Looking to build and launch an app for your business? In our opinion, it is the best idea as research shows that 90% of mobile internet time is spent in apps, and this enables businesses to achieve over 150% higher conversion rates.
Not only that, a SensorTower report forecasted in-app spending through the app stores to generate $2.2 trillion over the 2021-2030 decade. These numbers are no joke. Based on this, you can partner up with a reliable company for mobile app development services to start your business app development journey today.
However, there is one million-dollar question that must have popped up in your mind right about now – How much does it cost to build an app? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. We will go over the basics of mobile app development cost in this blog and discuss the factors that affect it. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into our topic for today!
A Basic Overview of Mobile App Development Cost
| App Type | Estimated Price | Development Time |
| Basic | $5000 – $50,000 | 1 – 4 months |
| Moderate | $50,000 – $100,000 | 4 – 8 months |
| Complex | $100,000 – $150,000 and upwards | 8 – 12 months and more |
If you must know, the location from where you wish to hire AR app developers or the Augmented Reality app development company you go for also affects the pricing. See this table for more context.
| Region | Pricing Per Hour |
| USA | $60 – $150 |
| UK | $40 – $120 |
| Asia | $15 – $80 |
Factors That Influence The Mobile App Development Cost
Now that you have a basic idea of the total mobile app development cost in USA and other locations, let’s go over the factors that affect these prices.
. App Complexity
The complexity of the app has the most impact on the overall app development cost. A basic application with a simple interface, basic features, and a minimal back-end will be the cheapest; medium-level apps with payment gateways and APIs will cost more than that, whereas complex apps with advanced AR/VR, AI, or ML functionality will be the most expensive.
Based on your choice of app complexity, the total app development cost can vary from $5000 to $300,000 and more.
. Type of Platform
The type of platform you choose for your app also matters. There is not much difference between the Android app development cost and the iOS app development cost, but the price to make your app live differs. However, you can also choose to go past Native app development to Hybrid or Cross-platform app development, but it will cost more than building for one.
The type of platform(s) you choose for your app has an estimated price range of $10,000 to $100,000, but it can go higher.
. UI/UX Design
A simple UI and UX can get the job done at a lower price, but to make an amazing app, you will need to create a user-friendly app with powerful features. However, the latter will cost more.
Since UI/UX matters the most and the future success depends on it, it is better to invest a few extra percent of your budget into it. From an engaging theme to seamless navigation, you must take every little detail into consideration to ensure a stunning app.
The estimated cost range for UI/UX design can vary from $5000 to $50,000 and may be more.
. Features & Integrations
You cannot estimate the cost of your business mobile app development without finalizing the features and integrations you wish to include in your app. The price range for each feature can range from $1000 to $10,000 and may be more. The following are some of the common features:
User login and profile management: users can register through email or number, and create password, set up a profile, and update information.
Social Media Integration: sign-up and login through social media accounts or link accounts through social handles.
Search Functionality: Search for people, places, or content within the app.
Push Notifications: Push notifications for different things like messages, updates, posts, new offers, and other stuff.
Other Features: These include GPS, AR/VR, AI, chat system, etc.
. App Maintenance
Another critical and recurring app development cost that impacts the overall budget is app maintenance. This includes the ongoing updates, bug fixes, and improvements.
App maintenance can normally cost somewhere between 10% and 40% of development costs annually. However, it also depends on several things. If your overall app complexity is simple, the maintenance cost will be on the lower side, whereas the maintenance cost of a complex, high-quality application will be higher.
. Support & Post-Launch Services
When you are talking about app development, you cannot assess it without counting in the cost of support and post-launch services. It can help improve the app’s performance and user experience by collecting feedback and monitoring.
It is best to invest in the support and post-launch services to ensure your app remains stable, secure, and on the growth path. Later, it will allow you to improve the market value of your app and make it successful in the long run.
The estimated annual cost of app support and post-launch can range from $1000 to $10,000 and may be more.
Some of the other hidden factors that affect the mobile app development cost in USA include the following:
- Infrastructure costs: This includes servers, hosting, and cloud storage etc.
- Functional services: email marketing, analytics tools, push notifications, etc.
- Quality Assurance costs: Manual and automated testing, tracking, and performance analysis.
- App Publishing costs: Google Play Store has a one-time cost of $25, whereas Apple App Store charges $99 per year.
- App Security costs: This includes encryption, authentication, secure data storage, security testing etc.
These are also important to consider and discuss with an experienced mobile app development services provider to ensure there are no surprises at the end.
Final Takeaway
Building a mobile app for your business can definitely prove to be a game-changer in driving value and staying competitive. However, when it comes to the mobile app development cost, there is no one-size-fits-all.
The pricing depends on the factors we discussed above, so evidently, it is your choice. You can choose to keep your app development cost under $50,000 or go all out, but remember, it may pile up to cross $200,000 or more.
If you feel unsure, you can call The Apptitude to discuss your app idea and get an estimate for your desired app. We will help you take the different factors into consideration and move alongside you from start to launch and beyond.