require another API to connect with the APIs already in use. It also impacts the development costs.
7. App Security
Serval companies fail to protect their app even though it is essential. The application should keep the user’s data secure as a data breach can make a negative impression on your existing and potential customers. It is advisable to invest in app security when developing your application since an attack on security could cause a loss to your business.
8. Post-Release Cost
The app development cost also includes the money spent on marketing an app before its launch. Here is some post-marketing strategy followed by businesses to promote mobile apps: Social media promotion(paid or organic), Building an online presence through a website, a press release or Guest blogging, App Store Optimization, google ads, and Influence marketing. That will add some additional money to the overall cost of app development.
