How Much Does it Cost To Hire an App Development Company?

Understanding the Cost of App Development: Factors, Timelines, and Estimates

The cost of developing apps for iOS and Android used to be different. But now they are nearly the same. The main factor that determines the cost is the complexity of the app. That is whether the app is Simple, Medium, or Complex.

Normally a simple app can take 2-4 months for development. The app that is medium complex takes 4-6 months, and a complex app takes 9 months or more. These are estimates and the actual timeline depends on the coordination and productivity of the development team.

Based on the hourly rates of app developers (around $50/hour), the cost for a basic app with a simple user interface and features can be in the range of $16,000 to $32,000. A medium-complexity app costs between $32,000 and $48,000. A complex app requires at least $72,000 or more.

Remember, these are rough estimates based on the number of hours dedicated to the app.

Estimating App Development Costs: Budgeting For Different Stages

Having a rough idea of app development costs helps companies allocate capital effectively during the development cycle. In a study conducted by Clutch in 2017, data from over 100 app development companies were analyzed. The research provided insights into the percentage of companies' expenditures in different app development stages: Discovery, Design, Development, and Testing & Deployment.

During the Discovery stage, 51% of companies spent up to $5,000 for initial concept development and research. 22% spent more than $5,000. Compared to other stages, Discovery was found to be the least expensive.

Next let us see the Design stage, 32% of companies spent less than $5,000, while only 9% exceeded $50,000 for app design. The majority fell within the $5,000 to $50,000 range.

Development is the most significant part of app development, involving coding for each app feature. Only 9% of respondents spent less than $5,000 on app code development, while 33% spent between $5,000 and $10,000 for this stage.

App testing and deployment stages are essential. About 32% of companies spent less than $5,000 on testing and deployment. 31% remained within the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Others exceeded $10,000 for this stage.

The complexity of an app plays an important role in determining its development cost. Factors like the presence of a backend server, user analytics, CMS support, shopping cart, or social media sharing features contribute to the overall complexity.

The hourly rate for mobile app development varies across regions, reflecting the economic development level of each country. India has the lowest average rate of $7/hour, while the United States has the highest at $47/hour.

It is important to note that these figures provide a general overview. The actual costs may vary depending on project type, scope, and the expertise of the development team.

Calculators for Calculating App Development Costs:

Online calculators like Cleveroad, Buildfire, Estimate My App, Inoxoft, How Much to Make an App, Andreasley, Litslink, and Digitalya help estimate app development costs.

Factors considered by these calculators include platform choice, desired features, user profiles, industry, revenue generation, and high-tech additions. Users are guided through a series of questions to provide accurate estimates for budgeting and decision-making.

The calculators provide insights into development time and cost. This helps businesses in planning app projects effectively. These tools are valuable resources in the highly competitive app industry. They enable businesses to allocate resources efficiently and meet budgetary goals.

App Developer Cost:

When hiring a mobile app developer, the cost is an important consideration. In the US, the average annual salary for a mobile app developer is $120,000. However, hiring from different countries can have different costs. The cost in Australia is $94,000, in Germany, it is $65,000, and India is around $4,100 per year.

While the price is important, other factors should also be considered, such as previous client feedback, technical expertise, and meeting deadlines.

When looking at specific locations within the US, cities on the West Coast, like San Francisco, offer the highest salaries for both iOS and Android developers. However, due to the pandemic, many developers have moved to different states, affecting average salaries.

For Android developers, cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and New York provide higher salaries ranging from $111,000 to $138,000 per year. On the iOS side, San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and San Jose offer salaries of $142,000 to $133,000.

Considering hourly rates and developers' experience in similar projects and client feedback can help make the right decisions when hiring app development teams.

The Maintenance Cost of Apps:

• Hosting: Cost ranges from $70 to $320 per month, depending on data type and server requirements.
• Monitoring: Customized pricing for app performance monitoring platforms.
• Engagement & Marketing: The cost per app install is $3.6 for iOS and $1.22 for Android.
• App Updates: Release time is around one hour, and development time varies.
• Licenses: Fees depend on the number of devices, which can reach $120,000/year for 50 devices.

These components contribute to the ongoing maintenance cost of a mobile app.

Final words

When estimating the development cost of a mobile app, businesses should consider factors such as the development team's location, app complexity, and the simultaneous development of iOS and Android platforms. Saving on infrastructure, data storage, and third-party API integration can significantly impact costs. The COVID-19 pandemic's effect on remote work has also influenced app development costs. By carefully considering these factors, businesses can make proper decisions and effectively manage their app development budget.