Useful Guide on Mobile App Development Cost

Data suggests SMEs should consider mobile apps for their businesses, and thus practical information on mobile app development cost is essential. Mobile app development is a billion-dollar industry nowadays. According to the Statista report, Google Play Store had around 3.48 million applications in the first quarter of 2021. The same report also claims that the Apple Store will have around 2.22 million applications in the first quarter of 2021. With the advent of time, the number will keep rising.Today, mobile apps have become integral parts of the business operations of various industries. According to the Allied Market Research report, the size of the mobile app development industry will be around $407.31 billion by 2026.The industry’s rapid growth suggests small enterprises also want to invest in this field. The mobile app development cost has always remained a concern for small enterprises. In the following section, find a guide to the cost estimation for developing a mobile app.

The mobile app Development Cost Estimation Formula

Our app development company uses a simple formula to estimate the mobile app development cost.

Total Cost = Total Time for UX and UI design + Application Development Framework Cost + Backend Server Cost x Hourly Rate of the Developer

The formula will help you get an overall estimation of developing a mobile app. As you can see, all these parameters may have different values in various situations. Therefore, the overall mobile app development cost estimation will change according to the situation and requirements of the application.

Essential Factors for Calculating mobile app Development Cost

Since the formula offers a simplistic view of the mobile app development cost, it is important to analyze various factors associated with the development process for accurate cost estimation. An app development company considers many aspects before providing a quotation to their clients to develop mobile apps.

1. Carefully consider features and functionalities.

The most influential factors for developing a mobile app are the features and functions. Whenever you contact an app development company, you must explain the service you need. The developer will ask a few questions to understand your requirements. Nevertheless, the developer will also ask about the features you want to add to the application.

You can read our blog on mobile app development guide to gain useful information on mobile apps in the context of business.

The mobile app development cost will vary depending on the features. For example, you have to pay a high amount for developing an application with AI-integrated features.

Adding more features will increase the mobile app development cost. Moreover, a feature-rich application can also be challenging to maintain. Therefore, enterprises should consider these factors for app development services. You need to keep the features minimal to make the development process affordable and maintenance costs low.

2. User Interface Design can make or break your mobile app.

A crucial step in the application development process is User Interface (UI) design. A visually attractive interface makes an application popular. If you want to develop an application for the fashion and entertainment industry, it should have an appealing interface. The interface does not make a big difference for the apps that have been developed to serve specific business requirements. It is also valuable to know the difference between UI and UX.

The interface also depends on the application development framework. Many developers use readymade themes for application interface design. Using the readymade themes has a few advantages. Firstly, it will minimize the cost of developing an interface. Secondly, it will reduce the time and hassles involved in application interface designing. However, the problem is that customization options will be limited with such applications.

Customization of the user interface will increase the mobile app development cost. Moreover, visual quality also matters in budget estimation. If you want a visually attractive application for the gaming and entertainment industry, you must be ready to invest money generously to obtain the finest result.

3. Do you want to build a fantastic social media app or robust enterprise mobile app?

The application category has a crucial influence on the application development process. Therefore, the mobile development cost will fluctuate depending on the application’s category. Typically, you will find four types of applications. Find them in the following section and assess the budget for developing such apps.

Stand-Alone Applications: Such applications do not need a particular network to operate. At the same time, they do not need to have device-dependent features. Examples of such applications are clocks, stopwatches, notes, calendars, etc. Developing stand-alone applications is simple, and thus the cost of development is low.

Social Networking Apps: Social networking applications are popular nowadays, and every smartphone user has at least one of the popular social media apps installed on the device. Many businesses need private social media applications for developing virtual bonding among employees. The cost of creating such apps is high due to the use of a vast database. Moreover, such apps need better security features to maintain data privacy. As a result, the development cost of social media applications is high.

On-Demand Applications: As the name suggests, such applications have been developed to the clients’ demands. The developers listen to their clients to assess their demands. They develop the applications according to those demands after running the feasibility test. Determining the cost of an on-demand application is difficult, as it depends on your requirements. For example, E-Commerce apps require near-perfect navigation, an innovative style of listing products, and carefully placing call-to-action buttons.

Enterprise mobile apps: Small and large enterprises need professional applications to run various business activities. Most businesses use a virtual platform to store and process data. Therefore, the demand for developing enterprise mobile apps has risen significantly in the last few years. Developing such applications is a high expense, as enterprise applications are developed to perform specific tasks. Nevertheless, such apps are highly customized to meet the client’s requirements.

4. Native or Cross-Platform? Not a simple decision.

You may want to give your users a completely native experience. On the other hand, you have a broader audience on different platforms, and building cross-platform applications may seem wise. Whatever route you decide, objectively analyse the needs of your users to keep mobile app development costs within budget.

Find more statistics at Statista

Native Applications: The easiest application development method is the native development framework. Typically, developers use Java and Objective C for developing native apps for Android and iOS, respectively. The application will work on only one operating system, the most significant limitation of such apps.

Cross-Platform Applications: With the advent of time, people need applications that feature flexibility to be compatible with multiple operating systems. Such applications are known as cross-platform apps, and they are costlier than native apps. However, native application development will gradually become obsolete. Most people will prefer using cross-platform applications.

Hybrid Applications: Today, many enterprises seek hybrid applications for managing their business tasks. Therefore, you need to find a hybrid application developer if you want to develop a mobile enterprise app. The hybrid application works on both handheld and traditional desktop devices. It is not surprising that the hybrid mobile app development cost is high for such apps.

5. Application Maintenance for Seamless Functioning.

Application maintenance becomes a crucial feature for developing an application. The application owners seek apps that feature no bugs and glitches. Developing such apps is time-consuming, and thus costs will increase. Moreover, the application’s performance depends on the developers’ coding skills. Therefore, low-maintenance applications often become costly in the long run.

Additional factors which influence mobile app development cost.

Besides the factors discussed above, you have to consider additional factors to understand how much an app costs. Find those additional charges in the following section.

Security Features: Depending on the clients’ requirements, the developers have to add additional security layers and patches to an application. The additional security patches increase the mobile app development cost.

Infrastructure Cost: All developers consider infrastructure costs for developing an application. Therefore, the infrastructure cost is typically added to the per-hour wage of the developer. Some developers also mention the cost separately.

Publishing Cost: There is a cost of publishing an application to Google or Apple stores. Typically, the cost is included by the developer. Some developers also quote the cost separately to their clients.

I hope you have a high-level view of the mobile app development cost by now.

Developing an application is a time-consuming process, and thus service seekers must find a professional mobile app development company. Moreover, the developer’s expertise impacts the performance of the application. Therefore, choosing the right company is essential for developing personal or professional applications. Before moving ahead with the project, the service seekers must clarify the requirements. Nevertheless, it is also crucial to obtain quotes from different developers and compare them before hiring a developer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the type of application you need?

If you are not sure about the type of application, you must consult a professional developer. Our app development company will suggest the right app depending on your requirements.

2. Can you develop apps for both Android and iOS?

Yes. Developing such applications is possible, and these are known as cross-platform applications. The cross-platform mobile app development cost is higher than the native applications.

3. What is the best programming language for your application development?

No specific programming language can be called the best programming language for application development. The developers use programming language according to their skills, development platforms, and client requirements.

4. How long does it take to develop mobile apps?

Developing a stand-alone application takes two to five days for professional developers. But, professional application development is a time-consuming process. Developing a feature-rich native or cross-platform application may need two to three weeks.