Can you imagine a single day without your Smartphones? The answer would be a big no. Of course, we can’t survive even a couple of hours without our phones.
From minor to major things, we are dependent on different mobile applications, such as ordering food from Zomato, to communicate with friends, family, and business team members on instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Teams, and many more.
These were only examples of a few – now people have become fully dependent on mobile apps and due to this, the demand for mobile app development is increasing at a high rate, and when it comes to start-ups to large enterprises, mobile apps are the key assets to grow business.
In the market, there is high demand for mobile application development services, but to launch your high-performance and advanced mobile app for businesses, it is important to have an idea about mobile app development cost and its different modules.
In this blog post, let’s understand all about mobile app development cost in detail, which will help different business owners to make the right decision for their investment and deliver high-performance and secure apps to their customers. Moreover, streamline different operational processes.
Okay, so before going ahead, let’s understand the basics-
What are Mobile applications?
Mobile apps are designed by app developers in such a way that they can run on different devices, including smartphones and the web. The process includes UI/UX, integrated modern functionalities powered by advanced technologies such as AI, ML, and many more.
How does the mobile app development cost affect?
The most important factor in present times is the mobile app development cost. It’s simple, the more you invest in the mobile app development budget, the application will be more engaging and interactive which will help you to stay ahead in the market competition.
Additionally, the mobile app development cost depends on several attributes.
1. Team Size
The mobile app development cost mainly depends on the team size. The number of people you are hiring for your team reflects on the mobile app development cost. The more people will help you to launch your apps faster in the market.
Tip – If you want to launch your app faster in the market and have a budget, then hire more mobile app developers in the team, but if you can wait and launch the app within 6 months, then only hire the main leaders for your team.
2. Experience
The next factor that affects mobile app development cost is the experience that developers have in years. Hiring experienced app developers in the team can lead to high cost, but there would be no compromise in the quality.
With a decade of experience, app developers can create high-quality apps without any complex failures. But if you hire freshers for your app developers, then you have to invest your time also to launch successful apps in the market.
Tip – Always hire an experienced mobile app developer for your project – experienced app developers can be expensive, but they will deliver high-quality and engaging apps that will meet all your business needs. Along with this, it will help to save your time and effort.
But if you are a developer and have knowledge of different app development tools and frameworks, and can invest time, then you can hire freshers for your app development services. Moreover, you can also partner with the app development company.
3. Integrated Functionalities in a mobile app
The other factor that affects app development pricing is integrated functionalities in the mobile apps. With time, there have been different innovations in the industry.
To deliver the next-generation user experience, app coders have introduced a wide range of features for applications. The advanced features you decide on for your app development services will lead to an increase in the app development cost.
Tip – Don’t fall for the advanced functionalities integrated in mobile applications trap. Choose features that will align with your project demands. In the app development industry, there is a wide range of functionalities introduced in the market, but choose those that you require for your project and align with your goals. Additionally, you can’t opt for all things, so better to opt for the features that you require and can make a difference in your services.
4. Design – UI/UX
Now, the other factor is mobile app design. Mobile app cost depends highly on UI and UX. The more interactive and engaging user interface you opt for, it will be more expensive such as animations and custom design increase the app prices.
Tip – It all depends on your budget for the cost to build a mobile app; if you have a high budget, you can opt for proficient designers. But nowadays, app users prefer a clean design and easy-to-use apps based on innovative ideas. If you have a budget constraint, then opt for ready-to-use templates that can be customised with some minor modifications in terms of color, themes, and many more factors.
These are the major factors that affect mobile app cost, but before making this decision, it is important to choose the type of mobile app and know its approximate cost.
5. Location of App Developers
The mobile app development cost also depends on the region. Yes, hiring mobile app developers from different areas can vary the price of the app developers. If you hire app developers from the USA or Europe, then they would be costly, but the same service from India, due to currency differences, will be a huge difference.
App Development Cost by Location :
| Region / Country | Average Hourly Rate (USD) | Estimated Cost for Basic to Complex App (USD) |
| United States | $100 – $200/hr | $50,000 – $250,000+ |
| India | $20 – $50/hr | $8,000 – $40,000 |
| Canada | $90 – $150/hr | $45,000 – $200,000 |
| Germany | $80 – $140/hr | $40,000 – $180,000 |
Type of Mobile Application for your next project
There are different types of mobile applications, and you have to choose one among them. Again, it should depend on your project demands –
1. Native Mobile Apps
In the present time, native mobile apps are in high demand. Presently, business owners want to deliver high-quality experiences to users and don’t want to sacrifice in any terms
- Built specifically for one platform, Android or iOS
- Offer a high-performance user experience
- Developers opt for specific technologies to build mobile apps that are compatible with the platforms.
- The native mobile apps are considered best for gaming apps and for large-scale requirements.
2. Hybrid Mobile Apps
Hybrid mobile apps are in high demand as they help to save a huge amount of time and effort for developers.
– With one single code, app developers can launch the same app on different platforms: Android, iOS, and web.
- The most utilised frameworks are Flutter, React Native, and Ionic.
- Hybrid mobile app development services are best for start-ups, content-based apps, and MVPs.
3. Web-Based Apps
The web-based apps are also known as Progressive Web Apps. These kind of web apps behaves similarly to mobile applications. Hence, they are a perfect combination of websites and native mobile apps.
- Users can access progressive apps via web browsers.
- Web-based apps can be accessed via a browser that delivers a similar kind of experience.
- PWA apps even work in offline mode – send notifications and much more.
Comparing different types of Mobile Apps
Here is the comparison of different types of mobile applications with tech stack, examples, and app development cost estimation.
| App Type | Supported Platform | Tech Stack | Pricing | Example |
| Native (Build apps separately) | Android and iOS | Android – Java and Kotlin iOS – Objective-C and Swift |
$12,000 – $30,000+ | WhatsApp, Instagram, and Spotify |
| Hybrid | iOS and Android | HTML, CSS, and JavaScript | $7,000 – $14,000 | |
| Web apps | Browser related | Angular, Node.js, and many more | $3,500 – $9,500 | Flipkart and Twitter |
The above are the different types of mobile applications with their pricing structure for app development services.
Now, furthermore, these same mobile apps can be developed in different categories –
Different Categories of Mobile Application Development
Here are the different categories of mobile app development services with their estimated cost –
- Basic Mobile Application Development
- Advanced Mobile Application Development
- Complex Mobile Application Development
1. Basic Mobile Application Development
Basic mobile applications are developed simply with limited functionality, minimal user interaction, and limited complex backend infrastructure.
Characteristics of Basic Mobile Application
– Basic mobile apps support only a few screens, not more than that.
– No login integration, users can access the applications easily.
– Basic apps also offer high performance and operate faster
– Static content that can’t be changed
2. Advanced Mobile Application Development
Advanced mobile application development refers to apps that are more powerful and advanced than basic apps. They offer modern functionalities and a next-generation experience to the users.
Characteristics of Advanced Mobile Applications Development
- Feature-rich mobile apps
- A bit expensive than basic mobile apps
- Utilisation of API integration services
- Medium backend usage (basic database and user storage)
3. Complex Mobile Application Development
As the name suggests, complex mobile application development supports a team of experienced mobile app developers. The complex mobile app development services are for enterprise-level businesses. Majorly, they should partner with the best mobile app development company.
Characteristics of Complex Mobile Applications Development –
- Complex apps are multi-featured apps
- Integrated with heavy backend infrastructure
- Offers live functionalities
- Wide range of third-party API integration support
- High level of security
Let’s understand more information about the app development cost estimate-
| Aspects | Basic Apps | Advanced Apps | Complex Apps |
| Defination | Simple app development with limited functionalities | Feature-rich apps with a modern interface | Enterprise-level apps with advanced functionalities |
| Functionalities | One or two screens with minimal user interactions | login interface, API integration, access to real-time data | Admin panel, GPS, and multiple user types |
| Development cycle | 1 to 2 months | 3 to 4 months | 4 to 8+ months |
| Best for | Start-ups or individuals | Small and Mid-sized businesses | Enterprise-level apps |
| Examples | Calculator and note apps | Fitness apps and to-do apps | Uber, Zomato, Amazon |
| Budget | $3,000 – $7,000 approx | $12,000 – $18,000approx | $20,000 – $40,000+ |
| Security | Very basic | Mid level | High-level security |
The above table reflects the comparison between basic, advanced, and complex mobile apps with important aspects. Now, let’s observe the hidden costs of mobile app development that we can’t avoid, as these costs also add on, and you have to pay.
Different technology-based Mobile App Development Services
Here, we are listing different technology-based mobile app development services as per their specific prices –
Nowadays, trending technologies are the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, AR/VR, and Cloud. These are the must-have technologies in an enterprise-grade solution. The integration of trending technologies transforms the user experience and delivers a next-generation experience.
| Technologies | Cost | Development Time |
| IoT-Driven Apps | $80,000 to $5000,000 | 8 to 12 months |
| Blockchain | $100,000 to $500,000 | 12+ months |
| AR/VR Apps | $100,000 to $400,000 | 6 – 12 months |
| AI-Powered Apps | $80,000 to 350,000 | 6 – 12 months |
| Cloud-Based Apps | $70,000 to $200,000 | 12+ months |
Here are the different technologies, but the mobile app development cost also depends on the process.
Mobile App Development Cost Based on Process
Mobile app development services include several processes, and on that basis, we have a breakdown of the mobile app development process-
Different mobile app development processes include –
- App Brainstorming and Researching
- Designing – UI-UX
- Front-end Development
- Backend development
- Launching and support
| App Development Process | Tasks to Include | Time Duration | Cost of the App development process |
| Research and Brainstorming | Developers understand the requirement and get an idea of how they can launch in the market | 1 week |
$500 to $1,000 |
| Planning and Wireframing | Bring to paper and make a prototype, user flow | 1 week |
$500 to $800 |
| Designing – UI/UX | Images, videos, animations, brand color, and style | 1 to 2 weeks |
$1000 – $2000 |
| Frontend development | Build a user interface, animations, responsive layout | 2 to 4 weeks |
$2000 -$4000 |
| Backend development | Server set up, admin panel, API integrations | 3 to 4 weeks |
$3000 to $6000 |
| Third-Party Integrations | Features integrated with third-party apps – Google Maps, push notifications | $500 to $2000 | 1 week (depends on API service) |
| Testing and QA | Manual and automated testing | 1 to 2 weeks |
$800 – $1500 |
| App Store Deployment | Submission as per guidelines, approvals, and revisions | 1 week |
$300 to $700 |
| Post Launch Support | Support for the app, constant updates, and bug resolution | 3 to 6 months |
$1000 to $2000 |
The above costs are just an idea; the actual mobile app development cost depends on your project.
Hidden Costs in App Development
Here are the hidden costs in app development that are crucial to consider, and you can’t avoid them in any way.
1. Server, Hosting & Backend Infrastructure
Only launching your mobile application is not at all sufficient. Once the app is live, it is important to have reliable back-end storage that includes user data, manages content, and processes requests. You might have to opt for AWS or, Google Cloud.
Price – you have to buy the storage as per your project needs. It fully depends on the app’s complexity, monthly hosting costs that can range from $20 to $1,000+.
2. Security and API Costs
If your app has sensitive data or is integrated with third-party services such as a payment gateway or Google Maps, or any other feature. So, there would be additional API subscription fees.
Businesses need to invest in different security protocols, which they have to keep an eye on regular basis, such as SSL certificates, data encryption, and perform regular security audits. The process helps to protect user data and allows for compliance with regulations such as GDPR or PCI-DSS.
The app development cost is dependent on the AI integration services and the project.
3. App Store and Play Store Fees
You all know about both the App Store and the Play Store. But yes, these platforms also charged the fees.
To publish the app –
Google Play Store charges a one-time fee of $25.
App Store charges $99 per year
Moreover, both platforms charge 15 to 30% commission on in-app purchases or subscriptions.
4. Maintenance and Support Fees
After launching the mobile application, don’t ever think that the process of app development is finished. The process of app maintenance and enhancement will always continue, such as bug fixes, OS updates, and many more ongoing necessities.
The best part you can opt for the regular maintenance services that ensure mobile apps stay up to mark and allow them to stay compatible with new device updates and increase user experiences.
Always keep 15 to 20% of your initial app cost annually for maintenance.
These are going charges and considered as hidden app development charges. We will always recommend keeping your budget for this to avoid future surprises.
Conclusion :
The demand for mobile app development services increased at a high level. Innovations have turned mobile applications into more expensive ones and offer a next-generation experience to the users. This has also increased the mobile app development cost. In this blog, we have mentioned the mobile app development cost breakdown that will help you to understand the pricing structure and set your budget according to your project.
