As of Feb 2020, there are 8.93 million mobile apps available for download from multiple distribution channels and for various platforms. And the demand is still growing exponentially as more people depend on their mobile phones for a lot of their daily activities.
The numbers make it look that developing mobile applications can be a lucrative business, right? Yes, and no. Actually, it depends on a lot of factors, and developing a single mobile application can cost from 0 to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Breaking It Down
According to a survey done by Clutch, having an expert agency develop a mobile app would cost $171,450. If you take a look at some of the app cost calculators found on the Internet, an app would cost somewhere from $200,000 to $350,000, if it has dozens of features.
If developed by an app development company, the price can range from $100,000 to $500,000. But these are prices for more complex apps. If only a few basic features are needed, you can have a mobile app developed from $10,000 to $50,000.
There is really no simple answer to the question because a lot of factors are in play. The time factor, the complexity of the project, and different developer rates affect the cost of mobile application development. The quoted prices may depend on the following:
- Type (social network, mobile game, lifestyle, business, etc.)
- Platforms (Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and others)
- Design (individual, basic, custom)
- Number of pages
- Infrastructure and features
App development can also be categorized according to complexity. The more complex, the more time it will take to finish the application. The quoted cost per hour can also differ significantly between different developers.
For instance, a simple application may only have standard UI components, and simple features such as calendar, social login, email subscription, etc. may take 400 hours to finish. With a $50 per hour rate, the total project would cost $20,000.
The type of app to be developed also affects the cost significantly. Here are common types of mobile applications:
Native apps – heavy and large apps aimed at enhanced user experience, fast work, and optimization.
Hybrid apps – also called cross-platform apps, these apps target a bigger audience because it can be run on multiple platforms.
Basic functionality apps – these apps can be developed fast and may have a few features or none at all.
Database-driven apps – these are more complex apps that operate on massive data store on a web server or the device memory.
Device-dependent apps – these are device enhancement apps such as a flashlight, camera, alarm clock, and others.
Game apps – may be simple like 2D side-scrolling shoot-em-up games to the more advanced ones with physics, global ratings, AR support, 3D graphics, and social media integration.
Looking for a Developer
There are two options here – development companies and freelance developers.
Getting mobile application development services from an established software company such as Redwerk might seem expensive. Still, if you’re after better reliability and require a development team (project manager, programmer, designers) working with you throughout the development process, you can’t go wrong with them. Development companies ensure that their employee skills are updated by sending them to training.
Freelance app developers are a dime a dozen, and that’s not to say they develop lower-quality applications. In fact, most can develop with the same or higher quality than a development company, at a fraction of the cost. The problem with this scenario is you’ll be the one doing all the coordination since there is no project manager.
Cost By Features
Here are some of the more common features included in a mobile app, how much time is required for the development, and how much they cost:
User login – Around 20 hours. $500 to $1,000 cost
Push notifications – 20 to 200 hours. $1,000 to $10,000
Navigation – 10+ hours, $250 to $500
Portrait/landscape view – around 20 hours. $500 to $1000
Media content – 20 hours, at least. Starting from $1000
Geolocation – 50 hours, at least. $1,250 to $2500
Google Maps integration – 20 hours, at least. Starting at $1,000
Messaging / chat – 80+ hours. $2,000 to $4,000
Ads – 20 to 50 hours. $1,000 – $2,500
In-app purchases – around 30 hours. $750 to $1,000
Payments integration – 50+ hours. $2,500 to $5,000
Synchronization between devices – 50+ hours, $1,250 to $2,500
Streaming – 30 hours, at least. $1,500 minimum
Multi-language support – around 15 hours. $350 to $750
The information shown in this article should give you a good idea of how much developing a mobile application would cost, and it has various dependencies such as complexity, application size, development charges, etc.