Small businesses and entrepreneurs planning to build a mobile app often keep postponing the idea since they are unsure where to begin. A lot of them also have no idea about the mobile app development cost.
The truth is that the cost of mobile app development depends on a multitude of factors and that makes it hard to decide what’s practical and what isn’t.
To help you reach the right app development cost estimation, Big Kitty Labs is here with a comprehensive guide. Read and learn everything you need to know about the cost of mobile app development in 2021.
Mobile app development cost in 2021
Mobile app development cost in 2021Many factors come together to determine the pricing of mobile app development in 2021. Our estimations are based on the assumption that an experienced team of mobile app developers based in the USA is working on your app!
Here’s the average cost of developing a mobile app in 2021:
- The cost of a basic mobile app for one platform (Android, iOS, etc.) is somewhere between $10,000 and $25,000.
- The pricing of a medium-complexity app for one platform is somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000
- The cost of a highly complex mobile application is more than $50,000.
App development pricing in 2021: Influencing factors
There are thousands of app development companies and developers out there. If you email 20 of them and ask for a rough estimate, there is a big chance that all of them will come up with a different number.
That’s because all of them bring different capabilities to the table and take into account different factors. Below are the major ones that determine the cost of mobile app development:
App type: Are you building a basic gaming app, a trading application, a shopping app, or something else? The nature of your app and its core features will determine the cost in a huge way.
App complexity: A laundry booking application serving a new startup is simpler in comparison to an established drawing app with complex functionality. No wonder the most popular applications on app stores cost a fortune to replicate.
OS type: iOS and Android are the biggest operating systems for mobile devices. When it comes to the development cost, building apps for iOS is more expensive when compared to Android; This is one of the reasons why entrepreneurs usually go for one platform, to begin with.
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Payments: Shopping cart and payment processing capabilities require more effort from the developers’ end. So, accepting payments through credit cards, mobile wallets, virtual currency, and online payments will increase the time and cost of development.
Development talent: Hiring a team that has built legendary mobile applications will cost a truckload of money. That’s because they will charge a premium pricing for their development talent and expertise. A slightly less-known app development firm, on the other hand, will charge comparatively less.
Team location: Whether your team is in NYC or Mumbai will make a considerable difference to your overall app development budget. Why is that, you ask? That’s because the currency forces and hourly fee rates come into play. That said, we are vocal for local!
Above are the major factors that determine the pricing of mobile app development.
Mobile app development: Agency or freelancer?
A mobile app development company is home to experienced developers, designers, and analysts that pool their talent and know-how to build applications that fit client goals and have maximum chances to take off. Since the companies have bigger salaries and rents to pay, they charge their clients accordingly.
A freelance developer, on the other hand, is familiar with most facets of app development and can sew a functional app together with a small budget. However, its scalability, security, and future performance will be a point of discussion since freelancers are infamous for rendering limited after-sales support. The good news is that freelancers cost less since they have a one-man-army kind of arrangement.
Types of mobile applications
It’s 2021 and a mobile app can be of many types.
People who are not from the world of app development aren’t aware of the many types of mobile apps and often end up investing in the wrong solution.
So, that’s why we thought it makes sense to introduce you to the major types of mobile apps:
- Native apps: These applications are developed for a single operating system.
- Web apps: These applications mimic the behavior of native apps but are mainly powered by browsers.
- Hybrid apps: These applications use multi-platform technologies to deliver an ace mobile experience
While above is the segregation as per technology, here are the popular types of applications that you can consider creating in 2021:
- Gaming apps
- Utility apps
- Education apps
- Shopping apps
- Business apps
- Productivity apps
- Lifestyle apps
- Entertainment apps
- Travel apps
Tips to reduce app development cost in 2021
Tips to reduce app development cost in 2021
Let’s be honest, app development is expensive. Thankfully, there are some ways to cut down the cost of developing a mobile application.
The below tips will help you cut down the app cost:
Launch for one: iOS and Android are separate ecosystems that are relevant to different audience groups. Rather than building 2 different applications for both, research where the majority of your audience hangs out, and build the first app only for that.
Go essential only: Loading your mobile app with tons of features seems like a good idea, but it rarely works. Note down the core features that are critical for app usability and ask the developer to launch an MVP. You can always add more features later on!
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Negotiate hard: If you are on a budget, it’s time to play thrifty and negotiate hard with shortlisted app development teams. Take your time researching the best budget-friendly development company for your app. However, don’t go super cheap or your app development partner will start cutting corners.
Mobile app development cost: Wrap up
In 2020 alone, 218 billion mobile applications were downloaded and, mobile advertising expenditure reached $240 billion. No wonder mobile apps still have a promising future.
We hope that the above post helped you learn everything about app development. If we missed something that you were looking for, drop us a line at contact@bigkittylabs.com and, we will help you out with anything.
Need a quote for your unique app idea? Connect with our team of app developers at (614) 859-0228 to get an estimate.
