The Real Cost of App Development and the Key Advantage You Need to Know About
It’s one of the most burning questions business leaders search for when it comes to mobile app development: “How much does it cost to develop an app?”
Do you want a straightforward answer? It depends. Unlike many basic consumer apps, estimating costs for a mobile app for a business is like attempting to complete a 1500-piece puzzle, only to find that multiple pieces are missing from the box. Missing details about specific features, integrations, technologies, and other factors can leave major holes that prevent a reliable cost projection.
Before getting an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to build an app, you need to make sure all pieces of the puzzle are present. As you look to develop a mobile app for your business, you will quickly realize that some app developers will tempt you with a mobile app at a low cost, but you will receive a subpar product. There will also be app developers waiting to reel you in with a low initial cost, and then they will hit you with an invoice that’s double or triple the initial quote later.
Unfortunately, many businesses looking to develop a mobile app do not always receive a genuine representation of a mobile app’s cost. We are here to change that. We want to provide a realistic depiction of mobile app development costs, by offering a key advantage that sets us apart in the industry.
App Development and Factors Influencing Costs
The cost of developing a mobile app solution will not be the same for every industry and individual business. The costs greatly depend on several factors. When you understand these factors, you will be better positioned to estimate the required budget and resources accurately. While some factors may seem obvious, others can be easily overlooked, leading to underestimating the real cost.
One of the primary factors influencing app development costs is the app’s complexity.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Basic Mobile Apps: These are streamlined apps with minimal features. Developing a basic mobile app for one platform (iOS or Android) can range from $10,000 to $40,000 per app.
- Moderately Complex Apps: Going beyond basic functionality, these apps offer a balanced blend of features and usability. Costs for developing a moderately complex app for a single platform typically range from $70,000 to $100,000.
- Complex Apps: These are feature-rich apps with advanced functionality and integration. Developing a complex mobile app for one platform can easily exceed $100,000 and up to as much as $550,000.
Another key factor driving mobile app costs is the number of platforms on which the app needs to be developed and supported:
Platform Selection: Having an app built for a single platform (iOS or Android) generally incurs lower overall expenses than developing for both platforms simultaneously.
Development Approach: Native apps, which are custom-coded for each specific mobile platform, offer superior performance and user experience but typically demand higher development costs.
Development Frameworks: The choice of development frameworks also impacts costs. Cross-platform development frameworks facilitate cost reduction because of the ability to share codes.
Device Compatibility: The devices the app needs to support can also affect the cost—raising the total expense of mobile app development, especially when developing companion applications and wearables.
An app’s design requirements also heavily influence the development costs. Apps with custom animations, complex UI elements, and highly polished designs require more resources. If your app needs to be integrated with third-party APIs, services, and databases, another layer will be added to the workload. This may lead to higher costs due to licensing fees and integration efforts. Geographic factors like the location of the development team also impact costs since developers based in higher-cost-of-living areas generally command higher salaries.
Your target objective—whether developing a native app, utilizing a cross-platform framework, or creating a hybrid solution combining those approaches—will play a major role in determining the overall costs of the mobile app project. While native app development can deliver an unparalleled user experience, it does require more resources and is more expensive, especially for multi-platform deployment. Cross-platform frameworks and hybrid solutions can lead to cost savings but may require app performance and functionality trade-offs.
Proper communication and coordination are essential for keeping app development on track and within your budget. A poorly managed app development solution can lead to costly delays, scope creep, and inflated costs. The testing and quality assurance processes are also crucial cost factors. Why? While they can increase upfront development costs, they ultimately save money by preventing costly bugs and other issues after the app launches.
Stages of App Development and Associated Costs
Yes, app development is a complicated process that involves several stages that have their own set of unique costs. But by understanding these stages and their related expenses, you will be able to budget and plan properly.
Planning and Discovery (10-15% of Costs)
Before a single line of code can be written, you’ll need to outline your mobile app requirements in clear detail through:
- Business analysis and workshops
- Technical scoping and architecture planning
- Wireframing and prototyping user journeys
- Project management resources
Design and Branding (10-15% of Costs)
With requirements clearly defined and laid out, the next stage focuses on crafting the visual experience through:
- Mobile app screen UI design
- UX workflow and interaction design
- App branding elements (logos, styling, etc.)
- Prototyping and user testing
App Development (40-60% of Costs)
Now, here’s where the real heavy lifting takes place, accounting for a larger share of the total budget:
- Software engineering (front-end and back-end coding)
- Third-party integration development
- Project management
- Development tools and infrastructure
Testing and Quality Assurance (Up to 10% of Costs)
The testing stage involves ensuring zero coding bugs and enhancing the app’s overall quality. It involves relentless testing on real devices. A cycle of test-driven development (TDD) may also be utilized. TDD allows developers to look at the functionality of a mobile app, including button operations, navigation, and other elements of the user interface.
Some costs connected with testing and quality assurance are:
- Expenses for procuring and maintaining various testing devices
- Costs connected to third-party security assessments
- Licensing fees for testing tools and software
Deployment and DevOps (5-10% of Costs)
After development, testing, and quality assurance, it’s time to provision infrastructure and handle deployment details:
- App store deployment (code signing, etc.)
- MDM configuration and deployment automation
- Backend infrastructure provisioning
- CI/CD pipeline setup
Support and Maintenance (15-25% Annual Costs)
So, the app has been developed. That’s the end of the budget, right? Not quite! The development cycle doesn’t stop at the app’s launch. You must allocate for:
- App performance monitoring and tuning
- Maintenance releases (bug fixes, OS updates)
- Technical support resources
- New feature development
How to Budget and Plan for App Dev Costs
Now that you know more about the stages of app development and what you need to budget for, you must learn how to properly budget for these ongoing costs. Understanding the financial resources you need for a mobile app and having the ability to budget effectively are two distinct skills.
Here are some tips to help you budget and plan:
Define Project Scope and Requirements
Clearly defining the project scope and requirements is the first step in correct budgeting. Outline your app’s boundaries, determine its features, and identify key functionalities. Will it be made for iOS? Android? Both? By mapping out your app’s scope, you’ll approach development with confidence.
Consider the Development Team
Decide whether you want to have an in-house development team or outsource. In-house teams may cost more but offer greater control, but outsourcing can be more budget-friendly. Compare the costs and expertise offered by each option to determine the most suitable approach for your project.
Research and Compare Estimates
Collect quotes from more than one app development solution provider and compare their pricing, services, and track records. This will help you find the best value for your budget.
Account for the Unexpected
Set aside a budget to account for unexpected costs or scope changes during the app development process. A general rule of thumb is to set aside 10-20% of the total budget for these types of costs.
Utilize Cost-Effective Tools and Platforms
Consider utilizing cost-effective tools and platforms to streamline the development process and reduce overall costs. These may include low-code or no-code solutions, open-source frameworks, and cloud-based services that offer more scalability and cost-efficiency.
Account for Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
Remember that mobile apps require regular updates and maintenance. These tasks address bugs, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility issues with new operating system versions. When budgeting, set aside funds for these ongoing costs.
Understanding Maintenance Costs
We touched on this earlier, but it’s worth touching on it again—that maintenance and support account for up to 15%-25% of mobile app ownership costs on an annual basis. However, these ongoing expenses are often overlooked or underestimated during the budgeting process. Some important maintenance cost drivers include:
User Support and Bug Fixes:
Providing user support and addressing bug reports is an important aspect of app maintenance. The associated costs can accumulate quickly, especially for apps with a large user base.
App Complexity:
Complex apps with a range of features and integrations require more maintenance effort and resources, and this increases the associated costs.
Tech Stack and Frameworks:
The tech stack and frameworks used in the app’s development can impact the ease and cost of app maintenance. Keeping up with updates and ensuring compatibility with new technologies can be more challenging and costly for some tech stacks.
Operating System and Device Updates:
As new versions of devices and operating systems are released, mobile apps may need to be updated to ensure compatibility and the best performance. These updates can take time and become costly, especially if the app targets multiple platforms and devices.
Frequency of Updates:
The frequency of updates needed for the app can greatly impact maintenance costs. Apps that require regular updates, like those in growing industries or those that rely heavily on third-party integrations, will likely experience higher maintenance costs.
The wide scope and critical nature of mobile app maintenance requirements highlight why it’s important to fully budget for app costs well beyond initial development and rollout. Falling short in this area is the quickest path to technical debt, user frustration, and declining ROI over time.
Realizing a Single Source Solution has Everything to Power Your Enterprise App
Building mobile apps with the power and functionality to transform business processes is both essential and widely complex. Success depends on how well you account for all associated expenses in advance—not just development. The other requirements are key in delivering ideal user experiences, guaranteeing enterprise-grade security and compliance, and enabling scalability and long-term optimization.
What Do You Get with Bryj Advantage?
Pixel-Perfect UX Design:
No need to source separate design/dev teams. Our in-house UI/UX designers and engineers build pixel-perfect iOS and/or Android apps tailored to your precise needs at unmatched speed.
Rapid Development:
Utilizing cutting-edge technologies and agile methodologies, our development process is up to 5x faster than traditional approaches, allowing you to bring your app to your target market quickly.
Security and Compliance:
With built-in security measures and compliance protocols, your app and users’ data are protected against potential threats and follow industry standards.
Maintenance and Updates:
We take care of ongoing maintenance, bug fixes, and updates, ensuring your app remains up-to-date, secure, and optimized for the best user experience.
How many times have you tried the traditional piecemeal approach? How many times has your mobile app project experienced budget overruns and roadblocks? Taking this approach year after year costs too much from a time, money, and risk perspective. This also puts you further behind the competition, as other businesses in your industry are moving forward with app solutions that are meeting the needs of YOUR target audience.
Our approach shakes up the inefficient status quo by consolidating your app development, delivery, analytics, infrastructure, and operational needs into one streamlined, predictable solution and engagement model. With us, you accelerate speed-to-market, avoid budget baggage from unexpected costs, and get the key that unlocks mobile’s full potential for your business.
If your business is ready to get mobile app development right once and for all, we’re ready to make it happen. Schedule an intro call with the Bryj team today to start mapping your digital path forward.
