- The Cost of Developing Some Popular Mobile Applications<\/a><\/li>
- Factors for Mobile App Development Cost<\/a><\/li>
- Development Cost by Mobile App Type<\/a><\/li>
- Application Cost Depending on Technologies<\/a><\/li>
- Cost of Design in App Development Budget<\/a><\/li>
- App Development Team<\/a><\/li>
- Cost of Web Development by Region<\/a><\/li>
- What are the hidden costs of mobile app development?<\/a><\/li>
- 8 Steps to Estimate Your Project Development Cost<\/a><\/li>
- How Much Does it Cost to Update a Mobile App?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Reduce The Cost of Developing a Mobile Application?<\/a><\/li>
- Getting a Quote<\/a><\/li>
- Final thoughts<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This post will explain how app development factors impact the price. There will also be tips about getting a more precise quote or determining a rough estimate on your mobile application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cost of Developing Some Popular Mobile Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mobile applications have become enormously popular, evident by the fact that app stores offer over two million apps for download for both iOS and Android users. Despite the fact that mobile applications may appear simple to use from a user’s perspective, a lot of complex development is often needed to create high-end applications. This comes at a cost, as organizations use their allocated budget and resources to build marketing materials, develop base code and plan out every stage of the application’s lifecycle. Let\u2019s look at some famous mobile applications and their estimated cost for development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Airbnb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Building an app like Airbnb<\/a> can be a complex and expensive endeavor. The cost of developing such an app generally depends on the features and functionality you want to include, as well as the platform on which it is being built. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20,000 and $150,000 for development costs alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This range covers everything from basic design elements to advanced features like real-time booking or payment processing options. Additionally, there are other factors that could influence the overall cost of your project including maintenance fees and third-party integrations such as Google Maps or Stripe payments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, the total cost will depend on what type of app experience you are looking for and how much work needs to go into creating it. It is always best to discuss your needs and budget with an experienced app development team before moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is how basic feature set for Airbnb-like app look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/31-1024x653.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUdemy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Creating an app like Udemy<\/a> can be a costly proposition, with estimates ranging from $50,000 to over $500,000. It all depends on the complexity of the project and its scope. Many factors can affect the cost of building an e-learning platform or app such as Udemy, including design costs for mobile UX\/UI design, development, and more. To give you an idea of what it might cost to build your app like Udemy, let\u2019s look at some key elements that will factor into the overall cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design Costs: Designing an intuitive user experience is essential when creating an app like Udemy. Creating a user interface that is easy to use and visually appealing will require the expertise of UX\/UI designers, which can add significantly to the overall cost of your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Development Costs: For an app like Udemy to be successful, it needs to have a robust backend with reliable APIs and integrations. You will need to hire a skilled team of developers to ensure that all the features you want are delivered on schedule. This will also add cost to your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing & QA Costs: Quality assurance testing is crucial in building any product, especially one as complex as Udemy\u2019s. You will need to hire a team of testers and QA engineers to ensure that the platform is functioning correctly before it\u2019s released. This will add to your overall cost as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/32-1024x360.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobinhood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The cost to build an app like Robinhood<\/a> will vary depending on the complexity of your project, as well as who you hire to do the work. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50K for a basic version of the app to $250K for a more complex version with additional features and functionality. Of course, this is just a rough estimate; your actual costs could be higher or lower depending on your specific requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is the complete list of Robinhood app features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/33-1024x700.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFactors for Mobile App Development Cost <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
App development cost = (Features X Development time) x Hourly rate<\/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
Your decisions and choices at each stage will directly affect the final development cost and timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Development Cost by Mobile App Type<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The App feature set is the primary factor that determines 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
1. Simple<\/strong>: Often list- or table-based, an app with 3-4 screens and one primary function. It displays a relatively simple information collection and doesn\u2019t store any data. The cost of such apps is the lowest, often between $1,000 and $10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Multi-functional<\/strong> \/ enterprise or brand apps<\/strong>: Several core features and custom user interface assist with business activity. Such apps usually require the use of extensive databases, advanced UI, and commerce integration. The cost can range between $20,000 to $500,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. 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.<\/p>\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, Google, or email (approx from 8 to 16 hours)<\/li>
- ability to post on a user\u2019s social media (from 8 to 16 hours)<\/li>
- chat \/ messaging (from 40 to 120 hours)<\/li>
- user profiles (from 24 to 40 hours)<\/li>
- search functionality (from 8 to 80 hours)<\/li>
- in-app purchases (40+ hours)<\/li>
- push notifications (40+ hours)<\/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\/2023\/04\/34-1024x722.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\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>
- 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.<\/li>
- Choose the platform where your target consumers really are, but accessibility on both iOS and Android seems the wisest. <\/li>
- The number of screens matters as well. The more of them the app includes, the more design and development work it requires.<\/li>
- Many intricate screens will take longer both to design and to develop and thus will cost more.<\/li>
- Each integration with third-party services, APIs, libraries, or framework adds extra time and cost.<\/li>
- The integration of GPS navigation, NFC, Bluetooth, or onboard sensors will also alter the overall cost of the app.<\/li>
- Supporting offline app usage will also increase the cost.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Application Cost Depending on Technologies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An app can be used on various 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>
- 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.<\/li>
- A progressive web app is a mobile-optimized website with 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. They provide an acceptable user experience and are affordable to develop.<\/li>
- 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 use PhoneGap to prepare it for all platforms. This approach can significantly reduce the cost of building an app but will have more restrictions related to this platform.<\/li>
- Third-party app integrations: Integrating services from third-party vendors is often necessary to provide certain features that would be expensive or difficult to achieve with in-house resources. Choosing the right third-party provider is critical, as it can affect the cost and quality of the overall application. Additionally, some services may require maintaining an API or implementing a specific codebase to successfully maintain a connection. It is important to carefully consider these factors before deciding which vendor and integration method work best for your application. Furthermore, be aware that additional costs may be associated with third-party integrations, such as fees, hosting costs, and user licensing. <\/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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose the platform where your target consumers really are, but accessibility on both iOS and Android seems the 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 of exact models or on multiple versions of tablets as well. Developing 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
<\/a>Cost of Design in App Development Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While the average surveyed cost of an app’s design<\/a> is about $10,000, 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 prioritize the components if your budget is limited. If your target audience is very design-sensitive, it\u2019s reasonable to divert some money from other departments toward high-end UI design. But if not, there\u2019s no need to overpay for looks alone.<\/li>
- UX design pertains to the layout of the features and how users interact with the app. The UX designer studies user behaviors and 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 a 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
<\/a>App Development Team<\/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 often be 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, 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, creating a reliable server environment, and tackling database redundancy, backup, security, performance, and scalability of the app requires 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
\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Technical 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 to be 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<\/a>, you can get a quality app made at a lower cost. Good freelancers 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\/2023\/04\/35-1024x598.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\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
<\/a>Cost of Web Development by Region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The cost of web development can vary greatly depending on the region. Generally speaking, countries in North America and Western Europe will be more expensive than those in South America, India, and Southeast Asia. Thus, let\u2019s check software development rates in different parts of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 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 co-founder<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Factors for Mobile App Development Cost<\/a><\/li>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/36-1024x598.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/37-1024x909.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/38-1024x549.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alternative-spaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/39-1024x640.webp\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n