{"id":10263,"date":"2019-10-20T16:25:01","date_gmt":"2019-10-20T16:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.engineerbabu.com\/blog\/?p=10263"},"modified":"2026-01-20T08:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:17:59","slug":"mobile-app-development-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/mobile-app-development-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does Mobile App Development Cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You must be wondering how much does Mobile App Development cost ? Whether it is <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/build-food-ordering-app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ordering food<\/a>, booking a flight, chatting with your friends or reserving a cab, the one thing that comes to the mind is your smartphone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It is the same for the rest of the world too.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Mobile apps have become a need of the hour to capture the huge market that is rapidly going mobile. So, if you&#8217;re worried about how to make an app for your business, that makes sense. After all, you don&#8217;t want a cost-to-cost price list that is exorbitant.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What is the Cost of Mobile App Development?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Developing mobile apps is the new money-making move for businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11616\" src=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/app-development-cost-engineerbabu5.jpg\" alt=\"app-development-cost-engineerbabu5\" width=\"1000\" height=\"287\" title=\"\">This brings us to a critical question: How much will it cost to develop a mobile application? What are the commercials regarding how to make an app?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There is no single answer that suffices the question, when it comes to an efficient mobile application and the cost to cost considerations.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A lot of factors including the platform on which app is being made, complexity in-app, the experience of the developing team and several other factors too which must be considered during app development.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Confused? So first, let\u2019s understand the variables that affect the app development cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>The Business Model<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The journey of developing an app for your business starts from the very core which is the business and revenue generation plans. The revenue or business model is the biggest driving force behind the cost of developing the app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Here are a few points to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The platform &#8211; native or hybrid &#8211; preferred by your target customers<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The product you are trying to sell<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The devices that need to be integrated to make the app responsive <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Free App or Paid<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In-app Purchases<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The role of visual design in the app\u2019s interface<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The advertisements \u2013 third party or of your own product<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">These and numerous other factors play a very important role in the cost and time needed to develop the mobile application. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For instance, the monetization strategy plays a very important role. A paid app is easier to develop applications that need to integrate in-app purchases. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">An e-commerce app involves even more time and cost. However, a cost to cost price list matters especially when you&#8217;re on a budget.But mobile app development is a whole lot more. You need to consider the customers, as well.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"td_btn td_btn_lg td_3D_btn td_outlined_btn\" style=\"color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Recommended Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How Much Does it Cost to Build a Website?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Where are your customers?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The most important part of your business model is to know your customer. It is easily possible to lose focus on what is it that customers need.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In short, what problem are you solving via the app? The answer to the question helps determine the target audience or as Gary Halbert puts it, your \u201cstarving crowd\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Even the biggest of startups have made mistakes on similar lines, when it comes to how to make an app.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.snapdeal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Snapdeal<\/a>, for instance, failed to win the trust of its customers as it had compromised quality over quantity.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">It also failed in the electronics markets, especially since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flipkart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Flipkart<\/a> gained huge market traction by inking exclusive smartphone launches. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">As a result, Snapdeal&#8217;s market share <strong>dropped from one-fourth to 4% in a year<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You won\u2019t make a penny out of an app if there is no real hunger. Found the market? Now let\u2019s determine the monetization strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Paid apps, free apps or e-commerce?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">E-commerce is the marketplace revenue model based mostly selling their own products or earning commissions from sellers listed on the app. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Paid apps make upfront money through downloads.So, do consider the cost to cost implications of this.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The ability to generate revenue or even cover the cost of developing the app largely depends on the number of time the app is downloaded. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There are several paid app in the android market and app store listed from anywhere between a dollar to <strong>$25.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore, setting the right price determines the hold you might have, when you consider how to develop an app.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It is important to consider the willingness of your customer to pay for your app and do a competitive analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Free apps are free to download from the app stores but have a different revenue generation model. Now, how does a free app make money?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">Here are a few:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Free apps are a great way to expand your existing customer base or build a user base that you can later sell to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">These apps also initiate a trust-based relationship between you and your customer helping build up the value of an existing product.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Direct revenue can be generated from advertising and affiliate marketing<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">In-app purchases are also a direct revenue generation, especially for addictive games.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A definitive model depends on your goals and your customer preferences, in any case, a mobile app can be highly profitable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/cost-to-build-an-app-like-zoom\/\">What is the Cost to Build an App like Zoom?<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Types of Applications<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A mobile app, in layman terms is a software program developed to program, specifically on mobile devices and tablets. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Essentially, it may perform the same tasks as your website but the process is made significantly more efficient and user-friendly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cEase of use\u201d is, therefore, a significant prerequisite in an app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">Now, are all apps the same?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Definitely not. There are three types of mobile applications \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/choose-native-hybrid-or-web-app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Web, Native and Hybrid<\/a>. No wonder there are different ways on how to develop an app. Let\u2019s take a look at the development process of each of these types.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>1.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Web Application:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Several surveys have found conclusive evidence that over 80% of smartphone users prefer apps over mobile websites. Web apps are your websites optimized for mobile phone users. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>2.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Native Application:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A native application is a type of mobile app developed for specific operating systems that is either Android or IOS and can be downloaded from the Apple store or Google PlayStore. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Native apps are more complexed but provide an unmatched user experience, for how to develop an app.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">They have to be developed separately for Android and IOS Platforms and need to be approved to be listed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>3.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Hybrid Application:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A relative simpler app to develop, a hybrid app functions on a single programming language and can work on both platforms. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">They generally perform like native apps, easier to develop and manage. However, the user experience of native apps is better, for mobile app development requirements.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Platform<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now that we have set a base, it\u2019s time to figure out what platform to use. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The app can be made accessible across several platforms like <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/ios-app-development-future\/\">IOS<\/a>, Android, Windows, and Web or all together. The answer to this depends on where the customer is. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Android and Apple IOS have significantly different interfaces and systems, therefore apps developed for these platforms are definitely different. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Android vs IOS is not an easy choice. It is advised to go for both if the pocket allows. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Knowing that two different apps have to be developed for the respective platforms and the cost will be accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If a choice has to be made, here\u2019s an IOS vs Android summary:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>iOS Applications<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">iOS apps are quicker to build and generally cost lesser than android apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Apple IOS has a more spending audience; therefore, a paid app is more likely to have downloaded on IOS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">iOS users generally stick to IOS devices and up-gradation is also integrated. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The App store has strict guidelines and ensures quality in apps. IOS apps of same business perform better than Android apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">iOS as a platform is more engaging and easier to use, with fewer software malfunctions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Android Applications<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><b>Pros:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The number of Android users greatly exceeds the number of Apple users, especially in Asia. Thus, an Android platform-based app will garner more response.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The cost per download on IOS is high compared to Android.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The apps do not need to be regularly updated as is the case with IOS. This reduces the maintenance cost of an android app.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Cost of developing and hosting an app on the Android market is lower and easier since the guidelines are not as strict as in IOS.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>iOS Applications<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Cons:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">iOS applications cost more to host on the App Store, close to $200 compared to $25 on the Play store.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Approval from the App store may become tedious since guidelines are strict.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In Asia-Pac, Android users are numerically more.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Android Applications<br \/>\nCons:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Users on Android are more likely to be spendthrift and a paid app may not perform the same as on Apple Store.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">An android app needs to cater to a wide variety of devices in different sizes, screen resolutions, and performance. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Android apps take a longer time to develop.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Deciding between the two depends largely on your target customer and their behavior. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For instance, if your target customers are based in India or China, it makes sense to develop an android app because of the large customer base. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">But, on the other hand, if you target the rich class in the same countries, an IOS app would be a better option. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>The Functionalities of the App:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">As mobile apps are becoming more and more advanced, there is virtually no limit to what an app can do. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The cost, therefore, can start at a few hundred dollars and go skyrocketing to more than thousands. Take into account the following types of App:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>A List App \u2013<\/b> The app is a mobile-optimized version of the website and will generally list out in various categories, all the information. It is simple to develop and will not cost a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>A Dynamic App \u2013<\/b> Apps based on Facebook, for instance, will need to be connected to a server to gather the information from the app. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">These apps work alongside other platforms and applications through APIs. The complexity of such an app and its APIs can result in great variations in terms of cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Games \u2013<\/b> There are the most complex apps to develop and arguably the most expensive. With complex games using Artificial Intelligence gaining heavy traction, the 3D environments and advanced physics can definitely cost a bombshell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">These three are categories that may define applications broadly, apps these days are so varied that it may not be possible to have definitive categories that incorporate them all. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Every unique functionality will carry an additional cost. While some seemingly complex functionalities may not cost a lot, integrating a simple thing may vary the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Features in the App:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When you have decided what your app should do \u2013 that is the basic functionality, the features that needed to do that will come into play. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Let\u2019s take a look at a sample app like Facebook. What features does Facebook have?<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10272\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10272\" style=\"width: 689px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10272 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/app-development-cost-engineerbabu-4.png\" alt=\"app development cost engineerbabu\" width=\"689\" height=\"507\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10272\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.buzinga.com.au\/buzz\/product-death-cycle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ol>\n<li><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Login<\/strong> \u2013 The app after downloading asks for login via email or by phone no. Most apps will have this feature. <\/span><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\">This can be the same as Facebook using email id or phone no. or a social login. Most apps use Facebook login to make it easier for the user.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Profile<\/strong> \u2013 Facebook asks for a detailed profile being a social app. Apps can integrate the data from Facebook to create the profile of their user.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Push notifications<\/strong> \u2013 This keeps the user updated with what\u2019s new on the app.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Chatbots<\/strong> \u2013 It is a user-friendly and trending new way of generating leads and converting sales.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Chat-bots are interactive and more engaging from the perspective of a user.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Social Integration<\/strong> \u2013 Integrating social media platforms makes the app easier to use and more value.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Geo-positioning<\/strong> \u2013 For certain apps, geotagging can be an essential feature. For example, apps like Uber work entirely on geo-location.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Payment<\/strong> \u2013 For an e-commerce app, this is one of the most important requirements. Even for apps that integrate in-app purchase, having a payment system is needed to complete the purchases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">All of these and other app-specific features require time and in turn, more cost to develop. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore, the cost of the app will depend largely on the features that are needed for the application to perform seamlessly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Visual Design and UI\/UX:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Whether it is a date, a new car or the virtual design of an app, the first impression counts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The first look of the app can be a maker or a deal-breaker. The app market is competitive and it kind of makes sense that all companies are quickly wanting to enter the stores. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">However, the design is an important element of innovative and disruptive apps, which is very often ignored. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The importance of good design exceeds what an app looks like, it&#8217;s about the experience. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The stats are not far behind on it and state that companies that foster good design enjoy 1.5x larger market share.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10273\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10273\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10273 \" src=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/app-development-cost-engineerbabu-5.jpg\" alt=\"app development cost engineerbabu\" width=\"480\" height=\"320\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10273\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techprevue.com\/mobile-app-ux-ui-design-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Then, what sums up a good design?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">These few points are important to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Innovative and in tandem with emerging technology<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Emphasis on the product and its usefulness<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Aesthetically brilliant<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Understandable and easy to use<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Purposeful <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Robust and long-lasting<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Simplicity \u2013 ever heard less is more!<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Consistent on all devices and platforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Great designs come at a price. You will note serious differences in the designs of $200 designer and $2000 designer, and to make an app look fantastic shelling out a few dollar bills is an investment rather than a cost. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Graphic design is indeed important, User Experience is everything. How your app performs its functionality and how easily navigable it is will depend on the UX development. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A cluttered app which is difficult to understand will quickly be uninstalled. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Great app designers can make your app look so good that users wouldn\u2019t want to put their phones down. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Development<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">What platform you get your developed on, what\u2019s the business model, what features you want and what are the functionalities are important determinants of your cost. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There is another determinant \u2013 who you hire!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While the option of hiring freelancers and newbies seems likewise now, it may cost you a more in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Freelancers are individual developers who may be skilled or may not be skilled depending on their experience and exposure. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While there are a lot of freelancers out there, the skill-set and consistency can be a huge question mark. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Freelancers may not have a complete skill set to develop the app and you may need to hire more than 1. And even then, you might end up with a mediocre app. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Freelancers are conservative option to get an app developed but then again there are risks of your project getting delayed or not getting delivered at all. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Small and new agencies serve as a middle ground between freelancers and an experienced team. They cost higher than freelancers but will generally be more consistent and skilled. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">They are typically a team of 3-10 developers working on specific criterion app. Although small teams may not be able to develop even a slightly complex app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Big teams of experienced developers come at a cost which is higher than freelancers and small companies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">However, they bring their experience and guarantee with them. Usually, such teams are more equipped with addressing your needs and understanding of business models. There&#8217;s a rather newer concept called dedicated hiring method. To meet your development requirements, you can opt for this cost effective method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It is also important to go through the work done by the team in the past. Learn more about how to hire a node js development company, or a php development company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Legalities &amp; Licenses<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While you may have thought that developing an app will be the last cost determining factor but there are some costs that may not be direct but are usually important. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your intellectual property in the app is of value and should be protected. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks will do that. If the information on your app is your IP it&#8217;s important to patent it prevents people from profiting from it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Trademarks protect the names. If you\u2019ve got a name that sticks out, it\u2019s worth trademarking. Copyrights protect your visual and written content from being plagiarized.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Several apps are developed on templates that have to be licensed for the use. And to deploy apps on the Android store or the App store of Apple, the license has to be bought. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The licensing service is a secure means of controlling access to your applications and to protect it too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>Support and Maintenance:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Technical support for managing updates, APIs, user profiles and data and even monitoring customers is a crucial part of an app\u2019s functionality. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">With appropriate support, the app will not be able to do what it was developed for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">New features will cost you. About 20% of your total cost will be spent on enhancing existing features and refining of the app. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This is an on-going process and with every change in technology, new updates are required to make your app frictionless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s2\"><b>The Total Investment:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The time and cost of app development will largely depend on the complexity of the app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It is difficult to put a number on how much your app might cost because of the numerous and subjective determinants. Though here are some average costs, to help you get an idea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A basic app, without back-end database, API functionality or social media integration will cost between $2000 to $10000. In the US, it may cost around $8k however, in India the development cost of the same app may be half. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The time may range from 1 to 3 months and can be done by new developers as they are easy to develop.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A moderately complex will cost anywhere between $10k to $40k. The cost may vary according to the platform and the country where the app is being developed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The same app may be developed in India for half the price as compared to the US with no compromise on the skills. The development of such an app takes anywhere between three to six months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A complex app will need experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/hire\/mobile-app-developers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mobile app developers<\/a> to work on it due to APIs, social media integration, backend support, and complicated functionalities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Such apps will be more expensive to develop generally around $40k to $80k. An Android version of the same app may cost over $100k in the US. In India, it is likely to cost $35k.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The average time is taken to develop an app, according to research by Hyperlink Infosystem, is 8 weeks i.e., 320 billable hours. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A simple app will cost $4800 in India compared to $48,000 in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A complex one might cost $38,000 in India and $250,000 in US. A lot of app development project is hence outsourced to India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The core developing behind an app consists of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"t1\" style=\"height: 476px;\" width=\"648\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td1\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Team Member<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td2\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Duties<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td1\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Hourly Cost<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td3\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Project Manager<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td4\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Communicates with the team and the client to avoid gaps and keeps a check on deadlines<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td3\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">$20+<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td5\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Developer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td6\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Develops the app by writing the codes and fixes bugs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td5\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">$25+<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td7\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Back End Developer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td8\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Ensures effective and uninterrupted communication between servers and database for the proper functioning of the app<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td7\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">$20+<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td9\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Designer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td10\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Responsible for the way the app looks and user-friendliness of the app.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td9\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">$15+<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td11\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Tester<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td12\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Ensures the app performs as per requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td11\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">$15+<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">As it may be clear, an average cost may not suffice the question. Your app will have obviously different functionalities and features, with some consistent pricing methods.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You must be wondering how much does Mobile App Development cost ? Whether it is ordering food, booking a flight, chatting with your friends or reserving a cab, the one thing that comes to the mind is your smartphone. It is the same for the rest of the world too. Mobile apps have become a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1258],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-app-development"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10263"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21997,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10263\/revisions\/21997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineerbabu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}