How Much Does it Cost to Make An App?

Author:

Nitin Agarwal | on September 1st, 2017 | Mobile App

App Store and Play Store are flooded with apps of all brackets.

Those who believe their business is set to make strides with a website or a web app should definitely give this a read. Can any company out there do this without a mobile app?

Adding sheer brand value among customers who spend roughly 4-5 hours on their mobile devices
Interacting with the brand at any hour of the day, irrespective of the user location
From vital product information to customer service and reward programs for bolstering the customer-business relationships
Enhancing brand recognition
A potential channel to generate sales
Gaining significant customer and sales insights

Develop a mobile application that…

For a booming customer base, it is quite important for a mobile application development company to develop an app that –

Has a UNIQUE IDEA.
Flaunts with PERFECTION IN DESIGN
Favours SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY with the outside world
Has a compelling factor for CUSTOMER RETENTION

All things being equal, these factors can help estimate the cost to develop a mobile app

The most interesting part, mobile app development entails is the “category”. Nowadays, mobile app developers create apps for all industry verticals. Undoubtedly, there is no limit to the scope these applications have.

Following factors can help in getting the nearest cost estimate of a dream mobile application –

1) Let’s start with users and the type of applications –

A pre-requisite to developing a successful mobile app is to understand the nature and preference of customers.

Research well about what’s trending among the customers and what are they looking for. All in all, the emphasis is to provide the users what they yearn for through your app offering.

Next would be handpicking the type of application you want to build – “PAID” or “FREE”.

Paid apps have straight forward goal –

Sell the app, get downloads, and earn money.
Set price as per the cost it had incurred during the development phase.
Include the cost of the level of functionality – high-end or basic.
Research about potential users’ and their location
Do not forget to check out the prices competitors have set.
Experimenting with the prices is another way to get sales going and understanding the market well
Rely on marketing measures to work on app popularity.

2) Platform compatibility is the must –

It is the most important step to determine before commencing the development phase of mobile app creation. Cost of an app depends on which platforms you want to get your app developed and versions of OS i.e. iOS, Android, Windows.

Major Types of Mobile apps

Before developing any application one must decide the operating system of the apps needed to capture the most target users. It is requisite to understand the Types of Mobile Apps:

1) Native Apps:

These are OS oriented mobile apps. They are developed specifically for one platform and can take full advantage of all the device features. Native mobile apps will either run on iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry. That will cost the company less.

Native mobile apps are developed in iOS (Objective-c or Swift), Andriod (Java) or Windows Phone (C#/Visual Basic & XAML).

Native apps take advantage of the latest technology to provide optimized excellent performance in comparison to web apps or mobile cloud apps developed to be generic across multiple systems.

Native apps offer features like full integration of the device, works without an Internet connection, More secure and safe, Eye-catching and inspiring look & feel and better user experience.

2) Cross-platform OR HTML5 Hybrid Mobile Apps:

Best Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks

In the business world, a growing trend called BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is rising.

Cross-platform mobile app development refers to the development of mobile apps that can be used on multiple mobile platforms. Cross-platform mobile apps are developed using an intermediate language, such as Javascript, that is not native to the device’s operating system.

Cross-platform frameworks can provide the accessibility of native API with HTML controller. The same program can operate on additional platforms. Simply a click can optimize the same application.

Cross-platform apps are developed with Xamarin, Rhomobile, Appcelerator Titanium, React Native, NativeScript, PhoneGap, Cocos2d & Corona for 2D Games and Unity3d.

Cross-platform apps are different from HTML5 hybrid apps as hybrid apps usually incorporate a mix of native app and mobile app concepts.

A hybrid application is what we can say is something in between Native and Web Applications. A hybrid app consists of an HTML5 web app within a native ‘wrapper’.

This is a mobile app which renders the user interface using an embedded web browser, written using web coding languages like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, and then compiled into native iOS, Android or other mobile platforms.

Creating a hybrid app will require different app versions for different platforms.

“Selection of Hybrid applications will let the app run on multiple platforms with a single code which obviously would incur amount higher than for the native application.”

HTML5 hybrid apps are developed using HTML5 UI frameworks like Cordova, Trigger.IO, Ionic Framework, Onsen UI, Sencha Touch, Mobile Angular UI, Framework 7 and Telerik Platform.

When to select Hybrid or Cross-Platform Mobile App Development over Native Apps?

If you want your application to run on multiple platforms like iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry OR interactions or user experience is less important OR you want to save some upfront costs, go for Cross-platform applications which will be Slightly faster to develop because you have a single code base for all platforms.

How much does a Native iPhone / Android app cost?

Don’t expect a professional mobile app development company to tell you the price of your product out of the blue. There is no such thing as a price list that can help you calculate mobile app development cost, and price calculators that you may come across on the internet are nothing but cheap marketing bait. Agencies charge rates per hour, but rates can be negotiable.

“The cost of developing an app is most often based on the number of platforms to be developed for, Number of hours that a project may take, and the more difficult the functionality, the longer it supposedly takes to implement it.”

Making the selection of OS easier between Native iOS and Native Android for you –

IOS

ANDROID

• Development of iOS apps is Quick and Inexpensive.

• It guarantees higher user engagement and more payment for app usage.

• Moreover, the time for which the user uses the app is much more than the Android version.

• Clients can rest assured of the app Security and Quality, thanks to iOS guidelines which requires a company to submit the app for approval in the App Store.

• However, getting an iOS app means Incessant Updates and Higher Cost of periodic maintenance checks.

• Development of Android apps guarantees the dominion of users on web traffic. Not to mention, the market reach in emerging technologies.

• Installation cost is much less than that of iOS apps.

• Android apps demand a huge time to build and complete.

• Fragmented devices lead to users using old as well as newer app versions which may lead to a different experience.

• Fewer are the updates required in Android Applications.

3) Design can work wonders

Custom Designs, Orientation, Navigation, Pull to refresh, marketing animations play an important role. Many, many apps have that “WOW” design that makes them stand out from the rest.

Of course, there is nothing as crucial as the USER EXPERIENCE.

For example, there were impressive 1 M downloads in the first couple of days when Apple released “Clips” application. Clips delivered understandable icons, classic design, and top quality, long videos.

Or was it “Spring” introduced by Spring NYC that had some of the best wear collections from no less than 1500 brands? The app featured a simple-yet-eyecatching design.

Year over year, businesses are relying heavily on design for a better sales graph.

Eyeing the 2019 mobile app design trends, we will find app development services to work on –

Micro-interactions will gain traction to ameliorate user experience, prominent in Android apps
Scalable vector graphics will take over for best quality images
Backgrounds such as diffused backgrounds will work on user perception
GIFs will have their own space of recognition
User-friendly navigation features will rule again
Skeuomorphic design to give a real-world perception
Bold and bigger fonts for undivided user appreciation
Above all, an app that is simple-yet-just-beautiful would gain popularity

If you find any mobile app development company that commits a good design, you may well consider paying for it as well.

4) Functionality

A good mobile app development company never overlooks the importance of “Functionality”.

It has been and will be the only factor that will cover the maximum part of the cost of an application.

Technical Complexity also increases the cost of an app which includes things like Third party-integrations, Backend development, Admin panel development and In-app purchases etc.

It is essential to encompass some basic yet significant features in the app. These features are seamless connectivity, the security of payment, chatbots, customer service, push notifications, profile generation, etc.

The critical question is: what is the purpose of your application?

As the new technologies are arriving in the market, apps are becoming more beautiful, intelligent and dynamic. Such is the power of these technologies that everything envisioned in your app can and will be easily accomplished. A team of mobile app developers can help in accomplishing the app objectives.

5) category of application

Thinking to develop a social media app or an app for people to shop till they drop? Or would it be a game to keep people stick to their smartphone for hours and hours straight?

Whatever category of application companies wish to create, it is very important to remember that a unique idea for every app will require the corresponding cost. Although for the end-users some functionalities would entice, it takes plenty of efforts, time and cost to develop them.

For any app, it is wise to add a review section. Even at times of a bad review, the company does stand a chance to rectify the errors or learn from them to make improvements in future updates.

6) Let’s code it

Now when all is decided, it is important to start coding the app. Development of an app requires the company to pick a large agency, small agency, or even a freelance developer.

Selection is completely dependent on the workforce involved, their experience, portfolio, and the number of developers (if you choose a large agency or a small one).

Considering all these factors the cost becomes Subjective. Freelance developers involve risks of application failure, delay, limited skills, and location constraint.

Hiring a small agency, on the other hand, is a lot more beneficial. A dedicated team of highly experienced developers will work on selected projects, ensuring all specifications are met.

These agencies also commit to delivering the app in said timeline, not forgetting the quality, consistency and willingness to learn and implement.

Wildnet Technologies for mobile app development

However, professional agencies such as Wildnet Technologies are not limited to offering a specific genre of applications. Wildnet rather caters to enterprises as well as startups of varied industry verticals reason being large teams and rich experience. Our company displays exceptional dedication for learning and willingness to showcase its expertise.

Wildnet takes on highly complex projects with a promise to deliver the final product having seamless functionality and brand assurance.

How do we estimate the cost of app development?

Any company while handpicking an agency for app project invests its trust apart from colossal income. It is thus important for us to communicate its –

Portfolio of similar applications
Project details in depth
Timeline and estimated budget

Before sending you a bill, we do a rough estimate of the project. That’s how we identify an approximate number of hours needed to build a product according to your documentation, description, user stories, and specification, whatever you call it.

When your approval of the rough estimate is received, we proceed with a detailed estimate of the project where we identify the requirements for each scope of work planned, make wireframes to show you what exactly your iOS or Android app will look like, and prepare project-related documentation.

Are you planning to develop a new app? Or is your project stuck? Are you looking to hire a mobile app developer? Write to us.

About Nitin Agarwal

Nitin Agarwal, the CEO and Co-founder of Wildnet Technologies, is a Digital Evangelist who has embossed himself as a perfect blend of a tech-savvy and a great leader. His passion for helping people in all aspects of IT Consulting, Tech Services, Digital Marketing and Creating a brand name flows through in the expert industry coverage he provides. He spends his time exploring new ways to make Wildnet Technologies a fusion of healthy work style, technology, and life and as a result, in a decade, the company has grown to a strength of 350+ technocrats and industry experts. View all posts by Nitin Agarwal