Since the first mobile app was released in 1997 to the Nokia 6110 (the renowned Snake, for those who are curious) users have become spoilt for choice, with no less than 8.9 million smartphone apps available across the world.
The age of the app is clearly upon us.
One of the biggest advantages of creating an app for your business is that you can gain a permanent footing on your user’s phone, making it much easier for them to access your products or services and hopefully, if your app has been carefully designed to prioritise the user experience (UX), increasing brand loyalty as a result.
Many businesses are looking to leverage some of the opportunities provided by smartphone apps, but building an app can be a challenging and complex process that requires careful consideration and planning.
One of the most important aspects of app development is determining the cost of the project.
Several factors contribute to the overall cost of app development, including the app's purpose, functionality, platform, design, and testing requirements. In this article, we'll discuss all the questions that must be considered to determine how much it costs to develop an app.
What is the Purpose of the App?
The purpose of an app is the most critical consideration when determining its development cost. For instance, is the app designed to generate revenue, provide a service, or promote a brand? Apps created for revenue generation tend to be more complex, requiring a more extensive range of features and functionalities, which ultimately increase the overall cost of development.
What is the Target Audience?
Knowing the target audience for the app is critical to its success. Consideration must be given to the age, gender, interests, and technical expertise of the audience. If the app is designed for a technically inclined audience, it may require more sophisticated features and functionalities, which could increase development costs.
What Platform Will the App Be Built On?
The platform on which the app is built is another critical consideration. App development for Android and iOS platforms requires different coding, testing, and maintenance. Therefore, the development cost of an app may vary depending on the platform it's built on. Additionally, if an app is designed to work on several platforms, development costs will increase.
What Features Will the App Have?
The features that an app will have will also impact development costs. More complex features such as geolocation, social media integration, and user accounts require more extensive coding, which can increase the overall development costs. However, it's important to note that features that increase user engagement and retention can also increase revenue generation.
We always advise our clients to streamline their app goals by focusing on their minimum viable product (MVP). This means building the first version with the minimum functionality necessary to achieve the primary goal of the app in order to test the product market fit, shop a product more quickly, get feedback and minimise capital outlay in the early stages..
While it is easy to get excited about all the bells and whistles, what your customers ultimately want is a straightforward UX. The best way to build a cost-effective app that will actually benefit your business is by building the app that you can afford and that your customers will actually use.
What is the Design of the App?
The design of the app is also an essential consideration in determining development costs. App design includes UI and UX design, graphics, and animations. A well-designed app is critical to user engagement and retention. Sufficient budget allocated to the design phase will help ensure the app achieves its objective when launched. The importance of the design phase in the long-term success of the app is often overlooked.
Who is the Development Team?
The development team is another critical factor in determining the overall cost of app development. The size and expertise of the development team will impact the development timeline and costs. Large development teams with more experience tend to charge more than small teams, but they can offer a broader range of expertise.
At Visionsharp, our Mobile App Development team is dedicated to helping you create the perfect app for your business while also ensuring that the process is cost-effective and will suit your business’ needs. We have the technical knowledge and experience to advise you on the best way forward and are often able to suggest creative solutions to any challenges that arise.
What Testing Will Be Required?
Testing is an integral part of the app development process, ensuring the app works as expected, and any issues are resolved before release. Different types of testing, such as functional testing, usability testing, and compatibility testing, can significantly impact the overall development cost.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the overall cost of developing an app. From the purpose and target audience to the platform, features, design, development team, and testing, careful consideration must be given to each aspect to ensure a successful app that meets all requirements.
By answering all the questions outlined in this article, businesses and developers can create a realistic budget and development plan for their app.
How to minimise the cost of developing a app
By far, the most effective way to bring down the overall cost of creating your app is to enlist the services of an expert app developer or app development team. While an inexperienced app developer may offer low rates for their service, the outcome often leaves much to be desired.
At our Web Design agency in Manchester, our preferred hybrid app framework is Ionic. One of the main benefits of using Ionic is its ability to create cross-platform apps that work seamlessly on both iOS and Android devices.
We then use our knowledge of your app goals to create visually stunning apps that work to create simple solutions for your customers and/or clients. Our app development team’s extensive knowledge of HTML, JavaScript and CSS means that you will end up with a unique, custom in-app experience to offer your customers.
To discover more about our App Development offering, please contact our experts today.
