Mobile app development sounds exciting and fun.
Because once you develop an app for your business, it will bring you much closer to your target audience.
But this exciting journey can be changed into a headache any second if you haven’t done enough work.
From the words “enough work ” we meant to be well prepared and have enough information so you can reply to the developer‘s question.
You must have so many questions in mind like “what should be included in the project proposal? How do make the app stand out? What level of convenience will the app offer to the customer?
These questions are undoubtedly very necessary but the paramount question here is the “cost of mobile app development” or how much an app development costs in general.
Once you ask this question to the developer. You were expecting a straightforward figure from the developer.
But believe us, no one can give you an accurate answer without knowing what you need.
Don’t panic! This article might not give an accurate figure for the cost of app development but after reading this right to the end you’ll have the closest figure.
Read More: Stop Overpaying For Software Development Today With These 5 Golden Tips!
Cost For Mobile App Development Statistic
Before we begin with the factors that affect the app development cost, it’s really necessary to discuss the stats related to the mobile app.
- According to business of apps, a simple mobile app development costs around $30,000. Building a medium app with limited features and platforms costs $48,000 on average. Similarly, a complex mobile app with advanced features and unlimited platforms costs $72,000 on average.
- The cost of hiring an app developer from the US is the most expensive with an average salary of $105,000 per year.
- Due to the incredible popularity and highest number of downloads, Gaming and social media apps cost the most to build.
- According to good firms, building social media apps like Instagram, Tinder, or Whatsapp will cost around $100,000 to $185,000.
- The mobile app revenue will reach 1 trillion by 2023.
Factors Influencing The Cost Mobile App Development
Mobile app development is not just about coding.
Surely it’s an important part but it’s not the only part.
There can be up to 5 factors that determine the price of mobile app development.
For smart budgeting, it’s indispensable to consider all 5 factors that affect the price.
If you let go of anyone, you can never estimate the cost of mobile app development.
Skills Required
Business owners often underestimate this side of the cost when budgeting.
But the truth is it has its own importance.
As discussed before mobile app development is not just about coding.
There are many individuals from different technical expertise and backgrounds involved.
Based on the project size and complexity more people with specific skill sets become part of the project.
Hence, the more people become part of the project higher the cost of development will be.
A standard team of app developers involves a business analyst, UI/UX designer, project manager, solution architect, QA engineers, and developers.
Operating System Of A Mobile Device: iOS Vs Android
Android and iOS are the two most common mobile operating systems.
The cost of mobile app development cost greatly depends on the platform you choose.
Android and iOS users are different of types.
Based on the target audience you can select the perfect platform that can drive more traffic.
Often most business owners are unaware of the target audience and this kind of market research is often conducted by the development company.
As they can guide you in a better way that which platform you should choose.
Although android covers more than 70% of the smartphone industry. Still, iOS users spend more on in-app purchases.
There is a common perception in the mobile app development industry that developing IOS mobile app is more costly than an Android.
Let’s find out if the perception is right or wrong.
To build an android app you need a developer that is skilled in Java and Kotlin. Whereas, To create an iOS mobile app you need a developer professional in Swift and Objective-C.
If we compare the cost of hiring we find out that Swift and Objective-C developers charge 15% more than Java and Kotlin.
Android has unlimited screen versions. On the other hand, iOS has less than 20.
As a result, the cost of developing an Android app will be a little greater if you want comprehensive compatibility across multiple devices (smartphones and tablets).
Type And Size Of The App
Complexity, features, type, versions, and size, all determine the cost of the app development.
An app that is built for one version only and integrated with necessary features will cost less than an app that is built for multiple versions, and equipped with the latest features.
Usually, there’re three common sizes of apps 1) Small 2) Medium 3) Complex.
Customization Of UI/UX design
UI/UX design is the necessary side of app development and can influence the cost largely.
If you invest in the UI/UX design correctly it can retain the existing customer better than anything.
UI/UX also determines the success of the application.
To make s first good impression and create a large customer base you need to invest in UIUX features including push notifications, icons, graphic images, and customization.
Although all these features create an amazing application but it needs time and extra effort from the developers which increases the app development cost.
App Security
The thing that should be your utmost priority is to keep your user data and information safe and unhackable.
Still, most of the app owners neglect this important aspect and lose users’ trust which results in low revenue.
There is a common mistake that app owners make is that they will invest thousands of dollars in making the app unique and attractive but not be willing to spend on the safety and security of the app where it matters the most.
Cost Of App Development By Type
The cost of app development is also based on the type of app you want to develop. This is an important factor and should be considered while budgeting.
Below we’ve listed different categories of apps on the app store and their cost to develop.
Health and Fitness app: Cost starts from $50,000 and goes up to $250,000.
Gaming app: Cost starts from $80,000 and goes up to $300,000.
Taxi app (Uber): Cost starts from $80,000 and goes up to $350,000.
Food delivery app: Cost starts from $50,000 and goes up to $150,000.
Dating app: Cost starts from $50,000 and goes up to $300,000.
Hybrid app: Cost starts from $70,000 and goes up to $200,000.
E-commerce app: Cost starts from $60,000 and goes up to $150,000.
Cost Of App Development By Region
Different countries have different standards of living and salaries. First-world countries like America and the United Kingdom have higher per-hour rates than countries like India and other countries in South Asia.
Below we’ve mentioned per hourly rates of different regions.
The USA and Canada: $120 – $150
Europe: $100 – $120
Australia: $100 – $120
Russia: $50 – $70
India and South Asia: $20 – $30
Mobile App Development Cost WITH EXAMPLES
In this section, we’ve covered the app development cost by mentioning some real-life examples. Plus, features, cost, and estimated time to develop the app.
Cab App (Uber & Ola cabs)
Taxi service apps are in the most demand these days.
Below are features that must be integrated into the taxi-hailing app.
- Payment integration
- Geolocation and tracking drivers
- Live chat option
- User onboarding and registration
- SMS and push notifications integration
Total cost: To create an app like Uber or Ola cabs start from $50,000.
Dating App (Tinder)
Tinder is the number one dating app. The feature that makes it the most popular is the easy-to-use interface.
What are features that must be integrated into the dating app?
- Comprehensive user profile
- Matching functionality
- Push notifications
- Communication (Chatting )
- 3rd party integration
Total cost: To create an app like Tinder the cost start from $80,000.
Food Delivery App (Uber eats and DoorDash)
After Covid, the demand for food delivery apps has experienced a sudden rise.
What are features that must be incorporated into the food delivery app?
- Profile making and registration
- Contact information of rider
- Integrate popular payment gateways
- Search Filters
- Ratings and Reviews
- Loyalty program
Total Cost: To create an app as Uber eats and DoorDash starts from $50,000.
Social Media Apps (TikTok)
Tiktok is the number social media platform in 2022.
Underneath, is the list of features that must be integrated into the social media app.
- Simple and Friendly User Interface (UI)
- Networking Element
- Content Sharing Method
- Messaging System
- Versatility and Responsiveness
- Real-Time Notifications
- Secure Login
Total cost: The cost to design a social media app like (TikTok and Instagram) is $100,000.
E-commerce App (Shein)
Shein doubled its revenue in 2021 from 2020.
What are features that must be integrated into the e-commerce app?
- User Login & Search Products
- Online Customer Support & Push Notifications
- Social media integration
- Rating and feedback
- Checkout & Shipping
- Payment Gateway Integration
Total Cost: The cost to develop an e-commerce app is $60,000.
What Are The Options When It Comes To Hiring A Mobile App Developer?
Once you’ve learned how much it costs to develop a mobile app and what are the factors that influence the cost of app development.
Here comes the last phase.
Generally, there are three ways you can hire a developer to do the job,
- In-house team
- Freelancer
- Outsourcing
Hire An In-house Team
If you’re on a big budget then you can consider this option
Pros
- Strong communication and dedicated team.
- Great collaboration among team members
Cons
- You’ll be directly involved with the team so you can’t pay attention to other things.
- The most costly option is now you’ve to pay salary, bonus, taxes, training, and HR to hire more developers.
Freelancers
If you’re on a shoestring budget then hiring a freelancer is the best option.
Pros
- The cheapest option to develop a mobile app.
- Get the best product under the budget.
Cons
- Can leave the job without any prior notice.
- Lack of communication and reliability.
Outsourcing
If you want a dedicated team of developers under a budget to complete the project then outsourcing is the best option.
Pros
- Have the ability to handle complex and large projects.
- Break-free Communication
- Cost-effective
- Great minds and talent
Cons
- Language barrier
- Unreliability
- Lack of personnel involvement