Mobile apps have significantly shifted the way businesses look for a better customer experience and improve their operational frequency. There was a significant increase in app downloads in 2023 globally, according to estimates as much as app downloads surpassed 209 billion. This has led to a drastic change in the app market, making apps the centre of all tasks whether it is connecting people or optimising tasks. This vast growth of app market is said to reach to $407.31 billion by 2026. So are you curious about what can be the estimated development cost of an app? Cost of app development can depend on various factors which include the complexity, features, design etc. We have crafted a detailed guide to help you understand more about the cost of mobile app development.
Factors That Affect App Development Costs in 2024:
1. Complexity:
The most important factor that affects the cost of your app is its complexity. Based on this criteria, apps can be divided into three categories: simple, medium, or complex.
- Simple:
These apps are made to have basic functions like login screen, few features and a basic user interface. Simple apps take less time to develop and also don’t cost much, approximately $5000 to $20000.
- Medium:
Medium apps have more features than the medium app like user profiles, social media integrations as well as in app purchases. To develop these features, backend development for databases as well as APIs is required. All of this can cost from $20000 to $80000.
- Complex:
Complex apps can require a lot more work than simple apps, it requires custom animation, real time data updates, advanced user interfaces, third party services and payment gateways. All of this work can take around $80,000 to $200,000.
2. Platforms:
Another factor that can affect the cost of app development is the platform on which the app will run. Android and iOS are the two main platforms on which the app runs. And developing for one of these platforms is more cost-friendly than developing for both of them.
- iOS
If your app is built on the iOS platform then the cost of development is comparatively cheaper because Apple devices are limited to a few models. Depending on the complexity, you may have to spend around $5000 to $150,000.
- Android
There are a lot of devices that run on Android, leading to extra development work as well as requirements for testing across different screens and hardware specifications. Thus the Android apps development cost ranges from $10000 to $200,000.
- Cross Platform
If your app targets both platforms, then cross-platform options like React Native and Flutter give more cost-effective solutions. The cost of development of cross-platform apps falls between the range of $40000 to $150000.
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3. UI and Design:
Mobile app design is an important part of user experience. An app that is more intuitive and well-designed, will lead to more customer retention and satisfaction.
Creating a mind map. Taking each of the features we have chosen, we create a mind map that outlines the main user journey. It looks like a diagram. In it, the designer visualizes the navigation between the different parts of the app, the content, and the features. We render our mind map as a Miro file.
- Basic Design
If you go for a simple as well as minimalistic design that runs on standard templates then you can keep the development cost low. An app with a basic design can cost from $5000 to $10000.
- Custom Design
If you choose to go for a custom design app that has animations, branding as well as transitions. It can cost as much as $10000 to $50000 further depending on the app’s complexity.
- UX/UI Consultation
If you have chosen an app that has a high level of precision required then you need to hire professional consultants. This can add an extra $5000 to $20000 to the bill.
4. Development Team:
Another major factor contributing to the total cost of app development is the development team. There are various options to choose from, you can hire a freelancer, a small local agency or go for a top-tier website development firm.
- Freelancers
When you hire a freelancer, you can cut down the cost of your app to $20 to $100 per hour. But this freelancer may be ideal for simple short-term projects as they may lack the expertise as well as resources required for complex projects.
- Local Agencies
When it comes to app development, local agencies can do a great job in providing the middle ground at a higher rate than freelancers between $100 to $200 per hour. These agencies can provide more support as well as handle medium to complex projects more easily.
- Top-tier Development Firm
If you want higher quality and are working on larger scale projects then hiring a top-tier website development firm can be the best solution. These firms can cost up to $500 per hour but this is the most reliable option for complex apps.
5. Functions and Features
More functions, more features of the app, and the complexity of the app also increase. And this influences the overall cost of the app. Some common features are:
- User Authentication
Adding the user login features through social media or email can increase the cost between $1000 to $5000.
- In-App Purchases
Integrating the ability for users to make purchases within the app for digital goods can add a cost of $2000 to $10,000.
- Geolocation
Putting in location-based services (GPS, maps, tracking) can add an extra $5000 to $15000 development costs.
- Push Notifications
If you put simple push notifications then it can be inexpensive but if you are thinking of adding advanced notifications like personalised alerts and geofencing then that could add a cost of $1000 to $5000.
Cost Of App Development
We have listed the estimated cost of building an app as per different app types as well as time taken to develop them.
| Type of App | Time Taken (in months) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
| Simple App | 2-4 months | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Moderately Complex App | 4-6 months | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Highly Complex App | 9+ months | $100,000 – $300,000+ |
How much does it cost to hire a developer?
The application development cost depends on several factors. For example, what kind of partnership you are going to do: outsourcing, outstaffing, and hiring a full-time in-house maketing team? Let’s take a look at their differences first:
Ways To Reduce App Development Costs
- MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
You can build a basic version of your app that comes with only basic features. You can add the advanced functions later on after the concept is validated
- Cross Platform Development
Choosing frameworks like Flutter and React Native can save costs by building both iOS and Android simultaneously.
- Outsource
If you hire developers from regions like Eastern Europe and India, you can save development costs.
Last Words:
If you are developing an app it is important to note that plan as well as go through all the factors that affect app development to reduce cost. There are various app development cost calculators that can further help you determine the cost of the app. Along with considering the development cost, it is important that you consider maintenance costs as well as the cost required for updates. It is important that you consider all these factors before beginning your development so that you can make informed decisions.
