How Much Does it Cost to Build a Mobile App?

It is not true that mobile apps are only for big brands such as Bank of America, Walmart, etc. Yes, today most of the businesses are following mobile app trends and that’ why the demand for mobile app development companies is increasing day by day. If you are planning for the mobile app as well for your business, you need to follow the following three simple steps:

1. Why mobile apps are important?
2. Types of Business apps
3. What are the development costs?

Every stage needs special features with multiple tests to ensure quality and functionality. Let’s cover each stage one-by-one. Before that, it is important to figure out the significance of mobile applications in our lives.

Generally, the cost of making a mobile app ranges extremely: from total zero to unbelievably expensive price that could reach millions. Although, frankly there is no simple answer to this inquiry due to multiple factors at play. Different developer rates, project complexity and time it takes to build an app impact the cost of making a mobile application. The price to make an app depends on the following aspects:

Type (mobile game, business, social networking, lifestyle. etc.)

Platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc.)

Design (basic, individual, custom)

Number of pages

Features & infrastructure

Mobile apps development can split mobile into 3 categories in terms of simple, moderate and complexity. You can also take 2 kinds of hourly rates into account and this is the estimation that app costs to make approximately.

Every app is different and it’s like inquiring about the price of a house or a car- you do not know the exact price without specifications. Plus, the estimation is based on the minimum time and effort required to technically build an app. Be ready to pay more to make your app great.

Importance of the Mobile Apps

No doubt,  mobile apps work in a different way, according to the taste of business.

Stay Visible and Connected

According to the survey an average person spends at least more than 2 hours on the mobile device in the US. Generally, just a few apps occupy most of the time of users. Therefore, it is the biggest exposure that businesses can get from their users.

It is also true that not all apps drive a similar amount of user engagement. Every app has it’s the same kind of engagement. They can go for realistic goals and get a loyal user base. The biggest benefit they get is its continuous visibility and connection with the users.

Better User Experience

There is a perception that mobile apps only act as a promotional tool. But the fact is most users find apps, interesting because of their wonderful experience. Apps that can impress users with smart, lean, and smooth experience can’t be stopped from getting popular. Businesses who are trying to deliver a kind of user experience that they love, a mobile app is all they need. If your business doesn’t have a strong offline presence, creating a mobile app is quite effective for you.

 Act as a Promotional Tool

App developers and businesses are aware of the fact that mobile apps become a free promotion tool. There are other web alternatives to sell your products including eBay, Flipkart, SnapDeal and Amazon, etc.  You can also find some of the famous brands in your niche. On the other hand, apps deliver a credible promotional platform without much investment.

Make Presence in Global Markets

Do you think your products or services have a  better scope in the global market, rather than local? Thanks to social media, web, and mobile apps that can provide your business with a global presence. Now, a vegetable store in your locality, which has been selling vegetables for years locally, can reach to offshore clients. Mobile apps help you to reach global markets and users. These apps allow you to connect with people who are similar minded.

Now, a more practical tool to calculate the cost of your app. An average cost to make an app highly depends on what type of app you choose to develop. Moreover, the cost of the apps depends upon various factors which are responsible to make a mobile app successful.

Native apps

Large and heavy apps that aim at the best user experience, optimization, and fast work. They may use various devices such as APIs and process a wide range of the features at the same time native apps are as expensive as a number of platforms you want to support because many people get involved in the app development process. Native apps usually are business apps, entertainment apps, education apps.

 Hybrid apps

Hybrid apps are also known as cross-platform that are best suited to reach a bigger audience from the start.  If a team is involved, their development and maintenance costs become less and a single code works for all the platforms. Meantime cross-platform apps are less optimized, lack access to APIs and can’t provide the native user experience. They are suitable for small and medium communication apps, lifestyle apps or game apps.

Functionality Apps

These types of apps are fast to develop as it includes very few or even no features at all. They are mostly developed for personal use and you will not find anything like this in any app store. Usually, they are made to display a list of topics by clicking on one of them a user can view info about and open a new list.

Database-driven apps

These types of apps are more complex and handle massive data to operate and stored directly in the device memory or on a web server. You should work as desired, extra features like camera, internet connection or access to the gallery also needed. Examples of such native apps that use device memory to store data library are various mobile dictionaries.

Apps that rely on the device firmware/hardware

This kind of applications access a mobile device and its aim is to enhance its functionality, it includes a camera, flashlight, an alarm clock or any other information as well. AlarmMon allows operators to modify the alarm clock, while also adding extra functions, like a puzzle to solve to disarm the alarm.

Mobile games / Game apps

The game app can be simple and advanced both with 3D graphics and physics, global rating, AR support, and social media integration. A more complex game costs more, so it’s hard to tell exactly without estimate how much an app can cost. Gaming apps are the most popular category of application and also the profitable one.  For example, the cost of the angry bird was $140,000 to develop and made $70 million in the first year.

Who can develop my app idea?

Basically, we have 2 options: mobile app development agencies and freelance developers. Let’s look into each of them. Hiring a professional agency surely seems to be a more expensive choice. But the reliability is much better, and a developer team would assist you to get the best app from your idea. Designers, programmers, project managers – all of them are skilled and used to work in the team with each other. Hourly rates differ greatly around the globe, independent of the end-product quality. So, if you have a good concept and a clear strategy, there is no need to pay more, because the high price doesn’t mean high quality.

Cost of key mobile app features

Well, app development is an intricate process, and the cost to build an app is mainly dictated by a set of features plus design. Let’s examine common app features in terms of time and cost. We’ll use low ($25) and median ($50) hourly rates for estimations.

User Login

When app users have to register and log into an app to use it. Registration via email or phone, while signing in through social media accounts is the most popular option. Social sign-in makes it easier to access an app, as well as automatically creates a user profile and collects all public data about a person. This is a standard practice in app development, and it takes around 20 hours. It translates into $500-1,000 cost.

Push Notification

These are real-time updates that keep users informed about any activities related to an app or service. The development timeline is between 20 and 200 hours. The cost may range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Navigation

The whole user flows through an application that should be intended and designed before the development. This logic demands 10+ hours, which may cost $250-500.

Conclusion

So, how much does it cost to build an app? It depends on many factors. Development charges, application size, complexity and newness of technologies are included. It will help you find answers of your own. If not, we are always ready to help you estimate your app idea. If you are interested to build any type of the mobile app, consult the best mobile app development company to get better results.

Read more: How Micro Apps Are The Future Of Mobile App Development?