How Much Does it Cost to Create an App
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
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It is estimated that 175 Billion mobile apps are downloaded yearly, and an average person uses 9 mobile apps per day and over 30 apps per month. The number of available apps continues to rise each year. If you don’t have an app for your business, you miss out on a huge opportunity.
There are plenty of reasons why you should consider creating an app for your business. For example, apps can help increase sales, boost customer loyalty, or provide easy access to helpful information. Apps have become increasingly popular because they provide a better user experience than websites.
However, the process of creating apps can be expensive. The first thing that usually comes to mind when building an app is how much it’ll cost. However, several factors can influence the price of creating an app, including the app’s complexity, the number of people involved, the number of features required, and more.
This blog will explain the costs of developing an app in your industry and what you should consider when planning your mobile app development strategy.
A typical mobile app development project costs between $10,000 and $50,000. Generally, an app’s cost increases with the app’s complexity and the number of features you want to include.
App Type Estimate Cost Time
Simple App Development $40,000 to $60,000 2-3 months
Basic App Development $60,000 to $150,000 3-6 months
Complex App Development $300,000 9+ months
If you’re building a simple app that needs a few screens and a small database, you may be able to do this for less than $10,000.
An app that has lots of complicated features might cost $50,000. This includes things like programming, designing the app, and developing the app.
A high-end app, such as one made exclusively for Banks, or if you’re planning to build something like Facebook or Twitter, will be a lot more expensive and cost around $300,000. At this point, in addition to the programming, designing, and development, you will have to pay for other aspects of the app, including testing, maintenance, updates, and more. The main reason why this is so expensive is that they have a large team of developers working on it.
The most common type of app that costs this much is a basic, non-functional app. It is typically a tool meant to be used as a standalone app, like a calculator or a music player. These types of apps are generally less complicated and easier to develop.
This is just a quick overview of the cost of developing an app; however, many different factors will affect the final cost of developing the app.
Factors that Influence the App Development Cost
Many factors influence the cost of developing an app. Let’s look at what these factors are.
Required Features
How much functionality the app has will directly influence the amount of time and resources required to develop the app. A simple app doesn’t need a large team of people to develop it. For example, a basic app, essentially a small calculator or a wallpaper app, will only require minimal resources and probably only need a single developer. Such an application will have the main features, including Login, Signup, Profile making and editing, Search, Notifications, Messages, Admin panel, or dashboard.
However, if you were to design a game or a messaging app with hundreds of features, you would need to ensure that you are developing a good user experience. You must include multiple features, such as chat rooms, messaging, and multiplayer gaming. Such an application will have the main features, including Data Synchronization with more than two devices, Native components, Online streaming, In-App Calls, Messaging, Video Chats, etc.
This will require a larger team of developers, testers, and designers. The app with more users will need regular updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.Product Design
The Product Design of the app is one of the main factors determining the cost of creating an app. The design of an app is the way that it looks. The user interface (UI) and the user experience (UX) are crucial factors when designing an app. This is also called front-end development. The front-end is the part of the application that displays information to the user.
Most applications require a designer. It is necessary to understand the audience that will use the app. A good user experience can increase the chances of a product being successful. You will need to ensure that the UI looks professional and is easy to navigate.
For example, if you are developing an app for children, a cartoon-like interface with colorful graphics and easy navigation is necessary. If your audience is adults, then a much more sophisticated, professional look is required.
The price of the design depends on the complexity of the app. A simple app can be designed using a free template, whereas a complicated app requires a custom design. You will have a great chance of getting your app on the market if you have a UI that is visually appealing and easy to use.Number of Platforms
The most critical factor in the price of developing an app is the type of platform that the app will be developed for. The major platforms used for app development are iOS and Android. You can’t restrict your app to one platform alone. You need to make sure that it works on all of them.
It will directly affect the app development cost if you plan to develop an app for Android, iOS, or both. Suppose you develop the app for both platforms simultaneously. In that case, you will have to invest more resources into the app, as you will need to make sure that the app meets both the Android and iOS requirements, or you can also try mobile app development with React Native. React Native is a cross-platform mobile app development framework. It was designed to allow developers to write code once and then deploy it across iOS and Android devices without having to rewrite their app for each platform.
How much do you need to invest in getting an app published on Apple App Store or Google Play Store?
To get your app published on Apple App Store or Google Play, You need to pay a fee to get your hands on their developer account.
Getting an app published on the Google Play Store costs $25 to get started. With this one-time fee, you get a developer account and publish an unlimited number of Apps.
The process for publishing an app on the Apple App Store is similar. However, you need to pay Apple recurring fees of $99 per year.Backend Infrastructure
Back-end Infrastructure refers to the technical components and platforms used for supporting applications. It is also called backend development. The term “backend” usually refers to the part of the software on the server side. They are usually used for storing data, managing user accounts, sending push notifications, and providing analytics.
Many apps rely on these platforms to provide the features that make the application valuable for users. Back-end engineering is one of the most complex aspects of developing an app. It involves developing a database, a security system, and a server that can handle large amounts of data.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform are popular cloud-based platforms. There are lots of costs involved in using these platforms. You may also need to pay Functional costs as fees for third-party integrations. For example, SMS or push notifications, navigation, or payment gateways.Development Team
A complex app requires a development team to build the application. The development team is the people involved in designing and developing the software. In most cases, the development team comprises programmers and designers.
The number of people involved in the app’s development also affects the cost of creating an app. The more people involved, the higher the price.
App developers charge a certain amount of money to complete the development process. Depending on the features needed for the app, the developers charge different prices for their services. The development process includes creating a user interface, graphic designing, programming, database management, and security.
You can choose to build an in-house team, work with freelancers, or outsource your entire project. An in-house team will be the best option in the long run. In comparison, Freelance developers have different pricing models. The hourly rate is the most common type of pricing model. The developer charges you a certain amount of money per hour. There are fixed-price models as well. Finally, many companies offer quality app development services at very affordable prices.
Also read: 5 Definitive Tips for Choosing Mobile App Development CompanyConclusion
When it comes to creating an app, there are a lot of factors that you need to take into consideration before starting the project.
These factors include the app’s complexity, the type of users you are targeting, the platform you are developing for, and your expertise level.
The first thing you should consider when planning your mobile development strategy is the type of app you create. You should choose between a simple app and a complex/high-quality app.
A simple app is usually cheaper to develop. On the other hand, developing a complex app requires more time and money. It also requires a bigger team.
There are different types of apps that you can create, such as an app for games, utilities, entertainment, travel, food and drink, and more.
Which of these will you be creating? Do let us know in the comments below.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Will it Take to Create an App?
With a team of developers, a new app can take as little as 3 days or as long as a year depending on the complexity of the application.
Can You Create an App for Free?
Yes, you can create an app for free. You can choose to create it on your own or use a free App builder service.
How to Create an App without Coding?
To create an app without coding, you need to use a No-Code App builder or a drag-and-drop builder.
How to Create an App & Make Money?
The best way to make money from an app is to make a free app and add ads. You can also create an app and sell it for a one-time fee or include a subscription model
