How much does it cost to create an app?
The cost of creating an app
This world is more connected than ever before, and mobile applications are a crucial element in this new ecosystem. We now use mobile apps to order our coffee, deposit our checks, check our bank accounts, make reservations, watch our favorite shows, and much more. It is now less of a service, and more of a lifestyle. Some groups refer to this as the connected lifestyle.
8 years ago, the majority of mobile applications were built for large enterprise companies, and now, smaller companies are joining the fray. At the end of the day, we all want to give our customers a better experience with our brands, and give them the ability to instantly use our services, connect with our staff, and purchase our products.
With that being said, app development is not cheap, but it may not be as expensive as you think it is. For this reason, we have decided to give you a framework to help you better understand the costs involved in software development, and help you make better educated decisions as you seek to build out your technology.
So how much does it cost when creating an app?
Before we jump into the myriad of factors top agencies use to estimate the price of a project, let's take a quick look at the average prices as reported by a clutch survey. In this survey, the median application development cost is $171,450. If you want an app with all the bells and whistles, that can support millions of users, you could even be looking at $200,000+ to $500,000+.
Now, don't quit on me if are a small company without a giant app budget. In some cases, you can have a custom app designed for as low as $10,000. Many of these apps can still offer a beautiful UI/UX and still solve the problem you are looking to overcome.
What are the price factors that play into when creating an app?
One of the issues the mobile application development industry faces is the lack of clarity and standardization in the development process. The rates developers charge are all over the place, projects can differ wildly in terms of complexity and time. In addition, the industry the application is being used in can affect pricing as well. You must also consider what platform the app is being developed on (iOS, Android, Windows, etc..)
Many times, predatory app development companies COUNT on the fact that there are no real standards, and that many of their customers do not understand the landscape in which they will inevitably be negotiating prices.
Features to consider while determining the costs of creating an app.
The cost of a Native app?
Native apps are almost always the best long term solution, as they allow you to make full use of a mobile devices functionality, such as the ability to shake the phone, use location services, etc... These can be more expensive, but typically offer the best user experience.
The cost of a Hybrid App?
If you are looking to save on development and maintenance costs, Hybrid apps can be a good option. They will work for all platforms, which is great. Unfortunately, they may not be able to access the same APIs, be less optimized, and not offer the same high-quality user experience boasted by Native Apps.
If I hire an app development team, how much should I expect to pay?
First, you really do want to engage an entire team, as compared to just one person. Especially, if the project is complex. Most development teams will be headed by a project manager, a Lead Programer, a UI/UX Designer, and a QA Engineer. They may even leverage an extended development team. Extended development teams can include: Project managers, app developers, back-end developers, UI/UX designers, QA Engineers, and system administrators.
Focus on design first.
Design is not just the look and feel of an application, it’s how it works. Steve Jobs famously reminded us of this many years ago. Design is not only the visual design. But, also the user interfaces UX, branding and identity, as well as logos. Many professional senior designers can cost up to $150 per hour. Sometimes, a well-known designer can cost even more than this.
Next, focus on core features.
Let's take a look at different features used in app development cost calculations.
How will your app users log in?
Users need to log in and register to use an application, duh. But, how will they do it? Should they login with a standard AWS login? Should they use their Gmail accounts, or should they login with Facebook or other social media accounts? Social sign in is very important in this day and age, and adding a feature such as this can take around 20 hours of work.
Will they receive in-app Push Notifications?
Let's face it, you ought to incorporate push-notifications into your application. Without Push Notifications, you will have a hard time keeping your users informed of app activities. Adding push notifications to your application can take between 15 and 215 hours.
App Navigation
How will your users navigate your app? This is a very important question that is not only strategic, but can define the experience your users have with your app. Your most likely going to budget at least 10+ hours of work into thinking through the navigation user flow.
Will you use Portrait or Landscape View?
Depending on the design type, developers should be able to set the view in about 25 hours.
Do you need GeoLocation?
If you have an app that involves deliveries, taxi services, or traveling features, you may want to ensure you choose a platform that allows for geolocation. You should expect to budget at least 50 hours to develop out the geolocation portion of your app.
Will you need a Google Maps integration?
Most developers will need at least 20 hours at minimum to integrate Google Maps into your mobile app.
Other Features to Consider when Creating an App
Chat/Messaging
Ads
In-App Purchases
Payments Integrations
Streaming
Multi-language Support
Offline-Mode
Database
Phone Sensors Usage
Data Encryption
App Maintenance Costs
Final Thoughts
Understanding the cost when creating & developing an app is a very important part of your overall strategy. For a free strategy session to help you better understand the strategy, cost, and time it takes to implement a well-rounded mobile application, click here.