- connects with the consumers in real time and guides them through each step of the sales cycle;<\/li>
- gives the business plenty of opportunities to serve consumers in various ways;<\/li>
- provides a direct marketing channel with fewer interruptions and higher conversion;<\/li>
- keeps the brand fresh in the consumers\u2019 minds;<\/li>
- collects valuable customer data…<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 and much more. With so many benefits to having a mobile app, what is still holding some businesses back? Is it the time and money investment of an app, or rather the lack of information?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternative-spaces\u2019 clients often ask us estimate the cost to develop an app so they can start planning or securing funds for the project. In this post, we will explain what software development factors impact the price. There will also be some tips about how to get a more precise quote or figure out a rough estimate on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Average Cost of App Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The easiest way to get an idea of how much your project might cost is to look for information on similar mobile apps. For example, different sources estimate the cloning of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Facebook at $420,000 – $465,000 (at $150\/hour)<\/li>
- Instagram-like product somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000<\/li>
- Uber-like service, with the supply and demand sides, around $142,350 – $178,000<\/li>
- WhatsApp at $173,550 – $222,600<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A 2017 survey<\/a> of 12 leading app developers by Clutch revealed a wide range of $30,000 to $700,000 to develop a mobile app. Based on the average number of hours required to create an iOS-only app, they established the average cost to be $38,000 for a simple and $171,000 for a complex app.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/app-development-cost-breakdown-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOtreva<\/a> offers statistics indicating the average cost of an app development to be around $127,800. And according to a report by Kinvey<\/a>, organizations spend $270,000 on average to create an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s clear that an \u2018average cost\u2019 will hardly help you determine the cost to create an app for your business. It\u2019s important to consider the variations in hourly rates in different economies, the developers or agency you happen to engage, and the future app\u2019s unique list of requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factors for Mobile App Development Cost<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
App development cost = (Features X Development time) x Hourly rate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will be dealing with these variables at each step of the mobile app development process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- discovery\/planning stage<\/li>
- design<\/li>
- development<\/li>
- testing and deployment stage<\/li>
- startup costs (marketing, support, etc.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The decisions and choices you make at each stage will directly affect the final development cost and timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Type of Mobile Application<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Features are the primary factor which determine the mobile app development cost. In general, mobile apps can be broken into four major groups, depending on the purpose, complexity, and hence the total work hours required:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Simple<\/strong>: Often list- or table-based, an app with 3-4 screens and one primary function. It displays a relatively simple collection of information and doesn\u2019t store any data. The cost of such apps is the lowest, often between $1,000 and $10,000.<\/li>
- Database-dependent \/ dynamic \/ API apps<\/strong>: A more complex app that stores data on the user\u2019s device or a remote server. It may require users to register, allow them to find, input, and display data, sync data between multiple devices, connect to remote online web services, etc. The use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that vary in complexity affects the end cost. According to Appster\u2019s data<\/a>, such apps can range between $10K-$50K.<\/li>
- Multi-functional \/ enterprise or brand apps<\/strong>: A number of core features and custom user interface assist with a business activity. Such apps usually require the use of extensive databases, advanced UI, and commerce integration. The cost can range between $20,000 and $500,000.<\/li>
- Games<\/strong>: Games can cost anywhere from $5,000 (simplest ones) to $250,000+, especially high-quality complex games with 3D environments or advanced physics engines.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Delivery time may depend on your development team\u2019s velocity, but a simple app may take from two weeks to three months to complete, a dynamic app – some 3-6 months, and a sophisticated multi-feature app may take 3-9 months to create. If time is critical, the team may need to engage extra staff or pay overtime. This will result in higher overall costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The selection of features directly impacts the future product\u2019s user-friendliness, monetization, viral potential, marketing opportunities, etc. Important things to consider include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- login via Facebook, Twitter, or Google<\/li>
- email login<\/li>
- ability to post on a user\u2019s social media<\/li>
- chat \/ messaging<\/li>
- ability to create user profiles<\/li>
- search functionality<\/li>
- thumbs up\/down or rating of your services\/content<\/li>
- in-app purchases<\/li>
- geolocation<\/li>
- push notifications<\/li>
- data synchronization between desktop and mobile devices, etc.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Some of these require only several hours of development, but each will compound the total cost. Consider your long-term goals. If the product is the backbone of your startup, more features and higher cost are reasonable. But if you are only developing a prototype, you may launch with a core feature stack. Eventually, you\u2019d build on with micro updates allowing you to hear user feedback and more effectively adjust the roadmap as the product grows and evolves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/average-cost-of-app-development-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA few other factors driving the cost of mobile application development are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The app\u2019s uniqueness translates directly to the developers\u2019 rates. If it requires a high degree of specialty or rare skill sets, the \u2018hourly rate\u2019 in the equation will be greater.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The cost of customized UI design would be higher too. This requires in-depth research, and the implementation is more time-consuming than a standard design.
Choose the platform where your target consumers really are, but accessibility on both iOS and Android seems wisest. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n- The number of screens matters as well. The more of them the app includes, the more design and development work it requires.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Many intricate screens will take longer both to design and to develop, and thus will cost more.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Each integration with third-party services, APIs, libraries or framework adds extra time and cost.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The integration of GPS navigation, NFC, Bluetooth, or onboard sensors will alter the overall cost of the app as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Supporting offline app usage will also increase the cost.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Mobile App Development Technologies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An app can be used on a variety of devices. The price of the app development will depend on which mobile app development technologies you choose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Native mobile apps are written in the same programming languages as the platforms for which they are designed. Such apps are faster, more reliable, and provide the best user experience. Two separate apps will certainly cost more than one. At the same time, each platform\u2019s development environment provides for building a standardized convention, and mobile app development using the standard convention is generally considered to be more cost-effective.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Cross-platform apps run on both the iOS and Android mobile platforms. They are built using a combination of web and native technologies. The code repeatability makes the development more cost-effective. However, they can be problematic to design due to the platforms\u2019 different conventions. Support and expansion costs can be quite unpredictable as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A progressive web-app is basically a mobile-optimized website that has most of the features and the feel of a native app. Users can access it through the browser and simply add it to the home screen. Such mobile web apps are platform-agnostic. They provide acceptable user experience and are affordable to develop.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A hybrid app can operate on multiple platforms and function like a native app. The developer builds the product once using, for example, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, and then uses PhoneGap to prepare it for all platforms. This approach can significantly reduce the cost of building an app for all platforms. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Currently, it\u2019s mainly about the two leading mobile operating systems – iOS and Android. Android users dominate the mobile web traffic. The cost per install is significantly lower for an Android app than for iOS, which means a wider market for a business. However, an Android app generally takes 2-3 times longer to build than the same iOS app. Thus, although the cost per hour for developing iOS and Android apps are almost equal, it turns out to be more expensive to create an Android app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simultaneously, Apple\u2019s stricter guidelines translate to better quality and security. Convinced by these and the higher speed of development, some companies opt to start with an iOS-only app. If it proves to be successful, an Android app follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose the platform where your target consumers really are, but accessibility on both iOS and Android seems wisest. If you decide to launch on both mobile platforms simultaneously, there will also generally be some crossover that ultimately lowers the total cost. More often than not, there will be a common back-end architecture. Moreover, since the team had detected and resolved some issues when building the app for one platform, they will be able to develop the subsequent one faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In any case, you will also have to decide what specific devices your mobile app will support. For example, it may be accessible only on smartphones like iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S+, or Samsung Galaxy S6, or on multiple versions of tablets as well. The development of custom interfaces to support all screen resolutions can be time-consuming and costly for Android. Supporting all of the OS versions of all devices will be expensive, so it\u2019s better to select only the most popular ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the developers are required to pay a license fee for technologies, it may significantly increase an overall mobile app development cost. It will depend on the annual fees and the number of devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While the average surveyed cost of an app’s design is less than $5,000, it\u2019s as important as technology. There are several aspects to it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The visual design gives your app a distinctive look-and-feel. Great design often comes at a cost, so if your budget is limited, prioritize the components. If your target audience is very design-sensitive, it\u2019s reasonable to divert some money from other departments towards high-end UI design. But if not, there\u2019s no need to overpay for looks alone.<\/li>
- UX design is everything that pertains to the layout of the features and how users interact with the app. The UX designer studies user behaviors and meticulously designs user experiences to deliver specific results. Such expertise and skills may be your most significant expense for the app\u2019s design, but it\u2019s money well spent. <\/li>
- The icon, logo, and branding cost less, but shouldn\u2019t be neglected either. An icon\u2019s price alone may range from $300 to $1,500, but you\u2019ll definitely see the difference between a \u2018cheaper\u2019 and costlier version – and so will the target audience.<\/li>
- Invest in good, compelling copy for the app. The voice and tone must ideally match your brand.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you want the design to give you a competitive advantage, hire a proven design team with an extensive portfolio. But remember that outside designers will have to collaborate with the app development team, which may slow down the work. Often it proves more convenient and cost-effective to have an app development company handle both the design and development of your app. (Alternative-spaces has a design department that is well-practiced at designing for mobile too.) From branding to UX design, and then from coding to deployment – you can have it all done under the same roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
App Development Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The talent and experience of the development team affect the cost of mobile application development as much as its envisioned functionality. When recruiting the team, your choices can either save or add a substantial cost to the project. Cheaper isn\u2019t necessarily better and can be often quite the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless you are blessed with a lean in-house team or someone who can play multiple roles<\/a>, you\u2019ll have to look for experts at each step of the software development process. Developers will be programming the app screens in Objective-C\/Swift for iOS or Java\/Kotlin for Android. Another developer will work on the server side application and APIs. Quality assurance should participate from the onset. Installing the application, creation of a reliable server environment, and tackling database redundancy, backup, security, performance and scalability of the app require an experienced specialist commonly referred to as DevOps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the way you are going to create the app, you can choose one of the four primary models of engaging talent (in the price-decreasing order):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Technical<\/strong> co-founder<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re an established business person, you may recruit technical co-founders and pay them in equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Domestic app development company<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
App development agencies provide a complete team necessary for building and launching a product. It\u2019s the surest way to make a quality app, from the planning stage to post-launch marketing, but also the most expensive. Such agencies charge $200-$300\/hour for their services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The larger the app agency (with its track record, reputation, reviews, and awards), the higher the price usually is. Big agencies offer a broader range of services, larger teams, heaps of experience, mature development procedures, and a big brand guarantee of quality and timely delivery. If your app is very sophisticated, this may be the only development option for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small agencies (3-10 members) typically focus on a specific class of apps. While an attractive middle ground on quality and consistency, small domestic agencies also provide significant cost savings as compared to large agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Freelancers<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Hiring freelancers may be the cheapest option, but may turn out the most expensive. If the freelancer happens to be slow, incompetent, or irresponsible, your project will drag on indefinitely. Hiring a handful of freelancers only increases the risks: each of them can potentially cause problems and delays. On top of that, many freelance platforms are plagued by the \u2018problem of middle-man freelancers.\u2019 In the worst scenario, you\u2019ll be throwing money down the drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you manage to recruit a group of good freelancers, you can get a quality app made at a lower cost. Good freelancers<\/a> may provide the quality level of an app development company, but their prices differ drastically depending on the freelancers\u2019 locations. India boasts about the lowest rates ($10-75+ per hour) while the US, Canada, and the UK have the highest ($50-$250 per hour).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/cost-of-mobile-application-development-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- Outsourcing<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is another good option for software development at a reasonable price. Outsourcing companies combine the benefits of app development agencies and international freelancers. Most will offer a full-fledged team of designers, developers, and project managers for an entire project – all at an Indian or East European price. For example, the average hourly rate is typically three times lower in Ukraine than in the US, with the same quality and expertise. Collaboration across oceans has become easier; JIRA, Slack, and GitHub are used for organizing the process and daily communication with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the service price shouldn\u2019t be the ultimate deciding factor for hiring an offshore development team. Remember that it may be a years-long relationship if they should continue maintaining your mobile app. Before making the decision, speak with several teams, search each one\u2019s portfolio for recent examples that are most relevant to your project, ask for references, and read clients\u2019 feedback and other information you may find online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hidden Costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On top of the components disclosed above, there are hidden costs that weigh on the overall cost of a mobile app. For example, if you don\u2019t have QA on the team, you\u2019ll have to wait until the end of the development to test the product in one fell swoop. It\u2019s not so much the testing that will come at a cost, but fixing the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll need to pay App Store and Google Play fees, admin, servers and backend support, customer support, legal, and further development costs. According to Clutch, infrastructure-related activities like the initial setup and basic controls, data storage, third-party integration, access to enterprise data, data encryption, and scalability are a massive cost driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maintenance expense is not included in the initial app development cost breakdown, but on average, 15-20% of the original development costs are spent annually on technical support. Some developers, though, may integrate short-term app maintenance into their build price. Alternative-spaces does offer free maintenance for three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your intellectual property should be protected. Get a patent to protect your invention and ideas. If your app\u2019s name sticks, register it as a trademark. Protect the text, visuals, and multimedia of your mobile app through copyright. It entails extra expenses, but it\u2019s important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sales and marketing can be another massive expense. Without the expensive paid marketing<\/a>, it\u2019s almost impossible to get noticed on app stores. Not having the budget to market the app can be fatal for the entire project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting a Quote<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Like other software development companies, Alternative-spaces is contacted daily by people with great ideas asking for quotes for their apps and websites. However, as interested as we are, it\u2019s impossible to estimate the price right off the bat. For this reason, most companies would request the future product\u2019s specification first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A mobile app development specification document is known as a requirements document or product specification. The specification not only provides a foundation for a successful product<\/a> but also serves as a basis for the app development cost estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here<\/a> you can find some tips on crafting a decent requirements document, which is mostly about conveying your vision to those who will work on the product. In a nutshell:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- the product requirements document should have all critical areas covered and eliminate any ambiguity;<\/li>
- it should clearly define the scope of the work and prioritize the app\u2019s features;<\/li>
- describe the product in the same sequence as users would be exploring it, and don\u2019t forget about such standard features and screens as the privacy policy;<\/li>
- references to existing apps when describing your product, e.g., for an analogy, are welcome;<\/li>
- if applicable, indicate the specific deadline and provide a short timeline for important milestones to meet;<\/li>
- indicate whether you want to build a native or a hybrid app and try to define the supported device range;<\/li>
- if the app draws on an external database, explain whether that database needs building or already exists, if there\u2019s a web server and documentation for an API, etc.;<\/li>
- if you did some market research, include your discoveries;<\/li>
- if you have brand guidelines, like a style guide, provide them too;<\/li>
- if possible, visualize the app requirements in sketches, create wireframes of the screens of the application to accompany your textual description, and draw whole screen maps.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The last is one of the most efficient methods. Around 70% of mobile app development time is spent on interface implementation, so having all of the screens would give the design and development teams a better sense of the scope of the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Present your project to at least five different developers or agencies. At
Alternative-spaces, we\u2019d also ask about your background. Can you tell us about your business or organization? Is it your first app? Do you have a web solution already? What are your long-term goals for the product? What problems have you encountered? All this information helps software developers assess your business concept and propose relevant solutions. If a customer wants a non-disclosure agreement to be signed, we do this on a regular basis. We respect our customers\u2019 confidentiality. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter analyzing the requirements document, if available, we typically do the first rough assessment of the project based on the approximate number of hours required. If the customer has approved it, we\u2019ll discuss the requirements in depth and further learn their needs, hesitations, and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most times customers don\u2019t like to disclose their budget limitations, but if they exist, it\u2019s better to at least mention them during a call. Based on the available budget and additional product insights provided, the project manager will be able to estimate what\u2019s feasible for that money and prioritize features. There is always an opportunity to suggest better, more realistic, or cost-effective options. We\u2019ll be sure to lay them out with the reasoning in plain English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mobile-app-development-cost-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter we identified requirements for each stage of the design and development, we present a more detailed and accurate app development cost breakdown. This gives the client a ballpark range to plan for, but we always warn them it\u2019s not carved in stone: any changes and additions that the client may require eventually will affect the total final cost for sure. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mobile-app-development-cost-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPricing falls into two different structures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Fixed price – a set total price and timeline works well for smaller projects (within 170 person\/hours of work) with a clearly defined scope. To reserve padding for complexity, which is hard to predict, we add some 25% for \u2018risks\u2019 to the actual calculated amount.<\/li>
- Time and materials \/ price range is determined by the time and materials needed for a project and typically is an hourly rate. This pricing structure applies to larger projects that have unpredictable, moving parts and a more ambiguous scope.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If you are not yet ready to contact an app development company, there is an alternative cost estimation opportunity. You can use one of the online development cost calculators, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Andreas Ley\u2019s Cost Calculator<\/a><\/li>
- BuildFire\u2019s Mobile App Building Calculator<\/a><\/li>
- Estimatemyapp<\/a><\/li>
- How Much to Make an App<\/a><\/li>
- Imason Calculator<\/a><\/li>
- Mobomo\u2019s mPlanner<\/a><\/li>
- Newsignature<\/a><\/li>
- Otreva Calculator<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It goes without saying that such instruments give only a rough app development cost estimate. Although they are based on the same development steps and factors that go into creating a quote for a mobile app project, every app\u2019s unique requirements will carry a corresponding cost. You won\u2019t know precisely how much each feature may cost until you\u2019ve solicited quotes from multiple qualified developers. Moreover, the calculators won\u2019t account for a developer\u2019s specific method for charging. Still, a development cost calculator can give you a good ballpark range of what to expect before asking for quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Recap<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The cost of a mobile application development may range from $1,000 to half a million dollars. Any project\u2019s cost correlates with the time required and the quality that should be achieved. In the case of mobile apps, this means primarily whether the app is hybrid or native, the number and complexity of features, and the choice of the development team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/app-development-cost-breakdown-1-1024x614.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAn app development cost breakdown includes, but may not be limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- number of screens<\/li>
- type and business model<\/li>
- platform \/ technology \/ devices<\/li>
- functionality \/ technical specifications<\/li>
- custom features or unique functions<\/li>
- design requirements<\/li>
- developers\u2019 rates<\/li>
- person-hours required for the build<\/li>
- amount of testing and refinement required<\/li>
- need for a user-friendly back-end app management platform<\/li>
- the project\u2019s time frame<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The business model driving your decisions, the platform, the required functionality and design can hardly be manipulated. However, engaging foreign developers and any trade-offs you\u2019re willing to make can help reduce the mobile app development cost significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creation of a successful product requires many considerations, such as the concept, monetization method<\/a>, design, user-friendliness, etc., as well as different skills at all steps. Based in Eastern Europe, Alternative-spaces provides full-cycle web and mobile app development, including analysis, UI\/UX design, development, testing, deployment, and further updates. We\u2019ll be glad to review your ideas and make recommendations for a great final result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- BuildFire\u2019s Mobile App Building Calculator<\/a><\/li>
- Andreas Ley\u2019s Cost Calculator<\/a><\/li>
- Outsourcing<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Freelancers<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Domestic app development company<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Technical<\/strong> co-founder<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A hybrid app can operate on multiple platforms and function like a native app. The developer builds the product once using, for example, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, and then uses PhoneGap to prepare it for all platforms. This approach can significantly reduce the cost of building an app for all platforms. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A progressive web-app is basically a mobile-optimized website that has most of the features and the feel of a native app. Users can access it through the browser and simply add it to the home screen. Such mobile web apps are platform-agnostic. They provide acceptable user experience and are affordable to develop.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Cross-platform apps run on both the iOS and Android mobile platforms. They are built using a combination of web and native technologies. The code repeatability makes the development more cost-effective. However, they can be problematic to design due to the platforms\u2019 different conventions. Support and expansion costs can be quite unpredictable as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Native mobile apps are written in the same programming languages as the platforms for which they are designed. Such apps are faster, more reliable, and provide the best user experience. Two separate apps will certainly cost more than one. At the same time, each platform\u2019s development environment provides for building a standardized convention, and mobile app development using the standard convention is generally considered to be more cost-effective.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Supporting offline app usage will also increase the cost.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The integration of GPS navigation, NFC, Bluetooth, or onboard sensors will alter the overall cost of the app as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Each integration with third-party services, APIs, libraries or framework adds extra time and cost.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Many intricate screens will take longer both to design and to develop, and thus will cost more.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The number of screens matters as well. The more of them the app includes, the more design and development work it requires.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The cost of customized UI design would be higher too. This requires in-depth research, and the implementation is more time-consuming than a standard design.
- The app\u2019s uniqueness translates directly to the developers\u2019 rates. If it requires a high degree of specialty or rare skill sets, the \u2018hourly rate\u2019 in the equation will be greater.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Database-dependent \/ dynamic \/ API apps<\/strong>: A more complex app that stores data on the user\u2019s device or a remote server. It may require users to register, allow them to find, input, and display data, sync data between multiple devices, connect to remote online web services, etc. The use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that vary in complexity affects the end cost. According to Appster\u2019s data<\/a>, such apps can range between $10K-$50K.<\/li>
- Simple<\/strong>: Often list- or table-based, an app with 3-4 screens and one primary function. It displays a relatively simple collection of information and doesn\u2019t store any data. The cost of such apps is the lowest, often between $1,000 and $10,000.<\/li>