The mobile app market is growing at a rapid pace. Everyone seems to have a mobile application concept these days. And this isn’t unexpected, right?
The mobile industry is trending upward from both a user and a corporate perspective. However, before you delve into this ever-growing business and begin the mobile app development process, you need conduct some research. One crucial aspect to consider is the selection of the Right Mobile App Development Companies.
If you believe your concept has the potential to be the next industry disruptor like Uber or Snapchat, research which applications generate the most revenue. Alternatively, if you want to boost your present business using a mobile app, you’ll need to do some arithmetic to figure out how to use it most effectively.
Most importantly, how much does it cost to make an application?
There is no definitive answer to this question. Because a variety of criteria, including as the platform on which the application is built, the app’s features, complexity, the development team’s experience, and a number of other considerations, all play a significant influence in deciding the cost of app development.
Not clear? To determine the cost of mobile app development, we must first understand the variables that influence this cost.
Top 7 Factors Affecting the Cost of Mobile App Development
1. The Business Model for a Mobile App
An application is created for users. So, once you’ve identified the proper users for your application, you can begin the development process. After that, you choose a feasible business model for the project, which establishes the general method by which you will manage your firm – and it should benefit both you and the users.
Then comes the app’s monetization plan, which is the actual component that determines the cost of mobile application development. For example, a free application is easier to design than a commercial application, which involves the integration of several in-app purchase options. An e-commerce application requires more effort and money. And the elephant in the room, on-demand apps, have varying development costs.
If you want to develop an app like Uber, it will cost you roughly $30,000. If you want to make an app like UrbanClap, the cost will vary depending on the services you want to provide. Here’s a breakdown of app types and the costs associated with their development:
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2. Type of Application
The important function and type of application will also influence your mobile app development costs.
For example, independent programs such as a clock or calculator can function without being linked to a network. The cost of developing these types of apps will be low due to their simplicity. However, an application that requires data use, such as a stock market monitor, calendar, or weather app, will require a larger amount of data.
These are, without a doubt, standalone programs in terms of sophistication; yet, they require additional capabilities to provide results in real time. Applications requiring user verification, such as Dream 11 Fantasy Sports or Google Drive, might be significantly more expensive. These are the more confusing types of programs, requiring the creation of an algorithm to function.
If you want to take the UX a step further and create a social network app like Facebook, it will cost you a little more.
3. App Platform: Android or iOS?
You can make your application available on multiple platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, Web, or all of the above. The decision is based on where the users of your application are.
While Android has a greater global platform market share, iOS users are thought to be more reliable. Here are a few aspects you should consider while choosing the platform for your app.
While there are many additional aspects to consider, the ones listed above are critical for estimating the cost of mobile app development.
The decision of a platform is not an easy one. It is recommended to do both if your budget allows, or to go with cross-platform software development. To give you an idea, iOS applications are faster to produce and typically less expensive than Android applications.
4. Visual Design and UI/UX
Whether it’s a new job, first date, or the virtual design of an application, the first impression is always important. As a result, you should make a good one! The initial appearance of your application might be a deal-breaker or an industry disruptor. The application market is competitive, which bodes well because all firms will soon need to enter the stores.
However, design is a key component of disruptive applications that is often disregarded. An ideal UI/UX design approach for an app should look like this:
If you adopt an optimal UI/UX design strategy for producing your app, the mobile app development cost can reach up to $35,000 for a simple app.
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5. The functionalities of your application
As mobile applications get more capable, the possibilities for what they can accomplish become virtually limitless. As a result, the cost of developing an app might range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. Consider the following types of Apps:
- List App – The application is a mobile-optimized version of the site that will mostly list items in several categories. It is simple to produce and will not cost you much money.
- A Dynamic App – Mobile apps such as Facebook, for example, must be connected to a server in order to acquire data from the program. These applications communicate with various platforms and applications via APIs. The complexity of such an application and its APIs can lead to significant cost variances.
- Games: Games are the most complex and expensive form of application to develop. With complicated games incorporating artificial intelligence gaining traction, 3D settings and advanced material science can cost a fortune.
These three classes will greatly define your application nevertheless, applications today are so diverse that it may be impossible to have convincing categories that encompass them all. Each one-of-a-kind capability will incur additional costs. While certain seemingly sophisticated functionalities may be inexpensive, incorporating a basic feature may result in a financial loss.
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6. Application Complexity
How advanced is your application?
Your response will influence the app development cost. Your software can be simple, moderate, or complicated, and the cost of development will vary accordingly. Now, how will you determine which category your app falls into? Here are a few variations to assist you:
Take a look at your app’s features, functioning, and structure. Determine which category it belongs. If you’re looking for something simple with a few features, you can develop it for a modest cost. However, if you have something particularly unique and complicated to design, the cost will be more.
7. Hidden Cost
Okay, so that’s all, right? No.
While you may have spent more than you expected while designing your application, you’re not quite out of the woods yet. Remember the charges that people frequently overlook during this process. You’ll have to pay legal fees. Like any successful business, you will need to hire a legal advisor.
He will assist you in securing your copyrights, intellectual property, trademarks, and whatever else you require while ensuring that you do not infringe on anyone else’s rights. Don’t forget about membership fees for external functions. So don’t plan a budget that you can’t manage.
Wrapping Up
So, you must understand that forecasting the exact cost of the mobile app development process is impossible unless you have specific needs in hand. To give you an idea, a simple mobile app development might cost between $30K and $50K for basic functionality. However, if you choose to build additional complex features, the cost can go to $80K to $90K.