Wondering how much does it cost to make an app? Well, it depends on a number of important factors. Read this blog to learn key aspects of app development cost
A mobile application helps a business to make a stronger relationship with customers through a high analytics feedback loop and a fully personalized user experience. With the advantages of having a feature-rich mobile app, it’s no wonder why today’s startups or enterprises port their services to smartphones and tablets. Therefore, how much does it cost to build an app? Spending millions of dollars for making a mobile app is not a very big deal for modern tech giants, but it might be quite challenging for a business with limited capital. Keep reading to know more about the facts behind costs of app development services.
Estimated cost of app development
It’s impossible to find out the exact costs of building an app. You must be aware of essential considerations while considering app development price tiers. Some factors that significantly influence the overall cost of app development include:
- Developer’s hourly rates
- App repair and maintenance charges
- Cost of application security
- High-end features
- UI/UX design complexity
- Backend app infrastructure
- Multiple platform support
App functionality and complexity have a huge impact on overall development costs. So, if you want to build an application compatible with internet synchronizations, process payments, real-time GPS, and push notifications, you should focus on the complexity level and apps making cost. Take a look at the list that includes the estimated cost to make different applications.
| App categories | Estimated cost (USD) |
| eCommerce apps | $60,000 to $250,000 |
| Learning apps | $60,000 to $225,000 |
| Social Audio apps | $50,000 to $300,000 |
| Augmented Reality (AR) apps | $100,000 to $250,000 |
| Taxi service apps | $50,000 to $400,000 |
| Video Streaming apps | $60,000 to $225,000 |
| Business apps | $50,000 to $200,000 |
| Gaming apps | $60,000 to $250,000 |
| Shopify apps | $30,000 to $180,000 |
| Restaurant apps | $40,000 to $150,000 |
| Dating apps | $50,000 to $350,000 |
| Healthcare apps | $55,000 to $300,000 |
| Community apps | $18,000 to $150,000 |
| Food Delivery apps | $40,000 to $150,000 |
| Retail apps | $50,000 to $150,000 |
Factors behind app development cost
Average app development cost depends on multiple factors like the developer’s location, app features, complexity level, etc. Understanding these factors allows you to make the right decisions & give you other potential benefits. Moreover, it also helps you stay away from budget constraints. Let’s dive into a few important factors that influence mobile application development costs.
1. Features and functionalities
Features and functionalities play a huge role in estimating app development costs. Therefore, it’s recommended to focus on the basic features in the initial app version. It helps you deliver a good customer experience at a reasonable price. The best choice is to get a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) developed. It saves time & helps gather valuable user feedback.
2. App complexity levels
An app cost estimation depends on the complexity levels of a mobile application. According to an apps developer company, the average cost of create an app with basic UI/UX is $5,000 to $50,000. A simple application generally has a set of user-friendly features like a login system, dashboard user, limited administration, profile facility, etc. Based on its complexity, here is an app development cost breakdown:
| App complexity level | Features types | Time limit | Estimated cost (USD) |
| Simple | Simple UI/UXMVP functionality | 2 to 4 months | 5,000 to 50,000 |
| Medium | Custom UIBasic app features | 4 to 10 months | 50,000 to 120,000 |
| Complex | High-end UIAdvanced features and functionalities | 10 months+ | 100,000 to 300,000 |
3. App categories:
No doubt, the app making cost also depends on application categories strongly. Different apps have different demographics, functionalities, and security criteria. For instance, an e-commerce app like Amazon is loaded with plenty of unique features that make this app different from other categories.
4. Developer’s hourly rates
Many businesses don’t create their apps in-house for their customers. Usually, they hire an app development company for this task. App making companies work on development projects through hourly-rate charges. However, this hourly rate is based on the developer’s region. The following table will help you know region-wise developer’s hourly rates.
| Region | Android apps | iOS apps |
| North America | 150 $/hour | 150 $/hour |
| Australia | 110 $/hour | 110 $/hour |
| UK | 150 $/hour | 150 $/hour |
| India | 25-50 $/hour | 25-50 $/hour |
5. App platform
Before you start an app development process, it is essential to choose the right platform for your application. Based on your target audiences, you may choose to develop an Android, iOS, cross-platform, or web application. If you have a startup with low capital, it’s advised to initially select a single platform, later on, you may shift to others.
Final words
Choosing the right app development services brings a number of advantages & good market potential, especially for startups and medium-sized businesses. Paying very close attention to the above-mentioned factors will help you avoid unwanted burdens & extra app-making costs. We, Sphinx Solutions, provide the best app cost calculator to help you consider the project requirements that suit your needs without overspending. Are you interested? Schedule a call or drop an email today.
