If you have a mobile app idea that you want to build into an actual app, this is a good time to do so. 

The mobile app market does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. App analytics and market data platform App Annie forecasted that the industry would be contributing to global GDP of around $4.8 trillion.

App Annie also mentioned in their State of Mobile Report 2021 that an average American is spending 4 hours using their mobile devices in the second half of 2020. 

The making of an app

When building a mobile application, it varies a lot that there is no one-price-fits-all, unless you know how to write codes. If not and someone tells you that they can develop your app for a certain amount of price without hearing the details of your idea and how you want it to be, IT’S A TRAP.

Mobile apps can cost from $1,000 to $10,000 to $100,000. This price range will be determined by different factors such as what your app can do, who will build the app, and how it will be built. 

Make sure you discuss it thoroughly with your chosen team of developers.

Apps that range from $1,000 to $10,000 to $100,000: What are the differences?

By now, you must have already decided to get a team of mobile app developers for your app idea. Thus, you are researching these costs.

If you certainly want to build an app to turn your idea into an actual app, here are some things you have to consider.

Budget

The first thing a mobile app development agency does is to determine the device budget by type of product. In a simple line, the quality of their work is directly expressed in a firm portfolio, the customer rosters, and the apps they have made. Furthermore, a prominent customer typically suggests that it is a well-known business.

If your budget is around $1,000, it would be best to get a prototype first to see the feasibility of your idea.

The App Development Team

The cost of the development team that will build your app will depend on whether you will get it from an independent contractor, a small agency, or big corporation.

An independent contractor will charge less than a small agency or a large company. However, there may be limitations to this. These individuals may be working on lesser resources or they can’t work on some of your project’s aspects.

If you decide to hire an agency, the cost will be based on their experience, previous works, and the number of people within their teams. However, just because you are paying around $100,000 doesn’t immediately equate to getting the best app. Make sure to research the company first and their previous clients.

Complexity 

The application’s size is the initial differentiator between costly and low-cost apps. Large file size also means that features and functions are included.

Application complexity, one of the critical considerations when designing applications, is defined by a variety of variables, such as the number of individuals interacting with it in real-time, the feature set to be applied to the app, the type of device to it and the use of technology in the machine. Will you also be developing a native or hybrid app?

For example, mobile apps that display information on lists that do not have web servers, which means they also do not have remote servers, are less expensive than the ones that need servers. These types of apps usually have dropdown menus that allow their users to choose from them. Users will be provided with another set of lists until the information they need appears. These apps can cost around $10,000. 

However, if you suddenly ask for more features or functionalities, then your app may cost more than the initial price. 

The features in the application play a significant part in the cost-effective analysis of the software. Although the list of features needed for the mobile app varies from one device to the next, certain elements are present in almost every application, regardless of the category of the product.

Developing an app for more than one platform and device also increases the app’s cost. Let’s say that you want an app that will be available on both iOS and Android. That means that the development team you will be hiring will have to put in double the effort to build this, much more so if you want an app that will be accompanied by other devices such as smartwatches or smart TV apps.

In addition to that, native apps are more expensive than hybrid apps. Native apps are developed individually for specific mobile platforms, using various programming languages to build the app. The code used for one platform cannot be utilized on other platforms. Hybrid apps, on the other hand, are written on web technologies, use a single code base for all platforms, and run like webpages inside an app.

Maintenance

Once it’s released in app stores, you still have to maintain your app. The norm in the app development industry for maintenance cost is 15-20% of the total development cost.  

But why do you need to spend that much when you have already launched your app? To keep the app working successfully, of course! This includes fixing bugs or errors, updates on operating systems, improving the app’s performance, preventing other problems that may come out, and more.

The success of your app depends on whether end-users keep on using it or not. If people find bugs or problems in it or they just started getting bored because nothing is new and you didn’t do anything about it, there is a huge chance that they will uninstall the app.

Listen to your users and make sure that you coordinate with the development team.

Ready to build your app?

Building a mobile app from the ground up needs a lot of work and budget. However, with the right mindset and the right team, you would see your idea becoming an actual mobile app soon.

Are you ready to start on your mobile app journey? Our experienced team at GADAI would love to work with you! Get in touch with us, and let’s discuss your app idea.

Contact us here.