The 2024 Oriented Guide to Mobile Application Development Costs
Did you have a revelation in the recent past that led you to say, “I have an idea for an app?
If yes, then the next question is how much does it cost to develop an app.
A lot of factors are involved in mobile app development costs.
Right from the idea validation to proof of concept, designing, prototyping, development, support, and marketing.
All these aspects are a part of mobile application development cost and necessary to build a product worthy of mass adoption.
Moreover, 29% of the startups fail due to running out of cash reported by CB Insights Report.
18% do not see maturity due to inadequate pricing.
8% fail for the lack of financing.
And another 8% shut down due to cash burn.
So, at least 50% of startups fail because of money being a direct or an indirect reason.
This means that directly or indirectly, you need to understand the dynamics of mobile app development costs.
Developing an app is not easy.
It is a complex exercise and requires time, effort, not to mention money.
Irrespective of the type of application you want to build, it is our recommendation not to compromise in the development.
Because the cost of not providing a quality product is much more than monetary loss.
Users tend to remember their experiences with a brand.
And once they go through a bad experience, it sticks.
That is why in this article on mobile application development cost, we will talk about the different aspects of application development.
At the same time, the high cost of development does not necessarily mean good.
You should know how to strike a balance between everything.
We will talk about these aspects in this article and take you through the process.
What is the Cost of Developing an App?
The mobile app development cost ranges between $10,000 to $150,000.
This wide range of costs is because of the diversity in the process of application development.
The actual cost of development depends on integrations and features.
Plus, it also depends on the size, platform, complexity in design, and other similar factors.
Go through the table to understand it better.
| Type of Application | Cost and Time |
| Simple Application with Limited Features | Up to $10,000
3 to 5 months. |
| Mobile application with Standard database and limited API | $10,000 to $50,000
5 to 9 months |
| Advanced Application with scalable database and features | $50,000 to $150,000
More than 9 months |
One of the major activities that can lead to an increase in cost is the features.
If you keep on adding more features, the cost will keep on climbing.
That is why it is essential to draft the requirements of the application before you start with the coding part.
What follows is an account of the factors that play a role in mobile application development cost.
Factors that Affect the Mobile App Development Cost
The following section is divided into three blocks;
- Application Complexity
- Design and Development
- Tech Stack
We will discuss these three aspects in detail.
Starting with the Application Complexity
In this context, the application’s complexity level is decided by the number of features you wish to add.
More features mean higher complexity levels and vice versa. For instance, an application that has 10 core features and functions will be harder to develop as compared to an application that has less number of features, say 5.
Similarly, the cost to develop and codify these features is also dependent on the number and their depth.
Having said that, you cannot expect any developer to share the mobile app development cost right off the bat.
They also have to consider a lot of things before sharing the price.
Plus, your aim for creating any sort of application has to provide the highest level of functionality to the users. And functionality should not be defined by any sort of barrier.
Just like we have given the estimated cost of mobile application development according to the type of application, here are the core features required to build them.
Basic Application With Simple Features:
Such applications are defined by simple functionality. There are no options for data storage and retrieval and the design is also simple.
The major features include:
- Login, Sign In, and Signup
- Profile Creation and Editing
- Notifications
- Search option
- Messaging
- Dashboard
We can include applications like a business calculator or an alarm clock in this example.
Application with Database and API Connections:
Here are adding some more features and functionalities. Besides the database solutions and the API based features like one-click login, Two Factor Authentication, and integration of the functions of a different application into the main platform are enabled in this project.
Consequently, the app development cost of this type of application also increases. We are talking about features like;
- Social media integration
- Different payment options
- Geo-location
- Tracking abilities
- Higher security framework
- In-app purchases
Apart from these features, we are developing here better accessibility and stronger application infrastructure. Plus, there are more data storage and retrieval systems, with some applications requiring different databases to function smoothly.
Moreover, with a higher level of application, you also need to take care of the customers and their requirements.
The API integration also depends on the fact that whether the developers decide to import the code or write it from scratch. These things matter to a great extent because the typical costing structure of any application development exercise has a per hour form.
So, the more time it takes to develop the application, the higher will be the cost. Examples of such applications include an organization-based application.
Large Scale Applications With Extended Features:
These are the applications that see a heavy footprint. The feature list of these applications is bigger than the combined list of all other types of applications.
Naturally, the time required to develop them will be higher. Consequently, the mobile app development cost will also be higher. So, you can expect to spend somewhere around the higher limit of the price range stated above.
Talking about the features, apart from all the functions that you see above, include;
- Rating systems
- Synchronization of data
- Mobile-specific features offering higher levels of the nativity
- Streaming services
- Video chats
- Interactive messengers
- Gamification features
- Including AI/ML technologies
The feature-associated costs of these applications are high. More than this, the R&D required for these applications is also complex, lengthy, and intricate.
There are better visualizations. Multiple servers are required to run the application along with several databases.
Examples of these applications include OTT platforms, delivery applications, and other enterprise-level applications.
This was about the features and how they can influence the mobile app development cost.
In a nutshell, more features mean higher costs.
Application Design
The second decisive factor important to identify the app development cost is the design and its entailing complexity levels.
It is no surprise that every kind of application design is integral to ensure its success.
There is a saying in the designing universe, “People ignore design that ignores people.”
Read it again!
Yes, a mobile application design is instrumental to the app’s success.
Furthermore, every type of design requires a well-thought procedure to understand end-users.
There are two ways you can go about the design.
Use templates and modify them to suit your application.
Create the design from scratch.
However, with the latter approach, there are more customizations and the cost to create the same is also higher.
Look at four major aspects while creating the application design.
- UI and Visualizations
- UX or User Experience
- Copywriting
All four aspects play a role in deciding the app development cost.
User Interface and Visualizations:
This part of development includes planning the layout, screens, colors, elements, shapes, icons, typography, and a few other things. Application design has a lot of variants and it begins with creating the right kind of user interface.
UI is all about how the application looks to the user.
Now, depending on the extent of visualizations and what sort of interactive elements you decide to insert in the design, the cost of the mobile app development is influenced.
If you want to add 3D elements in the design or if you want to add something more advanced from the design world, the cost of creating that effect can be higher than adding a simple vector image.
However, remember that high-end designs look great if they are appreciated with corresponding features.
The word you are looking for is “Balanced.”
Furthermore, the final design will depend on your goal to create and the application.
For some it is engagement, while others want to increase their sales, get more customers, build a brand, share knowledge, teach, train, coach, and so on.
Another way we should look at the design is the kind of application you wish to create.
Here’s what we mean by this.
Have you seen or used the Facebook app?
Yes?
Now compare it with the Uber app.
Notice the difference?
That is what we are talking about. Since different applications have different perspectives and goals, their design will also differ accordingly.
So, a social media application will require a different design than an e-commerce application.
User Experience:
The second important aspect you need to look at in mobile app development cost is the UX.
UX implies how the application will work and how it is perceived by the end-users.
So, the way you design the application must reflect the end-user’s requirements.
With UX, you practically pen down everything a user will go through while using your application. This is important to create a better understanding of how you can improve their experience.
So, UX is about the collaboration between the potential experience, market understanding, goals (yours and users), and the company objectives.
UX Copywriting:
The next important bit in application design and the mobile app development cost is copywriting.
Copywriting is not about writing bland words.
But it has to be decorated with words that carry meaning and propel the user’s understanding while assuring them that your product is the one they need.
It has to create an impact.
Having said that, it must also be noted that creating a good copy means you need to pay good money.
Lastly, native English writers tend to charge more for the same amount of work as compared to a non-native by equally fluent English writers.
So, the ball here is entirely in your court. Whether you choose to pay more or less depends on your budget and requirements plus target audience.
Up until now, we were talking about the core concepts that go into making an application and how those factors influence the price.
Before closing the lid on this discussion, there are two things left that need to be discussed.
And that is the platform you choose for your application.
Platform You Choose to Run the Application
Here, you have two options.
Either make an application that has cross-platform compatibility or make a native application.
In simple words, a cross-platform application runs on any device irrespective of the operating system. On the other hand, a native application will only run on one OS, Android, or iOS.
The mobile app development cost for either of these systems is different.
Let’s take a closer look at them.
Cross-Platform Application Development:
The need to create a cross-platform application arises because, one we can do so, and second, it can cover a wider market.
Before choosing between the development mechanism, make sure to look at your target audience and their platform preferences.
Plus, you also need to check the device fragmentation within your target audience. The exercise involves knowing which segment of the market uses iOS-powered devices and which group uses Android-powered ones.
This will help you create a common application for all the users and inculcate their preferences within the application. Since it is cross-platform development, you can also include the platform-specific features and aspects into the development exercise.
The cost to build a cross-platform application is lower than a native application.
Yes, in some aspects, the developers need to work more. But even after including the cost of complexity into making such an application, it costs less than a native application.
Let’s know why.
Native Application Development:
With native app development costs, you need to create the same application twice and with a different codebase.
Compared to hybrid having a shared codebase for most of the modules, the native application development requires a different codebase. Even if you manage to import the codes from GitHub, it still needs refining to give them true nativity.
And this specification of features and adherence to the platform’s specific requirements takes more work and effort, which ultimately costs more.
Now the question you might ask is whether Android development is costlier than iOS development?
Well, it is more or less the same. Yes, even though the iOS application development seems more sophisticated, it is similar to Android application development.
Up until this point, we were talking about the aspects where there is little room for making changes that can substantially alter the price.
But the last point we will talk about can make a big difference in the final mobile application development cost.
The Development Team You Choose
You can go ahead with three types of development teams.
- Hire freelancers
- Hire an in-house team
- Outsource the work
Freelancers:
Going ahead with freelancers might be the most cost-effective option for application development. Plus, you can also find some of the best developers from a humongous talent pool.
In the US, the average per hour rate of a freelance developer is $50 per hour.
The same in Asia is $15 to $25 per hour.
You can also hire them on a contract basis and pay a pre-decided amount at the end of the work.
All of it is great but managing and getting the work done from a freelancer is not as easy as it looks.
Plus, you need to spend some time on finding the right freelancer, which itself has a cost and requires money.
Even if you are able to hire a team of developers, creating a collaborative environment between them will not be easy.
In-House Team:
This is the second option you can go ahead with. Having an in-house team to work on your project is great. You will be able to manage them easily and also get a much better product than freelancers.
But, the catch is that the price to hire and maintain an in-house team is much higher than hiring freelancers.
You need to either pay them a monthly stipend or retain them on a higher per-hour rate so that they can focus only on your work.
Outsource the Work:
This is where you can make a big difference and strike the best deal. Outsourcing the work means that you give the development work to another team located in a nation where the development charges are low as compared to your country.
Plus, since this is an agency we are talking about you can be in contact with one person, preferably the project manager.
So, hiring an agency can work in your favor as you will be able to get a better product and spend a reasonable amount on mobile app development costs.
Conclusion
That is it.
As you can see, there is no simple answer to how much does mobile app development costs.
Because as it is said, “The devil is in the details.”
You also need to get all the details of the project first and share them with the development team.
After analyzing the scope of work and the extent of design, features, and other aspects, can they let you know about the price?
Always keep three things in mind while discussing the price and the application development process.
- Success
- Progression
- Scalability
Without these three things already present in your application, it will be tricky to steam ahead and gain a better share of the market.
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