The Cost of App Development - Things You Won’t Believe!

The Cost of App Development - Things You Won’t Believe!

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6 min read

Have you heard the saying "there's an app for everything"?

This million-dollar remark has become more of a drift as app development trends, both mobile and web, rage like never before. The Play Store and App Store just celebrated their 12th anniversary, and the number of apps does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Although the total number has topped 6 million when combining the Google Play and Apple App stores. There's still potential for more, so encourage businesses to create outstanding apps that change how people interact with your company - Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Zs alike.

With this comes another crucial issue that business leaders have asked since the beginning: how much will app development cost? As developers say, “Some apps cost a minimum of $5,000 to create, while others cost over $1 million!”

In this MarsDevs article, let us find the answer for you!

A Cost Breakdown of App Development

When clients approach an application development business for consultation on their app idea, they need to learn about the development process or the cost. Sure, they clearly defined their requirements and intended functionality, but more is needed to estimate a reasonable estimate.

Yes, the agency's quoted upfront payment only covers some things. App creation is a complex process & the key to determining how much app development costs is extensive study and a thorough understanding of app dynamics. However, if we divide app development into app complexity, we can approximate app development costs roughly.

  • Basic applications with modest features and functionality, such as simple games, social media, clocks, or games, cost between $20,000 and $60,000.

  • Mid-level applications with a little more complexity, such as E-commerce, chat, or food delivery apps, can cost between $50,000 and $200,000.

  • Complex apps with high specifications, such as enterprise apps, logistics and gaming apps, or telehealth apps, can cost between $80,000 and $350,000.

In a nutshell, the cost of developing an app boils down to these five main elements:

  • App features: The app's functionalities include what the product will do and what demands it will meet for customers.

  • Complexity: It might be a telemedicine app or a simple to-do list. The feature complexity will influence both development complexity and expense.

  • Targeted devices and platforms: You can choose between native and cross-platform development to support a single or several platforms.

  • Maintenance plan: After the app is deployed, you will require technical help to verify that it functions consistently and even improve it.

  • Third-party integration: Do you need to connect third-party services (such as location sharing or payment) into your app? If so, the cost could go up.

Thus, on the one hand, you can use the parameters described above to create a fixed budget for the entire project. On the other hand, you can use a simple formula as an app development cost calculator to figure out how much it will cost you.

How much does it cost for every phase of app development?

Once you've secured the initial funding for your app, you should budget for all stages of development. Here’s a cost estimation.

Discovery phase

The discovery phase of app development uses research to create a long-term roadmap of resources needed to produce the desired app. According to a survey, 29% of participating organizations paid between USD 10,000 and $15,000 for the discovery phase, while 28% paid between USD 5,001 and $10,000.

If you're outsourcing, keep in mind that 50% of app development companies will want your app to go through the exploration process before moving further with development.

Design phase

Whether designing the app symbol or laying out the content to meet the user journey, the design phase is the most important of the stages because it aims to provide the intended user experience in a well-structured user interface. Approximately 60% of the organizations polled reported spending between USD 5,000 and $50,000 during the design process.

Testing and deployment phase

The app testing and development phase is often ongoing from beta testing until the final launch, so continuing maintenance costs must be considered. For example, if you intend to add more features after your app's initial release, you must test each feature to ensure it works with the code you've previously implemented.

Initial testing and deployment are expected to cost 25% of development organizations between USD 5,001 and $10,000. Following the first year after launch, 26% of app development businesses charge clients between USD 10,000 and $15,000 for mobile app maintenance. Also, remember that the development team's location can considerably impact the cost of developing an app, as labor costs vary worldwide.

How to Reduce App Development Costs?

Developing an app might be expensive, but numerous cost-cutting techniques are available. Here are 6 different ways to accomplish this:

  • Select the right platform: Creating several platforms might raise development time and expense. Consider your target demographic and the nature of your app when deciding which platform to emphasize.

  • Keep the design simple: While it is crucial to have an appealing and engaging design, too many intricate design components might lengthen development time and increase expenses. Concentrate on a minimal, clean design that fits your audience's needs.

  • Use third-party APIs: Instead of creating custom solutions for each feature, consider using third-party APIs or services. These can help you save time and money on development while maintaining robust functionality.

  • Design your app with scalability in mind: Building an app that can easily scale to accommodate more users and features will save you money in the long term by avoiding major rewrites or updates.

  • Work with an experienced development team: Experienced developers can offer significant insights and advice on how to cut development expenses without losing quality. Look for a company with a track record of delivering effective apps within your budget.

  • Prepare for upgrades and maintenance: Use a modular development approach, in which individual features may be changed or replaced without affecting the overall app, to reduce the cost of future updates.

Wrapping Up

To keep expenses under control, thorough planning and consideration of many elements are required for creating mobile apps. App type, features, area, development team size, security level, and app UI are all essential considerations when determining app development costs.

As a result, it is critical to conduct research and select solutions that are most appropriate for your demands and budget. However, as developers say, “Given that both iOS and Android platforms have a high adoption rate, it is a smart strategy for businesses that go mobile to develop an app for both platforms simultaneously.”

Need help to estimate the cost of your app? MarsDevs can help! Catch up on a free 15-minute call with us today!